The Hero archetype as the basis for the formation of a political image in modern myth-making

Abstract

Introduction: modern myth-making actively uses stable cultural archetypes, which act as a kind of matrix for interpreting social and political processes. Among them, the hero archetype occupies a special place, which provides symbolic legitimization of power, forms normative ideas about civic behavior and promotes the consolidation of social groups around significant values and ideals. In this regard, the study of the role of the hero archetype in the processes of political image formation makes it possible to identify the deep mechanisms of functioning of political mythology in the modern media space. Materials and Methods: the objects of the research are modern myth-making as a system of symbolic construction of social and political reality. The subject is the role of the hero archetype in the construction of a political image and its functioning in the practices of modern myth-making. The theoretical basis is based on works devoted to modern political myth-making. Results: it is established that the hero archetype is one of the key symbolic bases for the formation of a political image and acts as an important element of modern political myth-making. It is shown that in Russian political culture, the heroic archetype determines the dominant strategies for constructing the image of a political leader, endowing him with the features of a defender and guarantor of public order. It is revealed that in the context of the mediatization of politics, the political image becomes the main channel for the actualization of the archetype of the hero and the translation of mythological meanings into the mass consciousness. Discussion and Conclusion: the hero archetype is one of the most significant foundations of the political image in modern myth-making. In Russian political culture, the heroic archetype occupies a central place, which determines the orientation of image strategies towards constructing the image of a strong leader capable of acting as a guarantor of stability and social development.