Metodologické reflexie a východiská česko-slovenských a slovensko-českých literárnych vzťahov

The paper describes the terminology and determines the content of Czech-Slovak literary relations as new conditions were created for the study of these processes following the division of Czechoslovakia. Particular emphasis is placed on the examination of mutuality and non-mutuality as an integral part of linguistic-literary and cultural-geographical research. Whereas the Czechs in the 19th century regarded mutuality as a medium of support for a unified nation, the Slovaks saw mutuality as a means of emancipation. The new methodological incentive involved in the research is imagology, i.e. comparative study which analyses stereotypes and myths in the reciprocating dialogue. Examples from literary history reveal that in the Czech-Slovak relation the "neighbour's image" has often been supressed and "otherness" was transposed to cultural unity.