Carnival as a phenomenon of modern culture and socio-cultural life

Abstract

The purpose of the article is to investigate the phenomenon of carnivalism in culture and the problems of carnivalization of modern culture, which is connected with interpenetration of elements of mass, folk and "high" cultures and corresponds to postmodern strategy and the principle of eclecticism. The methodology of the research is based on the use of systemic structural, analytical, descriptive and culturological methods for revealing the signs and characteristics of the phenomenon of carnival in culture, as well as the world outlook for its development and implementation at the present stage. The scientific novelty of the work consists in refusing a simplified understanding of the carnival in the spirit of the masquerade line of modern times and, especially, "bohemian" understanding of it. It is argued that carnival behavior is aimed at denying norms and traditions - ethical, aesthetic, methodological, on the objections of authorities, ranks, starting from the national idea, ending with the behavior of a person in communicating with others. Conclusions. As a result of the conducted research, it was established that carnival and carnivals as a phenomenon of culture for centuries formed into a special worldview that frees from fear, bringing the world closer to man and man to man as much as possible, opposes the official gloomy "seriousness" that is generated by fear. Without a doubt, modern society is an "artificially" society. Virtually every event of political, social, cultural life is theatricalized. There is a growing carnivalization of politics through television when the game style of television shows destroys a serious basis of social problems. It is proved that carnivalism is a form of aesthetic play that finds its actualization in a demonstratively-shocking manner of behavior, in a unique style of carnival communication. The historical prerequisites for creating legalization of the violation of the social hierarchy are determined, which forms skepticism towards any systems and ideologies that are embodied in carnival images. A particular moment is the use of manifestations of carnival behavior in social revolutions when there is a need to destroy the frozen social hierarchy. It is then that people's moods are associated with the need to demonstrate collective enthusiasm, as a result of which a situation arises for the demonstration of manifestations of humorous popular anti behavior.