Affiliation
a Kemerovo State University
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Abstract
The article reviews the meaning of political symbols in the modern society through the prism of Guy Debord's political and philosophical tractate «The Society of the Spectacle». It introduces a notion of political symbols - a specific form of social communication; such symbols give each agent the opportunity to identify themselves with a certain political community; they are an important part of political activity. All this becomes possible due to a long history of transformation of political signs and symbols that have the same meaning for most members of sociopolitical relations. Political symbols represent a «soft political power» that affects people via sight, which is the most abstract of senses, according to the author of «The Society of the Spectacle». As a result, political symbols have become essential part of modern political life, creating or maintaining an illusion of free choice. In order to negate spectacle's influence Debord offers to think and act creatively, building relations according to one's personal beliefs, as opposed to following patterns and imposed symbols.
Keywords
symbols,
political symbols,
social communication,
Guy Debord,
sociological studies
