Institutionalization of social theater in Russia: the needs of society, groups, individuals

The article presents the author’s definition of social theater. According to it, it became possible to distinguish this concept and other terms, sometimes very similar in content, denoting various theatrical phenomena. Based on the consideration of existing sociological approaches the author’s model of studying social theater as a social institution, as well as the process of its institutionalization, is proposed for the study of social institutions and the process of institutionalization. Step-by-step filling of the specified model with empirical data will be able to give a holistic view of the degree and nature of the institutionalization of social theater in Russia. The proposed article addresses the first of the tasks on this path - to identify and analyze the needs satisfied by the institution of social theater in modern Russian society. It is emphasized that at the macro level this process is carried out through the integration of society members, raising any significant social problem before them, changing the angle of view on it; while at the micro level social theater acts as a means of satisfying the needs of individuals or their groups in self-actualization, communication, creative self-expression, adaptation to society and inclusion in it as equals.