The Ruler Archetype in Contemporary Art: Toward a Political Mythology

Abstract

This article explores the ruler archetype as a key element of political mythology, represented in contemporary Russian art. The relevance of this work stems from the need to analyze the underlying, non-rational mechanisms of power legitimization and the construction of collective notions of leadership, which are conveyed through artistic practices. The authors systematize theoretical and methodological approaches to understanding the archetype, identifying the fundamental components of the ruler archetype. Based on an analysis of portraiture, monumental art, cinema, and literature, a consistent set of attributes of the ruler archetype in Russian culture is identified. It is concluded that art acts not as a passive reflector, but as an active instrument for the sacralization of power, translating abstract ideologemes into personalized, emotionally charged, and aesthetically shaped forms, assimilated at a pre-reflexive level.