Barok iz suvremenosti gledat: primarna i sekundarna generička obilježja u Đorđićevim "Uzdasima Mandalijene pokornice"

The book Barok iz suvremenosti gledat: primarna i sekundarna generička obilježja u Đorđićevim Uzdasima Mandalijene pokornice (1992) is the first independent scholarly monograph by Julijana Matanović. In it, the author focuses primarily on a detailed analysis of one of the most significant Baroque religious epic poems in Croatian literature—Uzdasi Mandalijene pokornice (The Sighs of Mary Magdalene the Penitent) by Đurđević (Đorđić). Drawing upon contemporary theoretical and methodological frameworks from the late 20th century, Matanović examines the primary and secondary generic characteristics of the text, shedding light on the relationship between the Baroque tradition and its compositional layering. Through a literary-theoretical approach, the study explores the motifs of repentance, Baroque illusion, religious eroticism, and aesthetics that permeate Đurđević’s work. The author offers a fresh reading of the Baroque heritage from a contemporary perspective, demonstrating that the stylistic and formal features of the Croatian Baroque possess exceptional artistic power and remain relevant in dialogue with modern literary scholarship. This study serves as a foundational pillar for Julijana Matanović’s subsequent scholarly work in the fields of Croatian studies and genre theory.