Легенды о банде «Черная кошка» как отражение феномена криминальных мифов в российском общественном сознании
Legends of the “Black Cat” Gang as a Reflection on the Phenomenon of Criminal Myths in Russian Public Consciousness

Summary/Abstract: This article discusses criminal myths in the Russian public consciousness as an element of social mythology that arises and evolves in the process of society’s historical development and reflects social reality and changes. Using Soviet propaganda literature, archival materials, Soviet films, and memoirs of Soviet citizens and law enforcement officials, the author shows how the evolution of these myths reflected the course of Russian history. Much attention is paid to the appearance in the post-war years of the legend of the dangerous "Black Cat" gang in Russian mass art books and films. Using archival materials and memoirs of Soviet citizens and analyzing causes of this criminal myth, the author showed the symbolic side of this myth and the degree of its reliability. The image of the "Black Cat" gang can be interpreted in two ways in addition to being a symbol of criminal activity: as the personification of evil, self-interest, and cruelty; and as the Soviet police, who made great efforts and showed great personal courage to catch the gang. Images of employees of the criminal investigation department in relevant films—David Gotsman, Volodya Sharapova, and Gleb Zheglov—became models for imitation and admiration. This can be called a well-deserved tribute to the police officers who, under the most difficult conditions, were able to restore order in the country and ensure a quiet life for the Soviet people.

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