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Cult Figure

cosmasad

Member
The definition of "Cult figure" is a political figure who projects the heroic image of a glorious leader, often through unquestioning flattery and praise. Mussolini... Hitler ... is there anything similar in Greek?

This may be a good time to explore this.
 

cougr

¥
καλτ φιγούρα or
καλτ προσωπικότητα

A couple of related links:

 
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cougr

¥
καλτ φιγούρα or
καλτ προσωπικότητα
Forgot to mention, the above terms are widely used in the media to render what we normally refer to as a "cult figure" but there may be some other opinions as well.
 
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Ουσιαστικά δεν υπάρχει κάτι αντίστοιχο στα ελληνικά. Το καλτ φιγούρα/προσωπικότητα λέγεται βέβαια, αλλά δεν θα το έλεγε νομίζω κανείς για τον Χίτλερ π.χ. Μου έρχεται στο μυαλό η φλασιά "αντικείμενο προσωπολατρείας" και βλέπω ότι στο παλιό νήμα είχα πει "αντικείμενο λατρείας"... oh well, τουλάχιστον είμαι συνεπής.
 
Μα κι εγώ όταν ακούω για «καλτ φιγούρα» σκέφτομαι περισσότερο ηθοποιούς… Όπως γράφει το Χρηστικό για το καλτ: καλλιτεχνικό συνήθ. δημιούργημα ή καλλιτέχνης που, ενώ στην αρχή δεν είχε απήχηση, απέκτησε με τον καιρό φανατικό, αλλά εξειδικευμένο κοινό.
 

cougr

¥
Ναι. Ή χρήση των όρων "καλτ φιγούρα/ προσωπικότητα" - τουλάχιστον προς το παρόν - μάλλον είναι καταχρηστική όταν αναφέρεται σε πρόσωπα εκτός του καλλιτεχνικού χώρου.

Και κάτι άλλο. Αντικείμενο "προσωπολατρείας" ή "προσωπολατρίας"; :unsure:
 
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m_a_a_

Active member
Το καλτ φιγούρα/προσωπικότητα λέγεται βέβαια, αλλά δεν θα το έλεγε νομίζω κανείς για τον Χίτλερ π.χ.
Μα κι εγώ όταν ακούω για «καλτ φιγούρα» σκέφτομαι περισσότερο ηθοποιούς…
«Καλτ φιγούρα» είναι ο Μηλιώκας, παιδιά. Σε καμία περίπτωση ο Χίτλερ...

Και κάτι άλλο. Αντικείμενο "προσωπολατρείας" ή "προσωπολατρίας";
Στο δεύτερο από τα νήματα στα οποία παραπέμπεις στο #2, cougr, ο Nickel γράφει «προσωπολατρία».
(Επίκληση στην αυθεντία λέγεται αυτό :-))
 

cougr

¥
Ναι. Ή χρήση των όρων "καλτ φιγούρα/ προσωπικότητα" - τουλάχιστον προς το παρόν - μάλλον είναι καταχρηστική όταν αναφέρεται σε πρόσωπα εκτός του καλλιτεχνικού χώρου.
Και του αθλητικού χώρου.
 

cosmasad

Member
I'm thinking of a political figure that people love and... fear. Like maybe someone that has recently been reelected to lead a super power. No names necessary.
 

m_a_a_

Active member
political figure that people love and... fear
Αντικείμενο προσωπολατρίας και φόβου;

Or, on a more improvisational mood: Λαοφιλής μπαμπούλας;

And, on a side-note, athough not a native speaker of English, I'm just double-checking: is this meaning really conveyed when saying "cult figure"?
 

cougr

¥
I'm just double-checking: is this meaning really conveyed when saying "cult figure"?
I'm sure there are different interpretations as to what constitutes a cult figure and that some cult figures do enjoy the use of fear and are possibly feared by their devotees or others, but generally speaking I don't think that the term "cult figure" is defined or commonly considered as someone who is feared or who inspires fear.
 

cosmasad

Member
Three examples of important cult figures are David Koresh the religious figure in Waco Texas who led his followers to their death, Jim Jones in Guiana whose 918 followers committed suicide by drinking Koolaid, or Charles Manson -- these are people that were beloved by the people he was leading before he led them to their death. In the political world - Hitler and Mussolini.

I like the "Αντικείμενο προσωπολατρίας και φόβου;" and "Λαοφιλής μπαμπούλας."
 

m_a_a_

Active member
David Koresh the religious figure in Waco Texas who led his followers to their death
The Waco case was actually one of the instances I came to think of myself, but I was too lazy to look up what the guy was called...
And yes, when I hear of "cult figures" I normally associate them with a following of anywhere between a few dozens and a few hundreds of, well, lost souls...
But I'm gonna have to repeat my question: is the term really applicable when referencing an elected ruler (be it nazi, fascist, populist, or whatever the case may be)?
 

LinguaClash

Active member
Μου κινήσατε την περιέργεια και το έβαλα στο chatgpt για να δω τι θα βγάλει, ιδού η απάντηση που μου έδωσε:
A "cult figure" typically refers to a person who has a devoted, almost obsessive following, often characterized by charismatic leadership, the idealization of that individual, and the formation of a personality cult. This concept is most often applied to leaders who have inspired fervent loyalty and adoration from their supporters, sometimes to the point of idolization.

When it comes to elected rulers like Nazi or fascist leaders (e.g., Adolf Hitler, Benito Mussolini) or even populist figures, the term "cult figure" is often used in the context of how these leaders cultivate a strong, almost mythic identity. Through propaganda, manipulation of public perception, and centralization of power, they create a persona that transcends their official role as leaders. The followers often treat them as more than political figures—viewing them as symbols of a greater cause, national pride, or even a vision for the future.

So, while the term might seem to evoke a more informal or celebrity-like status, it can certainly apply to authoritarian figures when describing the intense, almost religious devotion they may inspire in their followers. This devotion is often cultivated by the leader themselves, through charisma, rhetoric, and state-controlled media, to create a sense of loyalty that goes beyond traditional political support.

In conclusion, the term "cult figure" is applicable to certain elected rulers, especially when their leadership involves a strong, highly personal connection with their followers, and when that connection is rooted in loyalty to the individual rather than just their political platform.
 

m_a_a_

Active member
Objection overruled, then...

I guess I was under the misconception that a "cult" is per definition a minority...

Just to be clear though, this whole political shebang is by no means connoted when using the phrase «καλτ φιγούρα/προσωπικότητα» in Greek.
(At least not in my experience; and I do believe I have both heard and used the phrase on enough occasions to infer this with certainty)...

Well, unless you're talking about someone like Ευάγγελος Γιαννόπουλος... He's definitely «καλτ», in the Greek sense of the word... And if you're not familiar with who that is, here's a sample of him (at 0:28) calling some political rival (I guess) a... ehm... "rat-faced parsley" (αυτός ο μαϊντανός με τη μούρη του ποντικού), whatever that means... :-)
 
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LinguaClash

Active member
Ούτε κι εγώ θα χρησιμοποιούσα το cult figure υπό αυτή την έννοια (π.χ. για τον Χίτλερ) αλλά απ' ό,τι φαίνεται στα ελληνικά δεν έχουμε έναν αντίστοιχο όρο που να τα εμπερικλείει όλα.
Well, unless you're talking about someone like Ευάγγελος Γιαννόπουλος... He's definitely «καλτ», in the Greek sense of the word...
Ε κι ο Ανδρέας Παπανδρέου, το απόλυτο καλτ :ROFLMAO:
 

cougr

¥
But I'm gonna have to repeat my question: is the term really applicable when referencing an elected ruler (be it nazi, fascist, populist, or whatever the case may be)?
Apologies then, I thought that in #10 you were querying whether fear was a vital element in the definition of the term - hence my response in #11.
 
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cougr

¥
Just to be clear though, this whole political shebang is by no means connoted when using the phrase «καλτ φιγούρα/προσωπικότητα» in Greek.
(At least not in my experience; and I do believe I have both heard and used the phrase on enough occasions to infer this with certainty)...
I've come come across it once or twice, on the net and on Greek television I think, where foreign politicians were labelled as such but it's definitely not the norm
Ούτε κι εγώ θα χρησιμοποιούσα το cult figure υπό αυτή την έννοια (π.χ. για τον Χίτλερ) αλλά απ' ό,τι φαίνεται στα ελληνικά δεν έχουμε έναν αντίστοιχο όρο που να τα εμπερικλείει όλα.
Ίσως κάποια στιγμή επεκταθεί η χρήση και η σημασία του όρου στα ελληνικά όπου θα συμπεριλαμβάνει και τις αποχρώσεις που εμπεριέχει ο όρος στα αγγλικά. In the least, it would be handy from a translator's point of view.
 
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