The concept of “spectacularity”: origins of formation and semantics

Abstract

The philosophical system of Rene Descartes “Discourse on the Method” and its methodology at present serves best for studying and understanding the processes occurring in the field of modern culture. Based on its fundamental principles, one can isolate the smallest elements of culture and try to comprehend their role in cultural evolution. We can say that the antithesis of “thinking — being” is the paradigm in which modern culture is created and developed. “Being”, viewed through the prism of “thinking”, allows us to see the sprouts of an emerging new culture, make forecasts for its further development, and correct ideas about previously existing cultures. Using Descartes' deduction method, one can regard culture as a “substance” and isolate its “modes”, i.e. elementary particles of culture, such as phenomena, concepts, terms, etc., and trace their dialectics in order to comprehend how culture as a “substance” changes from changing its “modes”. One of these cultural concepts is “spectacularity”, the content of which is revealed in this article.