Concerns the sociophilosophical and cultural analysis of Valerian Muravyov’s heritage (1885-1930). He was a Russian cosmist of the “second generation” and the author of ideas that were original in his times and are novel still challenging the contemporary world outlook. Those ideas are gradually penetrating into the scientific discourse thus becoming an asset of the Russian and global intellectual environment. The author reveals the content and universal cultural significance of the main Muravyov’s intentions including his outlines of hypostatic logics and anthropological mathematics, images of the social conciliar­hypostatic All, the idea of the recurrence of the Entity, and other. Muravyov’s approaches to the perfection of a human being together with the major tracks of the cultural evolutionary ascent of the Homo sapiens are also examined. The author makes an attempt to comprehend holistically Muravyov’s heritage and theoretically codify it within the context of the contemporary world outlook revealing the general logic and internal contingency of his cosmistic thoughts and ideas. The author argues that Muravyov’s insights go with the trend of historically veridical scientific and technological progress of humanity and that they are fully consistent with the trends in the development of information technologies.

Considers validity and productivity of applying the fractal analysis to study various sociocultural objects. The author analyses related works and shows that in principle, it is possible to achieve practically significant results to make prognosis concerning dynamics of cultural processes including evolution of sociocultural systems. The method demands using relatively difficult mathematical procedures that are ambiguous when applied to the analysis of sociocultural objects and needs a significant volume of initial data thus imposing strict responsibilities on researcher.

Analyses the issues of cultural inter­action and reviews research approaches applied to the “East­West” paradigm. The author addresses advantages and disadvantages of integrative and distinguishing methods, specifies the notion of “all­difference” in culture philosophy, and compares some Western and Eastern (non­Biblical) cultures. The author argues that distinctive interest towards the Other is a direct way to self­cognition and arrives at conclusion about the special efforts needed to understand alternatives that are still actual in the East. It is stated that global development values a curious detection of cultural discrepancies and a reasonable approach to cultural borrowing. The author believes that only a conscious synthesis enhancing the world through all­difference affords an opportunity for a mutually enriching integration of peoples and cultures. Assuming that the purpose of this common work is the achievement of “all­unity,” one should bear in mind that it goes about a special type of unity characterised by both full inter­penetration and full all­difference of every element that constitutes it.

Investigates the approaches to conceptualising youth cultural studies within the post­subcultural theory. The author argues that the core idea of post­subcultural paradigm is the doubt in the metanarrative of “subculture.” In this situation, the heuristic potential of the new categorical apparatus designed to replace the traditional concept of “subculture” becomes a research subject.

Analyses cultural alterations and their interpretations in social research and the humanities. Within this context, the author considers topophilia as a cultural phenomenon and a particular research strategy. The author argues that the cultural turn in geography co­relates to the so­called spatial turn in social sciences and the humanities and it may be considered as a part of more general modifications taking place in contemporary culture.

Reflects on the motives of contemporary popularity of hybrid screen forms, including elements of documentary and fiction as well. The pre­history of documentary is discussed. The author proposes a concept of syncretism of documental and fictional in the ancient culture, especially in myth and performing arts. The later art forms are also addressed especially those referring to reliable historical facts or containing play simulation of documentality.

Concerns specificity of the sociocultural integration and considers the principle factors producing the identity­based conflicts. The author emphasises the destabilising role of ethnicity politicisation and lists the civic identity crisis, traditionalisation, and ethnic tensions among the systemic circumstances that support escalation of the identity­based conflicts.

Addresses the new approaches to the study of folk music, revival of ethnic traditions, intensification of exchange with foreign countries, updating academic music, and dissemination of mass culture with specific ethnic components that characterise the process. That type of re­interpretation produces a more complicated structure of musical culture in Kazakhstan and a new evaluation of the place of Kazakh music in world culture.

Considers sound­audial parameters of cultural landscape as an objective natural basis of formation of the regional musical space. The research areas are distinguished as follows: (a) practical: musical life of the Russian province; (b) textual: musical heritage of the Russian province; (c) symbolical: musical mythic­poetic provinces, or a problem of province semantisation in the consciousness of Russian composers.

Is dedicated to the literary and philosophical works that have influenced Gustav Mahler’s Third Symphony. The author refers to the texts used in the symphony and analyses interpretations of the symphony from the pantheistic, Nietzschean, and Christian viewpoints. Special attention is given to Gustav Mahler’s perception of the symphony ideas expressed in his correspodence and contemporaries’ recollections.

Discusses the basic notions used to reveal the ideas of “historical spiritual existence.” The inter­relation of these notions is analysed on the base of existing approaches to their understanding and interpretations including those related to culture in general. The author analyses existing concepts of “historical consciousness” and addresses the notion of “historical culture” within the context of typological cultural diversity.

Is devoted to one of the typical themes in folk arts. The images of lads and lasses, ladies and gentlemen in the picturesque compositions, their clothes, accessories, and other items allow tracing the transition from the Old Russian traditional dress to European costume.

Analyses collecting as a type of cultural activity, its institutional and substantive aspects. The author investigates mechanisms of private collection functioning including formation of collections and storage, systematisation, and exhibition of artifacts. The importance of representing the cultural value and symbolic significance embodied in the collection items is highlighted.

Is dedicated to the outstanding Russian pianist, conductor, teacher Alexander Ziloti who was also a public person. The author addresses his life and works while the special attention is given to the period of his personality formation. The international recognition of his pianistic uniqueness and a contribution to the dissemination of Russian music abroad are highlighted. The St. Petersburg period of Ziloti’s life, organisation of the “Alexander Ziloti’s Concerts” enterprise, and his life in America are studied in detail.

Is devoted to the disappearance of tonal system as a unifying principle in various aesthetics and techniques that led Pierre Boulez, Salvatore Sciarrino and other composers to alternative ideas of composition. Boulez’s concept of “gesture” and his two compositions “Rituel: In Memoriam Bruno Maderna” (1974-75) and “Messagesquisse” (1976) are considered within the philosophical and aesthetical contexts. The main tendencies of a new solo music as a “system of coordinates” (new notion of sound, virtuosity, instrumental theatre) are shown on the example of four plays from a cycle of “L’оpera per flauto” by Sciarrino (1977-2000). The new Boulez’s concept of gesture and Sciarrino’s “real field of operations” demand re­thinking the theory of composition as the art.

Addresses the polemical nature of the Russian experience in understanding the key problems related to the notion of “a subject of artistic creativity.” The emphasis is put on the interdetermination between shifts in artist’s worldview attitudes and renewals in language of arts that the author believes specific to Russian culture.

Addresses the key interdisciplinary approaches to the study of clothes as well as basic conceptual models of the sociological analysis of dress. The authors believe that in any sociological research, it is not reasonable to use just one approach and argue that a combination of diverse approaches optimised for a specific task matches better. Nevertheless, the semiotic approach offers the most interesting and effective tools for the interpretation of clothes’ functions and codes in a changing cultural and historical context.

Discusses theoretical base for studying biases of communication using McLuhan’s concept of media that is still actual in the epoch of Internet and mobile technologies. The author argues that the bias of communication facilitates students’ practices of gathering and analysing information. The theoretical discourse is illustrated by cases from author’s educational practice.

Studies efficient approaches to artistic organisation of the exhibition «Kharkiv in the Great Patriotic War, 1941-1945». The author proposes a definition of museum exhibition’s role, describes the ways and means of producing its artistic image, analyses the design and process of creating the museum exhibition.

Analyses the archaeological and bibliophilic activities of archimandrite Antonin Kapustin (1817-1894) during the Constantinopolitan and Palestinian periods of his life.

Studies the television series as a form of mass culture within the framework of cultural anthropology. A special attention is paid to the problem of interaction between literary fiction and genre of television serial. In this regard, the author addresses “The Master and Margarita” serial directed by Vladimir Bortko and based on the novel by Mikhail Bulgakov as a particular case of interpretation which is related to the general problem of cultural codes “translation”.

Considers the principles of producing and disseminating media content with the use of new media platforms that affect the communication environment of users in social networks. The author deals with the process of self­identification as the main motivation of users’ activities in social networks. The self­identity is defined as a narrative story about the user him(her)self, a constitution of their worldview, and a determination of self. The article analyses factors that influence the structure of narrative process in the social networks. Processes of self­identification and identification are also studied in relation to the still existing Facebook accounts of people who have passed away. The article addresses moral and ethical issues arising from the existence of such accounts, attitudes of users to the accounts of deceased persons describes the ethical issues related to the psychology of perception and analyses philosophical context of attitudes towards passing away of a social networks user.

Explores this phenomenon of European culture. The author believe that it was a result of a strong visual influence produced by Japanese art on Western European culture. It was for the first time that the West perceived an alien culture as equal and Japonism may be regarded as an aesthetic reception of Japanese arts related to the European dream about a Kingdom of Beauty.

Considers the problem of the native language of the people of Ladakh, a region of India in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. The situation is analysed in relation to the history of the “Ladags Melong” journal (1992-2005) published in English and Ladakhi and the regional educational system.