The concept of a Cultural hero as a universal phenomenon of culture

The concept of a Cultural hero stimulates, programmes and realizes adaptive and reformative activities of people. It is more effective to investigate this definition in symbiosis with such a philosophic category as a universal phenomenon. The point is about universal phenomena of culture, which are unique bases, eternal ontological constants of human existence. Universal phenomena of culture include norms, values, rules, traditions and other culture's aspects of general character. They are presented at every stage of human development, independently from geographical location, historical time and social order of community. As for existence of universal phenomena of culture, they do not belong to language and reality, but they belong to mentality. A Cultural hero as one of universal phenomena of culture has the same characteristics. This term defines philosophical and mythological personification that models a sacral subject. This person represents some features of the national character. Undoubtedly, the image of a Cultural hero is a necessary notional centre of every culture. That is why the process of forming any culture is constantly accompanied with promoting the before-mentioned heroes. Let us observe the evolution of a Cultural hero in retrospection: Trickster, Devotee, Übermensch. At the very first stage the Trickster is a very important figure. Trickster's contradictory nature was very productive for culture because this character gets rid of all oppositional elements. The Trickster enriches culture with some innovations via the trial-and-error method. As any egoist, he takes care of himself only. By the way, this personage can be the protector of the humankind; he is the ancestor or the demiurge. Trickster's image accumulates the typical features of the Antiquity. Later, the image of a Cultural hero was standardized and aestheticized. The working model (the Trickster) transformed into a more complicated one. The Devotee's type of a hero represents the image of a certain nation. Devotee's special features are the name, altruism, courage and vulnerability. He also has a universal criterion, like the Trickster, the Devotee is always on the way. Sometimes they travel together. In this occasion their relations can be hostile or mutually beneficial. Later a cultural hero comes down from Heaven to Earth. The last attempt of creating an ideal hero was made. Übermensch by F. Nietzsche has Trickster's features (peculiar attitude to life, insolence) and Devotee's somatic beauty. Übermensch is always on the way. Trickster is in eternal travelling without any aim and Devotee's aim is minor, Übermensch has a great aim. Perhaps, the concept of Übermensch is a culmination of the evolution of a cultural hero. However, these three heroes can create a trihedron together only. So, a cultural hero as a fundamental universal phenomenon that maintains semantic stability. It is a paradoxical unity of variability and invariability.

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