«Вакцинирование» vs «чипирование»: триггеры эсхатологической мифологии в условиях противоэпидемических мероприятий

Abstract

The coronavirus epidemic and anti-epidemic measures, such as quarantine restrictions on social activity, wide use of disinfectants, requirements for the use of personal protective equipment, as well as changes in church liturgy, rituals and sacraments lead to the creation of medical conspiracy myths. This article analyses two most important conspiracy mythologemes that are formed as a result of a conspiracy interpretation of the epidemic: the vaccination mythologeme and the microchipping mythologeme. The author proceeds from the assumption that modern eschatological conspiracy myths are based on the original non-eschatological myth, which provided a rational non-religious hermeneutics of epidemics. The eschatological version of the vaccinophobic conspiracy myth is formed on the basis of a non-eschatological conspiracy as a result of medical conspiracy theories merging with the modern version of the technophobic myth. The invariant core of the latter consists of mythologemes and mythotheologemes that interpret modern technologies within the framework of eschatological semiotics. As a result of convergence, these mythologemes form a single mythotheological complex, which, in turn, becomes a trigger for a new eschatological mythology. The paper analyses the semantic structure of this mytho-theological complex, its semiotic features, pragmatic potential and reasons for its popularity. The research was carried out within the framework of a semiotic and hermeneutic study of mythological discourse applying the method of categorical semiotics. As illustrations the author used fragments of original texts posted on conspiracy websites devoted to eschatological issues.