Interdisciplinary Studies of Western Esoterim and Culture Studies
Nosachev Pavel
Вестник Православного Свято-Тихоновского гуманитарного университета: Серия I. Богословие, философия September 2, 2017 DOI: 10.15382/sturi201666.105-120 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Keywords | Culture studies Western esotericism Birmingham school W. landig M. serrano |
| Key points | Argues that the myth of an esoteric background of the Third Reich, originating in right-wing esoteric circles, became assimilated into mainstream culture through popular fiction, films, and computer games. |
Abstract
Interdisciplinary studies have long become an integral part of modern science, but in the field of religious studies and studies in Western esotericism, they are still not sufficiently widespread. In the article, well-known methodology of the study of a cultural product, developed by the Birmingham school of cultural studies is applied to the Western esotericism. The object of study is in the extreme right spectrum of contemporary esotericism. The myth of esoteric (or rather alien) background of the Third Reich was widely popularized after the 1950s through the works of W. Landig, M. Serrano, etc. Since the 1960s, these ideas were spread not only in the circles of adepts of right wing esotericism, but in popular fiction literature also; later this story became a common theme of films and computer industry. Thus, aimed at a narrow circle of adepts, the idea transformed itself and became a part of the mainstream culture. On the example of genesis, target audience, conditions of its development, author demonstrate the complexity of the process of assimilation by popular culture the myths, born in the esoteric milieu.