The semiotic close reading by V. N. Toporov as a method of studying Russian spiritual culture

The leading Russian semiotics specialist V. N. Toporov developed a number of techniques for interpreting literary works, never examined systematically by next generation of specialists. One of these techniques was close reading of modern sources about the spiritual culture of Russia, confirming a certain structure of the mechanisms of semiotization of key cultural concepts. So, in order to confirm that in Russia, holiness was understood as the principle of reorganization of culture, as not just sanctification of life, but also as giving it a new dynamic, Toporov reads the narrative by I. S. Shmelev “Pilgrimage”, reflecting folk religiosity of the second half of the 19th century. Slow reading, including paraphrases and interpretive comments, allows to reconstruct how the concept of holiness was absorbed in the culture of that time, turned out to be element of inculturation. But in order to understand exactly how Toporov reads Shmelev, a close reading of his close reading would be the best. Then Toporov's project proves to be not just analytical, but synthetic, showing exactly what impressions from art and life formed a general idea of the effects of holiness in Russian culture. Moreover, the Toporov's method has certain limitations due to underestimating social distribution of roles in these processes and theatricality. Toporov often reduces public scenarios to professional intentions. Enhancing of Toporov's method with study of performative social behavior will make it productive for new cultural studies.