New Sociality: Hero in Digital Age (A Russian Context)

This paper provides a comprehensive review of theoretical and empirical approaches to the study of the hero archetype within the emerging digital and mediatized sociality, which reflects profound changes in contemporary society’s structure, value systems, and communication forms. It presents the results of a comparative analysis of traditional and modern heroic archetypes within the Russian media landscape, elucidating their interactions in the context of cultural digital transformation. The study pays particular attention to the influence of cyber-socialization, networked identities, digital communications, and algorithmic mechanisms on the processes of redefining heroism and the symbolic representation of individuals. It raises questions regarding the relationship between classical values of heroism, sacrifice, and glory with new reputational and rating practices associated with online success. The findings indicate that the contemporary hero is defined by media visibility, audience engagement, and digital capital. The research demonstrates that the digital environment establishes new criteria for heroic behavior and public recognition. It emphasizes that the heroic myth does not disappear but rather transforms, maintaining its function — an individual’s readiness to respond to the challenges of their time and reshape reality in the digital age. This investigation contributes to the development of media culture philosophy, social heroism theory, and the concept of digital humanism, opening avenues for interdisciplinary research.

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