A Conversation about the Meanings and Mission of Culture at the Time of Social Turbulence

Abstract

The editorial board of journal presents a conversation between Prof. V.I. Ionesov, Doctor of Culture Studies (the Samara State Institute of Culture), and Prof. N.A. Khrenov, Doctor of Philosophy (the Moscow State Institute of Art Studies), discussing various aspects of historical and contemporary transformations of culture together with the change of its life cycles, as well as its social and artistic paradigms. Special features of the cultural code are considered in the context of Russias intellectual traditions; the roles of art, of symbolic practices, and of the dialog of cultures are substantiated in the context of a changing world. The meanings of such concepts as the leader of culture, the driver of culture, social myth-making, transitional processes, visual communication, and art transformation are revealed.