UDC

141.1:236.9

DOI

10.37482/2687-1505-V107

Authors

Aleksandr M. Prilutskiy
The Herzen State Pedagogical University of Russia; nab. reki Moyki 48, korp. 20, St. Petersburg, 191186, Russian Federation; ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7013-9935 e-mail: alpril@mail.ru

Abstract

The coronavirus epidemic and anti-epidemic measures, such as quarantine restrictions on social activity, wide use of disinfectants, requirements for the use of personal protective equipment, as well as changes in church liturgy, rituals and sacraments lead to the creation of medical conspiracy myths. This article analyses two most important conspiracy mythologemes that are formed as a result of a conspiracy interpretation of the epidemic: the vaccination mythologeme and the microchipping mythologeme. The author proceeds from the assumption that modern eschatological conspiracy myths are based on the original non eschatological myth, which provided a rational non-religious hermeneutics of epidemics. The eschatological version of the vaccinophobic conspiracy myth is formed on the basis of a non-eschatological conspiracy as a result of medical conspiracy theories merging with the modern version of the technophobic myth. The invariant core of the latter consists of mythologemes and mythotheologemes that interpret modern technologies within the framework of eschatological semiotics. As a result of convergence, these mythologemes form a single mythotheological complex, which, in turn, becomes a trigger for a new eschatological mythology. The paper analyses the semantic structure of this mytho-theological complex, its semiotic features, pragmatic potential and reasons for its popularity. The research was carried out within the framework of a semiotic and hermeneutic study of mythological discourse applying the method of categorical semiotics. As illustrations the author used fragments of original texts posted on conspiracy websites devoted to eschatological issues.

For citation: Prilutskiy A.M. Vaccination vs Microchipping: Triggers of Eschatological Mythology in the Context of Anti-Epidemic Measures. Vestnik Severnogo (Arkticheskogo) federal’nogo universiteta. Ser.: Gumanitarnye i sotsial’nye nauki, 2021, vol. 21, no. 3, pp. 108–118. DOI: 10.37482/2687-1505-V107

Keywords

coronavirus epidemic, eschatology, mythology, conspiracy theories, vaccination, microchipping, medical conspiracy

References

1. Lunkin R.N. Social and Political Consequences of the Pandemic for the Russian Orthodox Church. RUDN J. Polit. Sci., 2020, vol. 22, no. 4, pp. 547–558. DOI: 10.22363/2313-1438-2020-22-4-547-558
2. Bitekhtina L.D. Opyt perezhivaniya eskhatologii vremeni v dinamike i ustoychivosti smyslov pri “Pandemii 2020” [Experiencing the Eschatology of Time in the Dynamics and Stability of Meanings During the 2020 Pandemic]. Chukhrova M.G. (ed.). Bezopasnost’ cheloveka v ekstremal’nykh klimato-ekologicheskikh i sotsial’nykh usloviyakh [Human Security in Extreme Climatic, Ecological, and Social Conditions]. Novosibirsk, 2020, pp. 127–134. DOI: 10.38163/978-5-6043858-6-9_2020_127
3. Chesnova E.N., Mart’yanova E.G. Vera, religioznost’ i eskhatologicheskie nastroeniya v usloviyakh transformatsii mirovozzreniya i ugrozy global’nykh problem sovremennosti (na primere COVID-19) [Faith, Religiosity and Eschatological Sentiments in the Context of Worldview Transformation and the Threat of Today’s Global Problems (Exemplified by COVID-19)]. Romanova A.P., Chernichkin D.A. (eds.). Religioznaya identichnost’ i mezhkul’turnye kommunikatsii [Religious Identity and Intercultural Communication]. Astrakhan, 2020, pp. 194–202.
4. Skudenkov V.A. Perezhivanie neopredelennosti pri pandemii [Experiencing Uncertainty During a Pandemic]. Polyushkevich O.A., Druzhinin G.V. (eds.). V poiskakh sotsial’noy istiny [In Search of Social Truth]. Irkutsk, 2020, pp. 426–429.
5. Prilutskiy A.M. Koronavirusnaya infektsiya i religioznye diskursy meditsinskoy konspirologii [Covid-19 and Religious Discourses of the Medical Conspiracy Theory]. Izvestiya Irkutskogo gosudarstvennogo universiteta. Ser.: Politologiya. Religiovedenie, 2020, vol. 33, pp. 108–114. DOI: 10.26516/2073-3380.2020.33.108
6. Alekseev P. Opisanie Moskovskogo bunta. 1771 goda Sentyabrya 15 dnya. Sostavlennoe protoiereem Petrom Alekseevym [Description of the Moscow Plague Riot. 15th September 1771. Compiled by Archpriest Pyotr Alekseyev]. Russkiy arkhiv, 1863, no. 12. Cols. 910–916.
7. Gessen S. “Kholernye bunty”. (1830–1832 gg.) [The Cholera Riots. (1830-1832)]. Moscow, 1932. 64 p.
8. Chagadaeva O. Nas morit’ khotyat! Ub’em doktora!: istoki segodnyashnego nedoveriya patsientov k vracham mozhno obnaruzhit’ v kholernykh buntakh XIX veka [They Want to Murder Us! Let’s Kill the Doctor! The Origins of Today’s Patients’ Mistrust of Doctors Can Be Traced to the 19th-Century Cholera Riots]. Rodina, 2019, no. 3, pp. 102–106.
9. Lebedev V.Yu. Kul’turologiya, meditsina i religiya v pole antropologii: konflikt ili sintez? [Cultural Studies, Medicine and Religion in the Field of Anthropology: Conflict or Synthesis?]. Acta eruditorum, 2018, no. 25, pp. 21–26.
10. Golovushkin D.A. Religioznoe obnovlenie or religioznoe obnovlenie sovremennosti [Religious Renovation or Religious Renovation of the Modernity]. Religioznaya situatsiya na Severo-Zapade: traditsionnye religii/religioznye traditsii [Religious Situation in the North-West: Traditional Religions/Religious Traditions]. St. Petersburg, 2018, pp. 76–92.
11. Calance M. Globalization and the Conspiracy Theory. Procedia Econ. Finance, 2015, vol. 23, pp. 677–681. DOI: 10.1016/S2212-5671(15)00474-8
12. Yarkeev A.V. Bytie sotsial’nogo v strukturakh “zloveshchego”: germenevticheskiy aspekt [The Being of the Social in the Structures of the Uncanny: Hermeneutical Aspect]. Vestnik Tomskogo gosudarstvennogo universiteta, 2015, no. 392, pp. 83–87. DOI: 10.17223/15617793/392/14
13. Cubitt G.T. Conspiracy Myths and Conspiracy Theories. J. Anthropol. Soc. Oxf., 1989, vol. 20, no. 1, pp. 12–26.
14. Prilutskiy A.M. Teologicheskie i mifologicheskie kontsepty religioznykh diskursov laminarnoy kul’tury: opyt semioticheskogo analiza [Theological and Mythological Concepts of Religious Discourses in Laminar Culture: Experience of Semiotic Analysis]. Obshchestvo. Sreda. Razvitie, 2019, no. 1, pp. 26–31.
15. Leone M., Madisson M.-L., Ventsel A. Semiotic Approaches to Conspiracy Theories. Butter M., Knight P. (eds.). Routledge Handbook of Conspiracy Theories. London, 2020, pp. 43–55.