Archetypal images of modern social mythology

Abstract

The article is devoted to the problem of reproduction of the archetypes of the collective unconscious in modern social mythology. The question of primordial images in recent years has been the focus of research attention of many social sciences: anthropology, psychology, philosophy. The article presents the prerequisites for the development of social mythology and a brief overview of its research. In the course of the analysis of archetypal images, four major areas of research in modern social mythology are characterized: structuralist, semiotic, phenomenological and psychoanalytic. Mythological images used in various spheres of life are presented as the subject of research: in mass culture, mass media, art, education, etc. 6 archetypes are characterized: Infant, Virgin, Mother, Rebirth, Spirit, Trickster. Their features and specifics are shown. Examples of the use of archetypes in archaic myths of different peoples and in modern socio-mythological creativity are given as illustrations, which demonstrates the viability of archetypal images. The transformation of the images of the characters of archaic myths in popular culture is demonstrated. The article defines the common features of modern social mythology and archaic myths. It is concluded that archetypal images of social mythology play an important role in social life: through modern social myths, society adapts to the changing conditions of its life; archetypal images of modern social mythology perform the function of maintaining a pattern, reproducing the value-normative system of society.