Converting bird (loon) image to symbol in the artof the Russian North people

Abstract

The paper describes the creation of symbols (as granting cultural phenomena, determined by cultural and historical context, with symbolic value) by the people of the Russia North. The research is devoted to the system of images underlying national thinking of people of the Russia North (Finno-Ugric, Samoyed, Tungus-Manchurian, Turkic, Chukchi-Koryak, Eskimo-Aleut groups). The key issue of the paper is to analyze the mechanisms of converting the bird image to a symbol by the example of sacral culture of the people of the Russian North. Studying various empirical data revealing the features of creating symbols of the Russian North the authors have applied the dialectical method that promotes considering a thing in unity and diversity of its properties; the semiotic analysis and systematic approach that allows considering the art language of the people of the Russian North as certain integrity open to be changed. Having summarized the data of theoretical studies of archaeological and ethnographic material and having analyzed the system of images in arts and crafts the authors made a conclusion that the indigenous people of the Russian North have preserved national traditions, where the memory of the mythological and totemic images of demiurge birds is alive. These images are acquired the value of a symbol in evolution. Practice indicates that the symbol as a universal category of artistic creation, is functioning on all levels of organizing language system in the culture of the people of the Russian North. Cosmogonic and totemic views of the Russian North people contribute to occurrence of ornithomorphic symbols used in their artistic practice where the loon image was of great importance. The image impersonates the feminine, well-being and happiness; it was perceived as a mediator between the upper and the lower world

Keywords

• creating symbols
• language
• argumentation
• doublethink