ANTHROPOLOGY OF THE MILITARY SYMBOL: RESEMANTIZATION AND EXISTENCE OF THE N (“IDEA OF THE NATION”) SIGN IN CONTEMPORARY RESISTANCE CULTURE

Abstract

The article examines the processes of resemantization and socio-cultural existence of the military symbol N (“Idea of the Nation”) within the context of Ukrainian resistance culture from 2014 to 2026. The relevance of the study is driven by the need to rethink the visual language of war not merely as a collection of graphic objects but as a complex anthropological system that actively shapes national identity and social practices. The author employs an interdisciplinary approach, combining methods of social semiotics (G. Kress, T. van Leeuwen) and visual anthropology (C. Geertz, S. Pink). Clifford Geertz’s concept of "thick description" is chosen as the central element of the theoretical framework, allowing for the analysis of the symbol as a "social fact" integrated into the daily life of a warring nation. It is proven that during the period of full-scale invasion, the N sign underwent radical resemantization: from a highly specialized marker of right-wing radical movements, it transformed into a nationwide symbol of elitism, resilience, and professional military valor. Specific forms of the symbol’s existence are analyzed, particularly the practices of bodily marking (tattoos), which are considered an act of "salvage anthropology" and a form of an individual’s existential choice under conditions of extreme experience (using the example of the defenders of Mariupol and "Azovstal"). Special attention is paid to the functioning of the sign in the sphere of material culture (merch, tactical clothing) and the digital space (avatars, street art memes), where the symbol acts as a tool of a "visual coalition," combining the "hard power" of military identity with the empathic strategies of volunteer brands. The study establishes that the visual code of resistance performs not only a communicative but also a constitutive function, constructing new semantic hierarchies within Ukrainian society. The article’s conclusions confirm that the decolonization of visual space occurs through the rejection of post-Soviet patterns in favor of dynamic symbols that appeal to historical continuity and the modern heroic myth. Perspectives for further research are seen in studying the impact of artificial intelligence technologies on the replication and transformation of national military codes in the global digital environment