Structuralism and contemporary mass art

Abstract

The subject of this research is the impact of structuralism as a scientific direction upon mass art. Stable invariant structures discovered by the structuralists in multiple artworks can be observed in mass art. Structuring, which initially was a method of research, turned into one of the practical recommendations on reating new works in mass art. The goal consists in the analysis of susceptibility factors of mass culture to the ideas of structuralism and results of using methodology of structuralism in mass artistic production. The initial methodological focus of this work lied in the concept of juxtaposition of craft and art, which goes back to I. Kant and is applied in modern aesthetics. The author leans on the methods of structuring and comparative structural analysis, as well as the elements of functional analysis. The main conclusion of consists in the statement that susceptibility of mass culture to the ideas of structuralism is substantiated by its economic goals, need to possess reliable and scientifically proven tools that would ensure commercial success of the artworks. However, the patterned application of structuring methods in mass art is capable of creating only craft products, rather than actual art.