Interdisciplinary Studies of Western Esoterim and Culture Studies

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.

Keywords

• culture studies
• western esotericism
• Birmingham school
• W. Landig
• M. Serrano