Khrenov, N. A. Symbolism as a Part of the Confl ict Between Anthropomorphic and Disanthropomorphic Tendencies in Culture

Abstract: The author of the article discusses the role of symbolism as an art movement in Russian art at the turn of XXth century. Symbolism is viewed as the creation of the epoch of the Russian empire collapse and thus, the author underlines the following features of symbolism: symbolism demonstrates the gap in continuity of generations; the opposition between anthropomorphic and disanthropomorphic tendencies, between humanitarian and natural scientifi c spheres. The latter creates the gap between ‘fathers’ and ‘children’. ‘Fathers’ are viewed as positivists and ‘children’ – symbolists demonstrate their escaping into mystics, theosophy, mythology, Gnosticism and Christian personalism. It makes symbolists resemble romantics and therefore symbolism is often said to be the neoromanticism. Continuing the opposition between Art Nouveau and romanticism in XX, symbolists adopted and developed the romantic tradition.

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