Jean Lods

Jean Lods (1903-1974) was a French literary scholar, linguist, and Slavicist. He is best known for his contributions to the study of Russian Formalism and his work on the OPOJAZ circle, a group of Russian literary theorists prominent in the early 20th century.

Lods's research focused on uncovering and translating the writings of Formalist thinkers like Viktor Shklovsky, Roman Jakobson, and Boris Eikhenbaum, making their ideas more accessible to Western audiences. His work was instrumental in introducing the concepts of defamiliarization (ostranenie), narrative structure, and literary device to French literary criticism and beyond.

He held academic positions at various universities in France, including the Sorbonne, where he taught courses on Slavic languages and literature. Lods's scholarship played a significant role in shaping the understanding of Russian literary theory in France and contributed to broader developments in structuralist and post-structuralist thought. His publications include critical editions and translations of key Formalist texts, as well as analyses of their theoretical frameworks.