The Evolution of the «America» Concept Representation within the Framework of the American Photographic Discourse of the XX сentury

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Abstract

The present article is devoted to the analysis of the concept «America» as exemplified by the nominative paradigm of the American photographic discourse. The authors presume that the practical significance of the present article consists of the applicability of research results during the Practical English and American Studies classes due to the full language immersion to the linguocultural worldview of the USA by virtue of such photographs’ qualities as illustrative purpose and authenticity. The relevance of research is determined by the necessity of investigating the influence that the American photographic discourse has on the artistic and social-political spheres of society life. The aim of the present article is to study the constituents of «America» concept from the point of view of linguosynergetic approach interpreted as examination of the dynamic language system over a long period of time. The authors analyze the American photographic discourse as a complex communicative phenomenon, examine the interaction and interinfluence of the pictorial art and photography as part of the American artistic tradition. The authors analyze the semantic peculiarities of the «America» macro-concept and also carry out research regarding the structure of «Area», «Human», «Architecture», «Environment», «History», «Culture» micro-concepts, which actualize the «America» macro-concept. The authors conclude that the nominative paradigm of the American photographic discourse is characterized by a high degree of anthropocentricity, personal photographers’ interest in the new objects of research («Hi-Tech», «Human» / «Nude»), searching the new forms of artistic photography. The evolution of the nominative paradigm results in decrease of the qualitative rate of «Racism» and «The Great Depression» concepts’ representatives as a result of the objective socio-historic events.

About the authors

V. D. Shevchenko

Samara National Research University

Author for correspondence.
Email: morenov@ssau.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0001-6357-2477

Doctor of Philological Sciences, associate professor, head of the Department of English Philology

A. V. Komarov

Samara National Research University

Email: morenov@ssau.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-1064-8690

lecturer of the Department of English Philology

References

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Copyright (c) 2020 Shevchenko V.D., Komarov A.V.

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