🧐 Old stories, new perspectives

A few days ago, I came across an article titled Why Generation Z Loves Dostoyevsky, and I found myself wondering - how does Gen Z even know who Dostoyevsky is? 🧐

For a moment, I underestimated them, and that was my mistake. 🕊️

From classroom to TikTok: How old stories stay fresh

There’s one thing I couldn’t stand in high school: when a classmate answered a question by just repeating the teacher’s lecture word for word. Seriously? Do you really not have your own perspective or even a hint of critical thinking?

When I became a literature teacher, I made it clear to my students - no parroting was allowed! You could only get a high grade in my class if you had your own authentic take on the material. Even if I disagreed with it, I respected well-thought-out opinions.

But let’s be real - not everyone loves reading, and not every student enjoys critical thinking.

My biggest challenge? The students who’d show up without having even opened the book. They weren’t bad students - they just hadn’t developed a habit of reading.

And those students? They’re the ones who inspired me to do something completely out of my comfort zone: I started a TikTok account.

Yes, you read that right. This literature teacher joined TikTok. 😅

Turning classics into clicks

I knew I had to make literature feel relevant, so I spent weeks creating 15 short videos about the books we were studying in class.

The trick? I focused on surprising or shocking details about each author’s life - stories that felt relatable or even a little scandalous when viewed through a modern lens.

To my surprise, the videos took off! Comments rolled in, followers asked for more, and I struggled to keep up with the demand while juggling teaching and editing. But it worked - my students were engaged, and the numbers proved I was onto something meaningful.

Beyond the growing TikTok stats, something even more rewarding happened - my students started reading books. 📚

In class, we began having lively discussions, exchanging ideas, and debating different viewpoints. It felt like a whole new energy had taken over. I watched as they not only developed a love for reading but also sharpened their critical thinking skills!

Was it a lot of work? Absolutely. But seeing that spark in their eyes and knowing I helped plant a love for books and curiosity in their minds? Totally worth it!

Little wins like this remind me of why I started teaching in the first place.

Why Gen Z loves Dostoyevsky?

This brings me to White Nights and its surprising TikTok success. Dostoyevsky’s works are not easy reads. They require focus, experience, and a certain appreciation for life’s complexity. Yet somehow, TikTok managed to turn White Nights into a hit, with over 50,000 copies sold in 2024. 🤯

How?!

Just like my TikTok videos, creators found a way to make old stories feel fresh. They used trending music, short clips, and relatable themes to connect with their audience. White Nights is full of loneliness, longing, and human connection - feelings that resonate with any generation.

TikTok made those universal themes accessible and exciting.

It’s proof that there’s no such thing as boring content - just boring ways of presenting it. Dostoyevsky’s success on TikTok shows that even the densest classics can feel relevant when framed the right way.

My TikTok journey continues…

Even though I’ve left the classroom, I still post on TikTok now and then. And guess what? People are still watching, liking, and commenting. It’s a reminder of why I started in the first place: to make great stories come alive. 🌟

The bottom line?

Let’s stop calling ideas “old.” What really matters is how we present them. Whether it’s Dostoyevsky on BookTok or Kafka on TikTok, the right approach can make any story timeless. It’s not just about jumping on trends, it’s about making content relatable and useful.

Read the full story ⬇️

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Until next time,
Gordana
Community Manager @ Collabwriting