Changes

==Origin==

==Origin==

The term "cult of personality" probably appeared in [[English]] around 1800-1850, along with the French and German usage. At first it had no [[political]] connotations but was instead closely related to the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romanticism Romantic] "cult of [[genius]]".

The term "cult of personality" probably appeared in [[English]] around 1800-1850, along with the French and German usage. At first it had no [[political]] connotations but was instead closely related to the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romanticism Romantic] "cult of [[genius]]".

<blockquote>Neither of us cares a straw of popularity. Let me cite one proof of this: such was my aversion to the personality cult [orig. Personenkultus] that at the time of the International, when plagued by numerous moves [...] to accord me public honor, I never allowed one of these to enter the domain of publicity [...]  —Karl Marx, A letter to German political worker, Wilhelm Blos, 10 November 1877</blockquote>

<blockquote>Neither of us cares a straw of popularity. Let me cite one proof of this: such was my aversion to the personality cult [orig. Personenkultus] that at the time of the International, when plagued by numerous moves [...] to accord me public honor, I never allowed one of these to enter the domain of publicity [...]  —Karl Marx, A letter to German political worker, Wilhelm Blos, 10 November 1877</blockquote>

The terms "cult of personality" and "personality cult" were popularized by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/On_the_Personality_Cult_and_its_Consequences Khrushchev's Secret Speech of 1956]. Robert Service notes that a more [[accurate]] [[translation]] of the Russian "культ личности" ("kul't lichnosti") is the "cult of the [[individual]]".

The terms "cult of personality" and "personality cult" were popularized by [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/On_the_Personality_Cult_and_its_Consequences Khrushchev's Secret Speech of 1956]. Robert Service notes that a more [[accurate]] [[translation]] of the Russian "культ личности" ("kul't lichnosti") is the "cult of the [[individual]]".

<center>For lessons on the related [[topic]] of '''''[[Cults]]''''', follow [https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Category:Cults '''''this link'''''].</center>

<center>For lessons on the related [[topic]] of '''''[[Cults]]''''', follow [https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=Category:Cults '''''this link'''''].</center>

==Description==

==Description==

A '''cult of personality''' arises when an [[individual]] uses [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mass_media mass media], [[propaganda]], or other [[methods]], to create an idealized, [[heroic]], and, at times god-like [[public]] [[image]], often through unquestioning [[flattery]] and [[praise]]. Sociologist [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Max_Weber Max Weber] developed a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tripartite_classification_of_authority tripartite classification of authority]; the cult of personality holds parallels with what Weber defined as "[[charismatic]] authority". A cult of personality is similar to [[hero]] [[worship]], except that it is established by mass media and propaganda.

A '''cult of personality''' arises when an [[individual]] uses [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mass_media mass media], [[propaganda]], or other [[methods]], to create an idealized, [[heroic]], and, at times god-like [[public]] [[image]], often through unquestioning [[flattery]] and [[praise]]. Sociologist [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Max_Weber Max Weber] developed a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tripartite_classification_of_authority tripartite classification of authority]; the cult of personality holds parallels with what Weber defined as "[[charismatic]] authority". A cult of personality is similar to [[hero]] [[worship]], except that it is established by mass media and propaganda.

Throughout [[history]], [[monarchs]] and heads of [[state]] were almost always held in enormous [[reverence]]. Through the principle of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Divine_right_of_kings divine right of kings], for example, rulers were said to hold office by the will of God. Ancient Egypt, Japan, the Inca, the Aztecs, Tibet, Thailand, and the Roman Empire (see [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imperial_cult_(ancient_Rome) imperial cult]) are especially noted for redefining monarchs as god-kings.

Throughout [[history]], [[monarchs]] and heads of [[state]] were almost always held in enormous [[reverence]]. Through the principle of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Divine_right_of_kings divine right of kings], for example, rulers were said to hold office by the will of God. Ancient Egypt, Japan, the Inca, the Aztecs, Tibet, Thailand, and the Roman Empire (see [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imperial_cult_(ancient_Rome) imperial cult]) are especially noted for redefining monarchs as god-kings.

The spread of [[democratic]] and [[secular]] [[ideas]] in Europe and North America in the 18th and 19th centuries made it increasingly difficult for monarchs to preserve this [[aura]]. However, the subsequent development of photography, sound recording, [[film]], and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mass_production mass production], as well as public education and [[techniques]] used in commercial [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advertising advertising], enabled political [[leaders]] to project a positive image like never before. It was from these circumstances in the 20th century that the best-known personality cults arose. Often these cults are a form of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_religion political religion].

The spread of [[democratic]] and [[secular]] [[ideas]] in Europe and North America in the 18th and 19th centuries made it increasingly difficult for monarchs to preserve this [[aura]]. However, the subsequent development of photography, sound recording, [[film]], and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mass_production mass production], as well as public education and [[techniques]] used in commercial [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advertising advertising], enabled political [[leaders]] to project a positive image like never before. It was from these circumstances in the 20th century that the best-known personality cults arose. Often these cults are a form of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_religion political religion].

''Personality cults'' were first described in relation to [[totalitarian]] [[regimes]] that sought to alter or [[transform]] [[society]] according to [[radical]] ideas. Often, a single [[leader]] became associated with this revolutionary [[transformation]], and came to be treated as a benevolent "[[guide]]" for the nation without whom the transformation to a better [[future]] couldn't occur. This has been generally the justification for personality cults that arose in [[totalitarian]] societies of the 20th century, such as those of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adolf_Hitler Adolf Hitler] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Stalin Joseph Stalin].

''Personality cults'' were first described in relation to [[totalitarian]] [[regimes]] that sought to alter or [[transform]] [[society]] according to [[radical]] ideas. Often, a single [[leader]] became associated with this revolutionary [[transformation]], and came to be treated as a benevolent "[[guide]]" for the nation without whom the transformation to a better [[future]] couldn't occur. This has been generally the justification for personality cults that arose in [[totalitarian]] societies of the 20th century, such as those of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adolf_Hitler Adolf Hitler] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Stalin Joseph Stalin].

Not all dictatorships foster personality cults, not all personality cults are [[dictatorships]] (some are nominally democratic), and some [[leaders]] may actively seek to minimize their own public [[adulation]]. For example, during the Cambodian [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khmer_Rouge Khmer Rouge] regime, images of dictator [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pol_Pot Pol Pot] (Saloth Sar) were rarely seen in [[public]], and his [[identity]] was under dispute abroad until after his fall from power. The same applied to numerous Eastern European Communist regimes following [[World War II]].  

Not all dictatorships foster personality cults, not all personality cults are [[dictatorships]] (some are nominally democratic), and some [[leaders]] may actively seek to minimize their own public [[adulation]]. For example, during the Cambodian [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khmer_Rouge Khmer Rouge] regime, images of dictator [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pol_Pot Pol Pot] (Saloth Sar) were rarely seen in [[public]], and his [[identity]] was under dispute abroad until after his fall from power. The same applied to numerous Eastern European Communist regimes following [[World War II]].  

==See also==

==See also==

*'''''[[Cults]]'''''

*'''''[[Cults]]'''''