The St. Petersburg School refers to a group of Russian linguists and literary theorists who emerged in the early 20th century. This intellectual movement focused on the study of language, literature, and culture, emphasizing the importance of structuralism and the role of the reader in interpreting texts. Key figures included Roman Jakobson and Viktor Shklovsky, who contributed significantly to the development of literary theory. The school is known for its innovative ideas, such as the concept of defamiliarization, which suggests that art should make the familiar seem strange to enhance perception. Their work laid the groundwork for modern literary criticism and influenced various fields, including semiotics and cultural studies.