Russian Bogatyrs: Mission Impossible. Social Function of Giftedness

Abstract

The article examines the role of gifted people and their place in the Russian society. The prospects of individual-centered approach to conceptualizing giftedness are analyzed. As giftedness has social nature, so the hypothesis is advanced that to define this concept one should start by identifying the function that gifted people are called to perform in society. It is noted that this function is not reflected clearly in contemporary social consciousness; therefore its traces should be sought at deeper levels of collective consciousness, viz. in the ancient epic literature. This task is performed by means of analysis of an epic tale plot – the struggle of a bogatyr (an epic hero) with a grotesque creature (the text "Alyosha Popovich and Tugarin [Serpent]"). The resemblance between bogatyrs’s characteristic traits and the modern idea of gifted people is demonstrated. The conclusions are drawn about the subjective activity of bogatyrs, their function in the social reality and the connection of epic tale character to the modern concept of giftedness.