The Russian Formalists were a group of literary theorists and critics active in the early 20th century, primarily in Russia. They focused on the structure and form of literature, emphasizing how language and literary devices create meaning. Their work aimed to analyze texts independently of historical or biographical context, promoting a scientific approach to literature. Key figures among the Russian Formalists included Viktor Shklovsky and Roman Jakobson. They introduced concepts such as "defamiliarization," which suggests that art should make the familiar seem strange to enhance perception. Their ideas significantly influenced modern literary theory and criticism.