Deconstruction of the traditional Soviet aviation myth in the fiction of the “thaw” (based on the story by V.P. Aksenov “The steel bird”)

The article examines the transformation of images and motifs of Soviet literature, united by the theme of aviation, in the works of the “thaw” period. The socialist realist aesthetics formed in the 1930s - 1950s is subjected to critical reflection by young authors: the orthodox system of the Soviet worldview becomes fertile ground for rethinking various aspects of traditional mythology. The research material was the story of V.P. Aksenova's “Steel Bird” embodies the trends outlined in the literature of the specified period: grotesque and allegorical in this case are tools for deconstructing socialist realist cultural codes. The aviation myth, one of the key ones in the structure of Soviet aesthetics, is undergoing serious changes: the undoubtedly positive assessment of the proximity of the power and aviation narratives is leveled, creative pathos is replaced by destructive, the functions of heralding (transmitting the truth - the will of the state - citizens through propaganda materials, in early Soviet literature this function is marked positively), protection (protection of the “tranquility of our borders” from any external enemy) acquire reverse signification: the main character organizes the distribution of fake Old French tapestries, which indicates forgery, falsification of true values, he begins in every possible way to oppress the residents of the house where he moved in, not having no rights to do so, and then completely acquires full power over his own neighbors, so the motives of supervision and punishment are actualized in the text. The intentions of the Soviet government, metaphorically embodied in the image of a Steel Bird, regarding the use of world culture for its own legitimization within the framework of the concept of “Moscow - the Third Rome” are separately indicated. In this context, the motive of “weaving”, the metaphor of text generation, and propaganda - the total dissemination of “texts”-tapestries - is actualized, which allows us to talk about the deconstruction of one of the key functions of the orthodox aviator - heraldism - and the profanation of discourse in general. Thus, the author's strategy V.P. Aksenova exposes the tendency to destroy the socialist realist canon and, in particular, the aviation myth.