VARIETY OF WANDERINGS: CULTURAL AND SEMANTIC ANALYSIS OF THE PHENOMENON

Abstract

Based on the multidimensional reality of cultural space, an attempt is made to show the diversity of manifestations and interpretations of the phenomenon of wandering in culture and to consider the factors that initiate travel. The abundance of forms of the phenomenon of wanderings arising in the history of culture is considered, and an attempt is made to bring to a common denominator the variety of practices of “moving in space”. Travel is seen as a source of change and novelty in history. The role of various types of travel in European history and culture is considered. Travel is associated with spatial movement and takes place in a cultural dimension. Travel is seen as moving (real or virtual) beyond everyday life, beyond its cultural space. Travel is a way for a person to comprehend the space of their own culture, its real or virtual boundaries, as well as a way to expand into a foreign, undeveloped, uncultured world. The ambivalence of the wandering phenomenon is shown. Travel is a change of the usual, established, “home” reality to the reality of the path – unfamiliar, unusual, perhaps seductive, and perhaps frightening. Traveling is always associated with danger and overcoming difficulties. In traveling, a person finds himself in another world, a world on the contrary, an “anti-world” with reverse (inside out) characteristics. The ambivalence of the alien is shown – both hostile and threatening, and attractive. The topic of life and death as wanderings and the sacred dimension of the phenomenon of wanderings is considered. The undeveloped world needs to be transformed, cultivated, mastered and appropriated. In any case, traveling is the development (appropriation) of another, foreign culture or uncultured space. Moving to “someone else’s” space does not necessarily mean spatial movement, it can also be a journey into the depths of yourself, into “your own undeveloped” world. The travel motif implements the idea of escaping from the routine reality of everyday life. Traveling is a search for the new, unusual, festive, and sacred. Travel is a game with space, a game with reality, a game with Meanings, a game with fate. The relationship of the phenomenon of wandering with Carnival is shown.