Flier Andrey Yakovlevich,
Doctor of Philosophy, Professor,
Chief Researcher
Lykhachev Russian Research Institute
for Cultural and Natural Heritage
e-mail: andrey.flier@yandex.ru

Popular Science: Between Knowledge and Entertainment

Abstract. The article introduces a scientific term “pop science”. It implies a scientific activity which creates extravagant and sensational interpretations, rather than reveals new knowledge. Pop science is very popular among certain segments of educated people, actually being one of the tools of mass culture which manipulates consciousness and fills their intellectual leisure time.

Key words: pop science, pop culture, mass culture, leisure time and intellectual activities, extravagant interpretations, scientific sensations.

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[2] The popular novel by Dan Brown “The Da Vinci Code” (N.Y.: Doubleday Group, 2003) which is based on Baigent M., Leigh R., Lincoln H.’s "The Holy Blood and the Holy Grail” (London: Jonathan Cape, 1982) and represents is a classic exapmple of modern pop science, having even brought to legal proceedings.
[3] Renan J. E. Vie de Jésus. Paris: Douniol, 1863 and other works of the author on early Christianity.
[4] См., например: Guénon R. Introduction générale à l’étude des doctrines hindoues. Paris: Guy Tredaniel Editeur, 1921; Guénon R. La crise du monde moderne. Paris: Gallimard, 1927; Guénon R. Le symbolisme de la croix. Paris: Journal des communautés, 1931 and other works.
[5] Lassalle P. Le sentier du Graal ou le retour de Perceval. Paris: Éditions De Mortagne, 1999; Blake S., Lloyd S. Pendragon. The Definitive Account of the Origins of Arthur. London, Ebury Press, 2002; Blake S., Lloyd S. The Keys to Avalon. London, Rider/Ebury Press, 2002; Cox S., Oxbrow M. An A to Z of King Arthur and The Holy Grail. Mainstream Publishing, 2007.
[6] Rahn O. W. Kreuzzug gegen den Gral. Freiburg: Urban-Verlag 1933; Rahn O. W.. Luzifers Hofgesind. Leipzig, Berlin, Schwarzhaeupter-verlag, 1937; Baigent M., Leigh R., Lincoln H. The Holy Blood and the Holy Grail. London: Jonathan Cape, 1982; Markale J. L'énigme du Saint Graal de Rennes-le-Château à Marie-Madeleine. Paris: Éditions Pygmalion/Gérard Watelet, 1989; Markale J. Gisors et l'énigme des Templiers. Paris: Pygmalion, 1996; Blum J. Rennes-le-Chateau. Wisigothes, cathares, templiers le secret des heretiques. Paris: Editions du Rocher, 1994; Newman S. The Real History Behind the Da Vinci Code. N.Y.: Berkley Books, 2005, etc. Criticism: Eco U. Il pendolo di Foucault. Milano. Bompiani, Rl Libri, 1988.
[7] The Jewish Peril: Protocols of the Learned Elders of Zion. London, 1920; The World Secret Plot. The Protocols of the Learned Elders of Zion (after S.A. Nilus). Berlin, 1922.
[8] Blavatsky H.P. The Secret Doctrine. In 3 volumes. Riga. 1937 (modern edition, M.: Eksmo, 2010); Blavatsky H.P. Isis Unveiled: a Master-Key to the Mysteries of Ancient and Modern Science and Theology. In 2 volumes). М., 1877 (modern edition, M.: Eksmo, 2007); Roerich N.K. Shambhala. The Heart of Asia. M.: Eksmo, 2010; Roerich N.K. Searching for the Truth. Secret Knowledge of Agni Yoga. Theory and Practice. М.: Ripol-Klassik, 2008; Roerich H.I. At the Threshold of the New World. М.: МTsR, 2000; Roerich E.I. Letters. Vol. 1-9. М.: МTsR, 1999-2009, etc.
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[10] Ivanov D.V. Glam capitalism. SPb.: Peterburgskoye Vostokovedeniye, 2008.
[11] See also: Rudnev V.P. The Dictionary of the 21st-Century. М.: Agraf, 1999; Kostina A.V. Popular Culture // Knowledge. Understanding. Skill. 2005. № 3.
[12] See, for example: Azhazha V.G. Please Meet UFO! М.: Vetche, 1990; Kratokhvil V.I. UFO – Guests from the Future. Мinsk: Georg, 1992; Bezkhmelnitsin N.T.  UFO and a Theory of Ufology. The Genome of the Universe. Kiev: Lesya, 1997; Rendels D., Hough P The Complete Book of UFOs: Fifty Years of Alien Contacts and Encounters. М.: Vetche, 1998. Ritchie D. The Encyclopedia of UFOs and Aliens. М.: Vetche, 1998. Hynek А. UFO Experience: A Scientific Approach // UFO. 2000. № 41, etc.
[13] See, for example: Henzel C. Parapsychology. М.: Мir, 1970; Dubrov A.P., Pushkin V.N. Parapsychology and Modern Natural Science. М.: Sovaminko, 1989; Grof S. The Psychology of Future. М.: АSТ, 2001; Grof S, Halifax J. The Human Encounters Death. М.: АSТ, 2003; Panasuk A.Yu. The Big Encyclopedia of Parapsychology. М.: Ripol-Klassik, 2007, etc.
[14] See, for example: Grushin B.A. Structure. Problems. Prospects. М.: Pravda, 1966; Khrenov N.A. Mythology of Leisure Time. М.: Gos. Respubl. Tsentr Russkogo Folklora, 1998; Yonnet, Paul. Travail, loisir, Temps libre et lien social. Paris: Gallimard, 1999; L’Avènement des loisirs (1850-1960). Paris: Flammarion, 2001, etc.
[15] Brown, Dan. The Da Vinci Code. N.Y.: Doubleday Group, 2003; Brown, Dan. Angels and Demons. N.Y.: Pocket Books, 2000.
[16] Revealingly, the Bibliographical Index of one of the major theoretical works by Gumilyov “Rhythms of Eurasia” lists no works of recognized anthropologists, sociologists, historians of the 19th-20th centuries, containing mostly works of Russian pre-revolutionary field ethnographers. Meantime, 25% of the above Index is consisted of works by Gumilyov himself (see: Gumilyov L.N.. Rhythms of Eurasia. М.: Ekopros, 1993). No comment.
[17] It is necessary to a mention that some of L. Gumolyov’s ideas (and even more those of Eurasian white emigrants of the 1920s, developed by this author) interlaced with those of G. Gentile and B. Mussolini given in “The Doctrine of Fascism” (see.: Gentile, Giovanni, Mussolini, Benito. La Dottrina del fascismo // Enciclopedia italiana di scienze, lettere ed arti Istituto Giovanni Treccani, Roma, 36 v. 1929-1939). Explosions of social energy, called by Gumilyov to the point “passionarity”, were actually described, though in other words, by A. Hitler (see.: Hitler, Adolf. Mein Kampf. Zwei Bände in Ungekürzte Ausgabe. München: Zentralverlag der NSDAP, Frz. Eher Nachf., G.m.b.H., 1943). Of course, Gumilyov himself was not a “political fascist” and was most unlikely to be familiar with works of Fascist and Nazi ideology (in the Soviet Union they were practically unavailable for the scientist). But his etatistic preferences, unfriendly attitude towards European democracy, admiration for totalitarian ancient empires, etc. resulted in similarity in a noticeable similarity of some of Gumilyov’s theoretical ideas with the most reactive ideologies of the 20th century. Meanwhile, links between Russian Eurasians of the 1920s and Mussolini’s theories, as well as ideas of the most evident Russian “political fascist” Baron R.F. von Ungern-Shternberg, who tried to recreate Genghis Khan’s Mongolian empire in its historical look, are still waiting for being investigated.