History of a conceptual construction: New man / Soviet man
Histoire d’une construction conceptuelle : homme nouveau / homme soviétique
Résumé
In the present article, we try to trace the genesis and the evolution of two correlated and closely connected concepts: New man and Soviet man. Our approach is to analyze the discursive contexts in which these two concepts circulate, to determine the relations between themselves as well as the relations to other neighbouring concepts, and to pick out the characteristic elements. Born at the crossroad of diverse discursive practices, the two concepts in question can be considered as a double concept which contains two representations closely related to a single phenomenon. The multiple nuances of meaning of this single phenomenon place it at the reference level between the reality and the modern mythology. Being a hybrid product of utopian dreams of several generations, it designates a new species, unique in its kind, homo sovieticus, an incredible phenomenon in the world history.