Lars von Trier’s Apocalyptic Consciousness in the Anthropology of the House That Jack Did Not Build

The subject of the study is the concept of the historical hero as a victor of the gods and his role in contemporary Western cultural heritage, with a focus on the reinterpretation of Scandinavian culture in the works of Lars von Trier. The research methodology is based on the analysis of Hollywood’s reception of neo-European rationalism and the ideas of individualism and free will in European culture. The author examines the influence of the implementation of freedom without morality on the exploration of the idea of the Übermensch (superman) and discusses unresolved questions in this context. The research findings highlight the importance of the themes of personal responsibility and freedom in Western culture, as well as the legacy of Scandinavian culture as a source of the manifestation of truths. The conclusions of the study emphasize the relevance and significance of the discussed issues in the contemporary cultural context. The main goal of the research is to identify the consistent stages of Lars von Trier’s apocalyptic consciousness, particularly in the context of resistance to the colonization of art by ontological philosophy and the dominance of Hollywood clichés and political sentiments in the film market. This work conducts a methodological investigation into how Lars von Trier applies the philosophy of images through cinematography as a tool to separate false and immaculate representations of the world, with a focus on the problem of sin in his composition. This work methodologically explores this process and analyzes how it interacts with contemporary culture and cinema. In the context of the scientific novelty of the research, a question arises about Lars von Trier describing himself as a ‘sadistic doctor’ who saves lives but remains, in the eyes of those saved, an antichrist and a criminal in the humanistic world and humanity’s defense of a world different from the existing one. The results of this research can be used to study philosophical anthropology in the field of film studies and visual arts, as well as in related social and humanitarian disciplines, to analyze how this theme interacts with culture and society.