Principles of social myth formation: advantages and dangers in the context of the Russian-Ukrainian war 2022

Abstract

The purpose of the research is to formulate the main advantages of living and relaying social myths, as well as to determine the main dangers of such living, which are especially relevant in the context of the Russian-Ukrainian war 2022. By social myth, we understand the message that is broadcast as true by means of the dominant discourse in a certain society. It is social myths that have the ability to shape types of thinking and norms of behavior (which is extremely important for totalitarian societies that want to ensure comprehensive and permanent control over citizens). Analytical in the interpretation of leading concepts, which are based on the theory of myth in general and modern social mythology in particular, is chosen as the basic method; systematic approach – for the formation of a complex and well-founded idea about a wide range of worldview orientations of the social mythology of the 21st century compared to the 20th century; historical method — to reconstruct the process of formation of those archetypes and the latest mythological innovations that, under aggressive planting by mass media, spilled into state policy and ideology, influenced the formation of national consciousness; the method of exploratory forecasting — to find out the real prospects of the evolution of myth-making in the 21st century. and probable consequences of this process for Ukrainian society. The main dangers of social mythology are singled out: within the totalitarian Russian society, social mythology nurtured for centuries and aggressively planted for decades caused the formation of the ideology of the supremacy of one state over others on the basis of many years of manipulation of the consciousness of millions regarding their own history, culture, indisputable rightness, impunity, as well as impunity based on the illusory superpowers. The leading advantages of the formation and living of social myths, manifested in the conditions of the Russian-Ukrainian war 2022, are also identified: the formation of national consciousness, pride in national culture and history, the formation of the newest pantheon of heroes, the identification of the leading markers of national and state self-identification, on the other hand, the outline of a list of historical characters or our contemporaries, tabooed to show respect or simply a neutral position.