Russian Culture Research Articles

‘I don’t feel like a classic rights defender’: rights subjectivities and disidentification in Russian disability organising

Drawing on in-depth interviews, this article investigates how Russian civil society actors organising around disability understand and use human rights discourses. It asks whether and how these actors mobilise distinctions between social and political human rights. It argues that civil society actors perceive the Russian State as legitimising social action and delegitimising political action. However, these actors also disidentify with this binary division by taking a third position; they identify their apparently social work as forming another kind of politics, different from that dominantly perceived as political. The article thus identifies a non-apparent or infra-political strategy by which political organising evades perception as political through the dominant depoliticisation of social rights. Actors instrumentalise this dominant perception to continue to engage in work which they identify as political, thus repoliticising the social sphere.

Армянская русистика сегодня

The Russian language and Russian culture continue to play a prominent role in social and spiritual life of the Armenian people. Researches on the Russian language, Russian-Armenian typology are conducted in universities and research institutes of language and literature, bilingual dictionaries are published and republished. The general direction of linguistic researches on Russian studies in republic is pedagogical, since the primary task of Armenian linguists is to create optimal textbooks and teaching aids for schools and universities. Annual conferences are held on the problems of modern linguistics, theory and practice of teaching the Russian language in schools and universities of the republic.

Positive and negative paradigms of personal functioning and development in the pre-retirement and retirement ages

The presented article is devoted to the problem of identifying and describing life paradigms in old age. The theoretical part shows the advantages of the paradigmatic approach in gerontopsychological research. The value of its variability is emphasized, when paradigms can be changed, modified or evaluated in accordance with established personal meanings and values. The theoretical part also analyzes the existing models of life paradigms in late ontogenesis. Special attention is paid to paradigms that include a victimological context. It is shown that foreign paradigms, in particular, the paradigms of yoga and the "American dream" cannot be successfully implemented into Russian culture due to value contradictions. It is noted that the least studied element of life paradigms are the principles of life, which have become the subject of study in the empirical part of the study. Biographical, autobiographical and meaningful content analysis were used as research methods. The material of the analysis was the content of forums on the Internet dedicated to the problems of the elderly, the participants of which were pre-retirees and pensioners. The scientific novelty of the study consists in identifying and describing the basic and particular life principles that make up the positive and negative paradigms in later life. Thus, such general principles as concreteness, anticipativeness, variability, priority, anxiety, vulnerability, responsibility, forgiveness, etc. were formulated. It is concluded that the positive paradigm in old age is an anti–victim paradigm, that is, a behavior model based on the anti-victim Self-concept that ensures the safety of the individual in old age, and an ineffective one is victimized, contributing to the transformation of an elderly person into a victim of circumstances, primarily subjective. Life paradigms in old age should change with changes in living conditions and health conditions. The paradigmatic principles differ depending on gender.

The place and role of Chinese themes in Russian literature of the XIX – early XX centuries

The article presents the artistic perception of Chinese culture in the Russian literature of the XIX – early XX centuries. The author sets out to show a generalized image of China in the works of Russian prose writers and poets in a given historical period of time. The relevance of the research lies in the increased interest of modern linguistic science in the problems of intercultural dialogue. It is noted that the study of Chinese subjects in Russian literature is of indisputable interest for understanding the peculiarities of intercultural communication between Russia and China. The multifaceted Chinese culture is revealed through the eyes of Russian writers of the past centuries, who were attracted by Chinese images, plots, and motives. The history of Russian-Chinese relations is traced in the mirror of advanced Russian culture of the XIX – early XX centuries. The tendency to understand China as a unique civilization distinct from the European one, which had already emerged at that time, stands out. It is stated that the substantial development of ideas about China in Russian literature, at the time interval of interest to the researcher, is directly related to the emerging socio-political situation in the Russian Empire, the emergence of alternatives, both in terms of determining the further vector of social development, taking into account the problem of "West – Russia – East", i.e. the emerging situation of internal choice, self–determination and awareness by the ruling circles of the urgent need to work out a further path for the development of Russian statehood, taking into account the borrowing, on the one hand, of the Western, on the other – of the eastern model. This, in the author's opinion, explains the interest of representatives of Russian literature in the culture of the East, spiritual and moral values, philosophical reflections on the nature of goodness and justice, which had a centuries-old tradition in China.

«Аверкиев едва ли не точнее всех…»: межкультурное взаимодействие на страницах «Нового времени»

The article analyzes the curious plot of intercultural interaction on the pages of the newspaper “Novoye Vremya” by A.S. Suvorin, associated with the name of D.V. Averkiev. It is hypothesized that the approach to the selection of works for translation and Averkiev’s translation strategy itself are determined by his cultural temperament, the desire to introduce the Russian public to the best works of world literature, as well as Suvorin’s publishing tactics, supported on the pages of his newspaper. The significance of “Hamlet” for Russian culture of the late 19th — early 20th century and the presentation of this play on the pages of the newspaper “Novoye Vremya” are analyzed. The comparison of competing translations of “Hamlet” of by Averkiev and P.P. Gnedich, who collaborated with the publishing house of Suvorin, is carried out. The reasons for the preference for the translation made by Gnedich for theatrical productions and the rejection of Averkiev’s version, despite its recognized advantages, are clarified. Among these reasons are the linguistic and stylistic complexity of Averkiev’s translation and the unpreparedness of the Russian public to perceive such material. It is proved that Averkiev’s highly accurate translation of “Hamlet” has served as a starting point for the creation of further translations of Shakespeare with the focus on preserving the original senses of the plays and the author’s style of the English playwright

YEVHENIIA KONONENKO’S PROSE: TOPICS, IDEAS, GENRES, AND STYLE

This paper falls under the category of literary portraits and explores the evolution of Kononenko as a writer and intellectual. She embarked on her creative journey with translation and poetry but later focused primarily on prose. The paper underscores Kononenko’s enduring commitment to liberal perspectives, her view of culture as both a primary social catalyst and a societal objective. Kononenko can boast the broadest spectrum of genres in Ukrainian literature, encompassing short stories, narratives, novels, miniatures, and essays. She often employs genre and generic syncretism, which is most evident in her integration of poetry into prose, where she incorporates sonnets and elegies within short prose collections. Furthermore, her works blend genres by combining elements of detective stories with social novels, feminist narratives, and intellectual explorations. The writer boldly experiments with genres to enhance the expressiveness of her writing and engage a wider readership with complex, intellectually profound works. Kononenko’s prose might be classified as intellectual literature. The themes and ideas explored by the author indicate an existentialist orientation in her work. Kononenko herself interprets all her plots and ‘small tragedies’ as reflections of the human experience. The paper highlights the stylistic features of Kononenko’s texts, emphasizing realism, psychologism, and a dialogic nature, along with the significant role of artistic detail, lyrical qualities, trusting intonation, and irony. As for the sources of the author’s inspiration, her works seem to align with Mykola Riabchuk’s prose standing out for its trustworthy tone and candid conversation with the reader. It is worth to emphasize that the writer once made a compelling choice to depart from her first tongue, Russian, in favor of the Ukrainian cultural minority of the late Ukrainian SSR and early Ukrainian state, thereby challenging the traditional orientation of Russian-speaking Ukrainians toward ‘high’ Russian culture.

Europeanism as Russian Intelligentsia “Disease” and the Soviet Methods of Its Therapy.

The article is devoted to the general historical questions of the development in Russian socio-political thought and Russian political conscience of the “tradition” of reverence for the West, that was especially evident in certain circles of Russian intelligentsia. Initially that feature was associated with such traits of the intelligentsia as revolutionism, nihilism, apostatism, a contemptuous attitude towards the history and traditions of their country, and nihilistic attitude towards their state. Nikolay Danilevsky in his book “Russia and Europe” diagnosed and qualifi ed that inclination of the intelligentsia as a disease of Europeanism. He considered that disease dangerous and diffi cult to cure. The essence of that disease consisted in the worship of the West as a civilization, with complete or partial rejection of the achievements and signifi cance of their own, Russian civilization. The author further shows that the propensity to adore the West did not disappear in the Stalin era, but took the form of servility to the West and cosmopolitanism, which became the world view of certain part of Soviet intelligentsia.

Russian and Soviet in the Discourse of the Contemporary Rights

In the article the author attempts to determine how the historical heritage of communist and prerevolutionary Russia is represented in the discourse of the modern right-wing movement. He suggests the conceptual aspects of «rightness», which make it possible to identify representatives of the movement. In the analysis special attention is paid to the argumentation and strategy of representing the past in the rhetoric of specifi c actors. Three models of the image of the past promotion are offered in the article: deconstructionist, return to historical Russia,Russian civilization.

Russian Transfi guration Notes on the Philosophy of History

Today we fi nd ourselves in a diffi cult situation trying to get out of the pit that we fell into a hundred years ago. Perhaps the last hundred years of Russian history were the lowest point of the metaphysical circle of history, a “failure” that led to unimaginable losses. But now we are slowly starting to get out of this “sinkhole”, climbing almost a sheer wall in order to restore our house somewhere up there on the plateau, which we once destroyed ourselves. So now we are seeking again the prospective Russia. And what do we think of this future Russia? Or more precisely, what do we expect her to be? The suggested answers to these questions differ completely. It seems that the image that could most fully express the meanings of the existence of Russian civilization in time and space, while connecting Russian present with Russian past and future, might be described as follows: “Transfi gured Russia” as the goal of our development, and “Russian Transfi guration” (another variant –“Transfi guration of Russia”), as the very process of achieving this goal. The “Russian Transfi guration” can be built only on the basis of creation, on establishing something new and better, on the pursuit of the ideal, and represent the process of gradual development-reforming the socio-economic, socio-political and cultural space of our country relying on Russian traditional values. Refl ections on these issues constitute the main content of these historiosophical notes

The Two Hypostases of Russian Civilization

The relation between “Soviet” and “Russian” may be viewed as a derivative of two ideologically formed narratives that claim to become the principal legitimacies of the institutional system. While assessing this correlation one should take into account the infl uence of these narratives on the mass consciousness structure and their interconnection with sociocultural and civilizational roots of the national social development. But due to the inner heterogeneity of the narratives in question, their principals are hardly connected with the moral and ethic aspects of the social development that form the basic ground of Russian civilization and need doctrinal adjustment and moral components reinforcement

CULTURAL DIVERSITY IN NONVERBAL COMMUNICATION: COMPARING THE MEANING OF HUNGARIAN-RUSSIANAMERICAN NONVERBAL SIGNS

The aim of my research was to conduct a comparative analysis of nonverbal communication cues between Hungarian, Russian and American cultures, with a focus on the cultural specificities and overlaps of nonverbal cues used to express different emotions and states, such as aggressiveness, uncertainty and interest. The study involved an extensive literature review and a questionnaire survey with participants from different cultures to understand how these nonverbal signals are interpreted and perceived in different cultural contexts.
 In the analysis, I paid particular attention to the different interpretations of body language, facial expressions, gestures and touch, and spatial relations cues. The results of the research have highlighted that although there are some common forms of nonverbal communication, there are also a number of significant cultural differences that fundamentally influence the encoding and decoding of messages.
 For example, while in American culture direct eye contact and open posture can be signs of sincerity and confidence, in Hungarian and Russian cultures these signals can have different contexts and intensities. The meaning and acceptability of touch also varies; what is seen as a friendly gesture in one culture may suggest excessive closeness and inappropriateness in another.
 The research also highlighted the intercultural communication difficulties and misunderstandings that can arise from different interpretations of nonverbal signals. This underlines the need to better understand and respect the communication customs and norms of different cultures in order to communicate effectively and efficiently.
 At the end of my research, I have formulated recommendations for those involved in cross-cultural communication, whether in business, educational or personal contexts. I have stressed the importance of cultural sensitivity, avoiding prejudices and active listening, which can be key to successful and meaningful intercultural dialogues.

Dostoevsky’s Ethical and Aesthetical Conception and the Problem of Russian National Identity in A. Ponizovsky’s novel <i>Turning into a Listening Ear</i>

Purpose. The aim of the article is to investigate the influence of the F. M. Dostoevsky's creative heritage on the ideological and artistic originality of A. Ponizovsky's novel Turning into a Listening Ear (2013).Results. Ponizovsky's interpretation of Dostoevsky related to the theme of the Russian world and Russian identity. Two plotlines, social (ordinary Russians’ stories) and philosophical (controversy around them), create a conflict field typical for Dostoevsky's works: meaning of life and absurdity of existence, cruelty and compassion, Russian people and Russia. Dostoevsky's intertext is found at all levels of text organization. A deep philosophical understanding of the Russian life’s problems is achieved due to a set of Dostoevsky's intertexts, which have acquired the status of metanarratives in Russian culture (Grushenka's legend about the saving onion, devil's anecdote about a quadrillion kilometers on the way to paradise, Svidrigailov's image of eternity as a bathhouse with spiders). Following Dostoevsky's stylistic strategies includes the usage of a polyphonic novel resources, and reproducing individual techniques of the writer's poetics (anachronism, coexistence of fiction and non-fiction, using of Holy Scripture's text). The very person of Dostoevsky becomes an object of controversy for Ponizovsky. Colliding two concepts of the classic’s image – Freudian and Christian-oriented, the modern author creates a portrait of Dostoevsky’s conflicting personality.Conclusion. The perception of F. M. Dostoevsky's work by A. Ponizovsky is not only reminiscent, but also “genetic” by its nature due to the worldview commonality of these Russian writers.

The Promotion of Traditional Values through Films and Television Programmes: The Moscow Patriarchate and the Orthodox Encyclopaedia Project (2005–2022)

On 26 May 2011, the Russian People’s World Council issued a document entitled The Basic Values: The Fundaments of National Unity. The document, prepared by the Synodal Department for Church–Society Cooperation, provided a catalogue of 17 traditional values whose general framework was constituted by a combination of freedom, unity, patriotism, family, and devotion. At that time, the Moscow Patriarchate considered religious faith to be the foundation of traditional values and it continues to do so. The defence and promotion of traditional Russian spiritual and moral values were also central in the Russian National Security Strategy (2015); this was the case in the updated version of this document as well, put out in July 2021. Furthermore, they have been the core of the Moscow Patriarchate’s participation in the Council of Europe and of Patriarch Kirill’s speeches about the war in Ukraine. Finally, on 9 November 2022, The Foundations Of State Policy For The Preservation Of Spiritual And Moral Values was approved. This framework permits us to understand the strict interplay between the Church and the State in the Russian Federation and to see why it is important to refer to the concept of post-secularism when talking about the role of religion in post-Soviet Russia. Proceeding from the Abstract, the present paper aims to analyse this interplay in a specific sector of visual culture: the cinema and television industries. Manuel Castells highlighted the relevance of cultural values in the age of information and the connection between the values and social mobilization that follows it. He pointed out that the Internet has become a way to render this connection predominant, inevitably leading to the development of social movements and networks that have a religious basis. This is unquestionably true; surveys conducted by the Russian Public Opinion Research Center (OJSC «VCIOM») and by Nevafilm Research confirm that a high percentage of Russians watch films not only at the cinema or on television (especially the older generations) but also on the Internet (as far as the younger generations are concerned). The importance of this market is also confirmed by the success of the cinema and TV distributor Orthodox Encyclopaedia (2005); in the words of the philosopher Sergei Kravets, who, commenting on it during an interview published in 2006 by the website Sedmits.ru, declared that the expression “orthodox cinema” can be understood as a way to express Russian culture. He asserts that “the fact that today Orthodox films have begun to appear on the central TV channels testifies that Russian film producers and viewers have apparently begun to be aware of themselves as Orthodox, to feel that they are bearers of a special Orthodox culture. [..]”. At the same time, consideration should be given to the importance of the Russian Orthodox Church and the Minister of Culture’s condemnation of films such as Matilda or Monastery. In addition, it is important to consider that, according to a survey conducted in 2022 by the Levada Center, Russian people consider television the most reliable source of information (54%). The long-term implications of this tendency may have very important effects, not only in terms of its objectives but also in terms of the consideration that, after the beginning of the war, many Western film distributors withdrew their licenses from Russia. This paper will analyse “the effect of religion on the institutional system, the regulatory environment of the media and the public sphere” by studying the features of films and TV programs distributed by Orthodox Encyclopaedia, their relations with traditional values promoted both by the Kremlin and the Church, how these have contributed to strengthening the interplay between the Minister of Culture and the Moscow Patriarchate, and the impact this process has had on Russian society and Russia’s relations with the European and Western World in the 2005–2022 period. A list of the films and TV programs being discussed will be provided, and then statements about the project and reviews of the serials and films will be analysed. The analysis will be conducted mainly through the official sites of the Russian Orthodox Church and the Kremlin and by browsing the Integrum database.

DIAGNOSING THE QUALITY OF ORGANISATION OF SCHOOLCHILDREN’S RUSSIAN CIVIC IDENTITY FORMATION AT THE MUNICIPAL LEVEL

The article presents the rationale for the programme of monitoring of the quality of schoolchildren’s Russian civil identity formation at the municipal level. The criteria for the formation of Russian civic identity of schoolchildren are the components of the functional structure of this phenomenon: cognitive-semantic (regarded as the level of knowledge that is the basis for the formation of value orientations); emotional-axiological (assessed as the level of acceptance of value priorities); activity level (diagnosed as the level of distribution of a group of negative and positive manifestations in practical activities and social interactions).

„Atrastos“ senos istorijos: sovietmečio mitai apie 1918–1919 m. Vakarų sąjungininkų intervenciją į Rusijos šiaurę karo Ukrainoje kontekste. Mudjugo koncentracijos stovyklos muziejaus atvejis

The mythology of the foreign interference into the Russian civil war goes to the heart of the memory politics in Putin’s Russia today, most recently in connection with the invasion in Ukraine. In a bid to unite the country against perceived threats from the NATO alliance, the Russian leadership engages Soviet narratives going back to the Allied intervention into North Russia in 1918–1920, as a deterrent against association with the West. During Soviet times multiple memorials were created in the North to the victims of intervention in support of this narrative. Central to it was the Mudyug ‘concentration camp’ museum, established to demonstrate the atrocities of the intervention forces. Following the collapse of the Soviet Union this museum was branded as propaganda and eventually got decommissioned. Yet after Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014 and subsequent war with Ukraine, the old intervention narratives saw a comeback. Backed by the state, the local memory activists in Arkhangelsk in North Russia took to restoring the Mudyug camp museum as a forepost of patriotic tourism in the region.

Image of the Soviet Authorities in the Perception of the Siberian Peasants during the Russian Civil War and the Period of New Economic Policy

The article explores the ideas of the Siberian peasantry regarding Soviet authorities during the Russian Civil War and the Period of Implementation of the New Economic Policy (NEP). The importance of this issue lies in the fact that the population’s perception of the governing bodies plays a significant role in the life of any society since it influences the political sentiments and the behavior of different social groups. However, this topic has not been extensively studied by Russian or international historiography. The research is based on a wide range of official documents, including newly discovered ones, produced by various Communist Party (Bolsheviks) bodies, the Joint State Political Directorate, and letters from ordinary people to authorities. The authors of the article analyze how different categories of Siberian peasants imagined the Soviet power vertical, what factors and how influenced formation and transformation of ideas about authorities during the Russian Civil War and NEP period. The article concludes by arguing that different social groups of the Siberian peasantry had different perceptions of Soviet authorities, which did not remain unchanged but varied over time. From the end of 1917 until the end of 1919, ideas about the Soviet authorities arose mainly independently, without significant external influence. The situation changed after the establishment of the dictatorship of the proletariat. The government’s policies and practices of implementation were the determining factors that shaped the image of the Soviet authorities throughout the 1920s

“Soft Power” of Orthodox Church in Kazakhstan: Narratives, Objectives, Potential

This paper examines the role and potential of the Orthodox Church in Kazakhstan as an instrument of “soft power”. It analyzes the religious landscape in Kazakhstan, the history and resources of Orthodoxy in the country, narratives promoted by the Orthodox Church, and its relationship to the Russian state’s foreign policy interests. Statistical data shows steady growth of Orthodox churches in Kazakhstan despite an overall decline in the ethnic Russian population. Interviews with clergy provide insights into Orthodoxy’s social outreach and cultivation of Russian culture. The paper argues that the Orthodox Church advances narratives that align with Russia’s ideological emphasis on traditional values, inter-faith dialogue, and pan-Russian identity. While Orthodoxy retains significant soft power capabilities, its effectiveness is constrained by wariness of its associations with Russia.

Transformation of cultural values as a threat to cultural security

Values formed in culture, reflecting social relations, fulfilling a regulatory role, are defined as norms fixed in the culture of society. Moral norms that combine such properties of morality as normativity, imperativeness and evaluativeness act as significant foundations of culture. Values and norms enshrined in culture contribute to the integration and spiritual development of society The transformational processes taking place in modern society have influence on the value system. The relevance of this study is determined by the dialectic of emerging contradictions in modern Russian culture caused by the formation of ambivalent values, norms, and attitudes in mass culture that have a negative impact on collective consciousness, on changing the value foundations of culture in modern society, which jeopardizes the safety of culture. In the focus of the analyzed problem, kitsch culture as a phenomenon of mass culture acts as the subject of research. The purpose of the study is to identify threats to cultural security coming from kitsch culture, which transforms the value foundations of culture, and to identify strategies to protect Russian culture. The study of the voiced issues is carried out through the prism of socio-cultural, structural-functional, interdisciplinary approaches. The novelty of the studied problem lies in the fact that kitsch culture acts as a pseudo-culture, which is devoid of aesthetic and artistic value and moral content, as one of the sources that creates certain risks and poses threats to cultural security. In particular, we are talking about the organization of joint activities of government agencies, public organizations, scientific, cultural and educational spheres, based on the principles of optimizing the constructive impact on the consciousness of the younger generation through the mediation process and inculturation.

Peculiarities of establishing the fact of recognition of paternity under the legislation of the Russian Federation

The subject of the study is the norms of Russian family legislation regulating relations related to the procedure for establishing the fact of recognition of paternity. The object of this study is family and procedural relations arising in connection with the establishment of the fact of recognition of paternity. The concept of "illegitimate children" is one of the oldest in the history of law. His appearance is associated with the strengthening of the monogamous family. The universal principle of equality, declared for the first time in Soviet law, demanded the equalization of illegitimate children, including in rights with children born in marriage. However, until the very end of the action of the CPC of the RSFSR, such a fact as the recognition of paternity was absent from it. Since the procedural features of the proceedings to establish the fact of recognition of paternity could not be reflected in the IC of the Russian Federation – due to the material nature of the regulated relations, for the purpose of uniform application of civil procedure legislation regulating the procedure for considering cases of special proceedings, the fact of recognition of paternity was for the first time included in the list of facts of legal significance established by the CPC of the Russian Federation. Thus, the date of occurrence in the Russian civil procedure legislation of the institution of establishing the fact of recognition of paternity is (if we do not accept the judicial practice that created it) the date of entry into force of the Civil Procedure Code of the Russian Federation in 2002. In the course of the work, general scientific and special methods of cognition were used: comparative legal in the analysis of new and previously existing family legal norms, as well as the formal legal method. It cannot be said that the procedural rules for establishing paternity have not been the object of research in Russian jurisprudence. However, issues of non–search proceedings, issues of establishing the fact of recognition of paternity - attention in these studies has not been adequately paid, although procedural features and the presence of a considerable number of problematic aspects of the consideration of this category of cases are beyond doubt. So far, this institution has not been significantly demanded by judicial practice, but a special military operation implies an increase in its relevance, since in the absence of the serviceman himself, the court requires any evidence of the fact that he recognizes paternity in relation to the child. Currently, this status is particularly important for receiving social benefits that the State has guaranteed to members of military families.

The values of traditional culture and their understanding in the minds of young people

The subject of the study is the system of values of the past, represented in traditional Russian culture. The object of the research is the connection of the values of traditional culture with the structure of consciousness of modern Russian youth. The author examines in detail such aspects of the topic as the study of the concept of "traditional culture", the analysis of its content, represented by the phenomenon of national unity, understanding the significance of this phenomenon in the minds of the inhabitants of the country. During the research, special attention was paid to a sociological survey of young people related to the actualization of the cultural, historical, patriotic meaning of the National Unity holiday, the attitude of the younger generation towards it, and the identification of values significant to it. An important role in the presented work is given to the comparative analysis of surveys of residents of the country and students, the characteristic of the basic foundations of the worldview in the structure of consciousness of older and younger generations, the methods that were used during the study are presented by: analysis of sources on the problem of determining the meaning of the concept of "traditional culture"; by the method of a written survey of students; by the method of comparative analysis of responses between data, represented by VTSIOM, and young people on the problem of national unity of society. The scientific novelty of the presented research is characterized by a comparative analysis of abstract sociological research carried out by VTSIOM with the specific results of a survey of young students of the Kostroma State Agricultural Academy. The results of the work show that at the present stage of development of Russian society there is a tendency to blur the clear ideas of the younger generation about the figurative and symbolic meaning of the spiritual and moral values of the people that define traditional culture. The main conclusion of the study is that young people generally do not recognize the value of social unity as an indicator of the integrity of the state, do not know the historical meaning of the National Unity holiday, do not consider traditional values (family, love of the Motherland, brotherhood of peoples) significant in modern reality, using the Internet space for communication, becomes dependent on gadgets which poses a real threat of loss of communication between generations.