Formation and Development Determinants of the City Commemorative Culture

Based on historical-genetic and comparative research methods, the article reveals the determinants of formation and development of the city commemorative culture. This issue is relevant because of the increasing influence of the memory of the past on modern sociocultural processes. The scientific novelty of the article lies in the study of poorly studied issues of the impact of commemorative culture on the development of culture in general; the opportunities of regulating the nature and distribution of memorial forms; the factors determining the formation of the city commemorative culture in the context of the historical and sociocultural dynamics of applicable societies of the civilizations of the past and present. The article uses an integrated approach, which determines the interdisciplinary nature of scientific research, allowing analyzing the aspects of the origin, interpretation of the features of the history and existence of monuments in different cultures. There are provided examples of commemoration practices in the post-Soviet countries, including the Republic of Belarus. The article concludes that the content of commemorative culture is determined primarily by religious traditions and state priorities. The creation of monuments and places of memory is used as an agitation and manipulative resource making an emotional impact; as an ideological tool shaping the perception of history in accordance with the state ideology. Commemorative practices take on special significance during the formation of nations, influencing the subject’s identification with the nation, and the awareness of national solidity. In this case, the monument represents a universal form of embodying and conveying the national idea.

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