Signs, Symbols, and Meanings of the Solemn Ceremony

The subject of the study is the mechanisms and dynamics of the change of symbolic elements in the structure of modern ceremonies. The purpose of the work is to analyze the process of forming meanings in public festive spaces of the 21st century and to identify the reasons why they turn into an empty, meaningless picture. The study uses a comprehensive approach to the study of cultural phenomena. The main research methods were structural analysis, comparison, and modeling. No surveys were conducted as part of the research, as it is a theoretical and methodological study based on the analysis of existing cultural practices. The results of the work have shown that the process of human perception of values is three-stage (recognition of the sign, emotional connection, personal appropriation), and the key factor in the destruction of the essence of the holiday is the excessive commercialization of its external aspects. The scientific novelty of the study lies in the development of a model of the balance of elements in a solemn ceremony, which captures the relationship between its stable semantic core and the changing technological periphery. The main area of application of the results is the organization and direction of mass performances, as well as the design of festive events. The conclusions state that the introduction of new technologies and visual effects is effective only when they fit the main purpose of the holiday, otherwise the ceremony loses its unifying function and becomes a mere spectacle.