Abstract: This article examines digitalization in the context of culture and such prerequisites as building automated devices, concepts of human machinization, and projects of formalization of thinking. In this regard, particular attention is given to Leibniz's project of mathematization of thinking, as well as some other innovations ‒ construction of symbolic logic, programming, and Internet. The conclusion is drawn that digitalization is not a local phenomenon with clear boundaries, nor even a complex object, but rather an aspect and a cross-section of multiple processes and fields of life activity. Since digitalization is not reduced to the development of technical devices, but suggest the use of knowledge in various social, cultural and anthropological processes, the works on digitalization can be interpreted as pertinent to social design. The author discusses the task and object of the social project of digitalization, understanding of digitalization as a technology, distinguishing the three types of technology (narrow, broad, and sociocultural sense), sociocultural factors of digitalization, and possible negative consequences of digitalization. Moreover, from the perspective of interests of digitalization, the author reviews the concepts of building artificial intelligence and robotics; criticizes the reduction of natural intelligence, which represents a cultural-historical and social phenomenon, to artificial intelligence. The role of programming and miniaturization in construction of the machine psyche of robots is emphasized. The author claims that the project of digitalization should be correlated with the establishment of culture of of the future (“futureculture”) and work at the benefit of this culture.

Keywords: methodology, environment, intelligence, thinking, technology, design, programming, digitalization, logic, culture

Abstract: This article solves the tasks of determining the spheres of use and functions of running in primitive societies based on the sources of mythological nature, associated with the culture of Ancient Greece, American Indians, Slavs, peoples of the Far North, Roman tribes, Celts, peoples of Ancient Egypt, Jews, peoples of Oceania, and others. The indicated problematic gives a broader outlook upon the spiritual grounds for developing physical abilities in the past, as well as to describes the stages and specificity of current transformation of the socially significant practices related to running. The article employs the methods of analysis, comparison and synthesis; the area of application of the acquired results is the philosophical anthropology and philosophy of sports. The novelty of this research consists in determination of peculiarities of the functionality of running in a myth in three dimensions: cosmological (running is considered in etiological and intermediary between the macro-and microcosm functions), biological (as a manifestation of physical health and a unique for the mammals way of hunting based on endurance run), and social (running as a means to raise and maintain social status, finding a partner for marriage, element of ceremonialism, initiation, etc.).

Keywords: preparation of warriors, marriage, ceremonies, competitions, cosmology, myth, running, evil spirits, social elevator, magic

Abstract: The subject of this research is traditional folk decorative and applied art in the context of modern society. The authors reviews the factors that affected the formation of this art form, the role of collective creative experience, the canon for preserving archaic images, symbols and manufacturing technique. The article reveals the conditions of familiarizing youth with the folk tradition, indicating the importance of continuity of generations. Since each artwork is the synthesis of tradition and creativity, attention is drawn to the possibility of interpreting traditional experience in the products of craftsmen. By referring to the facts from the history of the Romanov’s pottery and toy craft, the author provides examples of the emergence of new plotlines in the conditions of changing sociocultural situation, and analyzes their correspondence with the tradition. The application of dialectical method demonstrates fusions of the tradition and novelties in folk art of the past and modernity. The authors’ contribution consists in identification of the causes of the current crisis state of traditional folk decorative and applied art. The article analyzes various measures, including the creation of manufacturing groups in the XX century, which were aimed at its preservation. The experience of the previous generations of professional and folk artisans allows tracing the peculiarities in the development of crafts, such as correlation between the traditional and innovative. The authors examines the necessary conditions for continuity of traditions of folk culture in modern civilization, which requires deliberate actions.

Keywords: applied art, creation, craft, traditional crafts, traditional folk art, folk culture, Tradition, romanovo toys, modern culture, pagan culture

Abstract: This article examines the process of preservation of cultural heritage through interactive forms of historical reconstruction. The author reviews such relatively new for Russia phenomena as military-historical clubs, ethnic parks, thematic tourism zones, private museums and ethnographic collections, which familiarize with the history of our homeland in an interactive form. The active engagement of visitors and members of the club into the process of reconstruction of lifestyle and military traditions of previous generations is like being a participant of the restored history, which is more comprehensible than the textbook or exhibited artifacts, and thus arouses more emotional response  and forms a respectful and patriotic attitude towards the native country. It is established that ethnic parks, thematic tourism zones, private museums, houses of ethnography, created by the efforts of enthusiasts do not often become the object of scientific interest, at times receiving contempt from the professional scientific community. However, the practice demonstrates that historical reconstruction draws more citizen’ attention than the traditional museum. Such situation requires examination and defines its novelty. The result of research consists in the creation of value-oriented classification of historical reconstruction organizations, as well as in assumption that from the visitor’s or participant’s perspective the leading role in historical reconstruction is not so much the accuracy (with a certain degree of fiction), but the creation of a holistic image of living history, filled with the value meaning of the bygone era.

Keywords: artistic image, interactivity, private museum, thematic tourism, ethnographic park, preservation of heritage, historical reconstruction, culture, esthetics, culture philosophy

Abstract: The article reviews and analyzes the key easel graphic works by A. P. Ostroumova-Lebedeva from St. Petersburg collection of woodblock prints, created over the period from 1900s to 1920s. These works resemble the genre of Japanese art Ukiyo-e. The subject of this research is the uniqueness of the artistic language and the means of its expression in the works of A. P. Ostroumova-Lebedeva. Alongside other Russian artists of the turn of the XIX – XX centuries she was affected by Ukiyo-e, but perceived the Japanese wood engraving on a more profound level. The author examines the works of accomplished in this period, as well draws parallels with the woodblock prints of Japanese masters, using the formal-stylistic method. This approach is relevant as it reveals the role Japanese woodblock prints played in the establishment of artistic language of A. P. Ostroumova-Lebedeva. Within the Russian art history, this research is one of the few attempts of conducting comparative analysis between the woodblock prints of A. P. Ostroumova-Lebedeva and the works of Japanese masters, which defines the scientific novelty. The conclusion is made that the influence of Ukiyo-e can be traced in the compositional solution and in use of particular Japanese motifs in her works. The artist also contributed to the establishment of woodblock prints as an independent genre of graphic art, having enriched it with the images and color introduced by the Japanese masters.

Keywords: search for new, ukiyo-e, James Whistler, Alexander Nikolaevich Benois, Utagawa Hiroshige, Anna Petrovna Ostroumova-Lebedeva, woodcuts, St. Petersburg, individual development path, Japanese art tradition

Abstract: The subject of this research is the artworks of the Flemish painter Jan Philipp van Thielen – a prominent author of the pieces depicting flower garlands in the XVII century, but so little-known nowadays. His name is unjustly forgotten in Russian historiography, although his paintings exhibited in the national museums; although in Western historiography, his popularity has grown in recent decades. Special attention is given to the painter’s works in different genres (religion, portraits, mythology), which are framed by a flower garland accentuating and symbolizing the central images. The scientific novelty of consists in ratification of art of the once renowned and now almost forgotten painter Jan Philipp van Thielen, as well as in the proof that he was one of the most popular flower painters in Flanders, and his patrons and customers were such high-rank aristocrats as Diego Felípez de Guzmán 1st Marquess of Leganés (1580-1655), and Archduke Leopold Wilhelm of Austria (1664-1662), both art lovers and philanthropists. The acquired results demonstrate that Jan Philip van Thielen painted flower garlands in different genres. In the art of Flanders of the XVII century with remarkable success the showed the beauty of garlands and their use for enhancing the religious or moralizing meaning of the central images. His works are widely exhibited not only in museums, but also in auctions, which once again proves his important role in the painting of the XVII century.

Keywords: art of the seventeenth century, Quellinus II Erasmus, Seghers Daniel, Van Thielen, religious painting, flower garlands, painting of Flanders, Antwerp's artistic school, painting of the Netherlands, flowers' symbolism

Abstract: The subject of this research is such a means of harmonization of composition of the image in a plane as the contrast. The article assesses the possibility and factors of using contrast for increasing the attractiveness of the designed photographic image. The author reviews the examples of photo images with appropriate use of contrast; provides the research data on the perception[WU1]  of contrast by human visual system.; explores correlation between contrast and the conditions for a harmonious composition; as well as reviews the connection between the properties of compositional elements of photography and the components of visual perception, discovered by R. Barthes in his work “Camera Lucida”. The author carries out the analysis of photographic images; compares the empirical data on the study of perception of contrast by a human; applies the methods of induction and deduction in analyzing the acquitted results and comparing them with the characteristics of a harmonious composition. The author’s special contribution consists in comparison of the results of empirical research of perception of contrast by a human in the context of dependence of the sensitivity of human visual system on the size of observable alternating contrast lines and the size of the dominant in relation to the image field object of composition. It is proposed to use high contrasts of the elements of detail drawing for reaching harmonization of composition of the designed image elements.  [WU1]

Keywords: photography, bright dot, contrast perception, image projecting, focus of attention, detailed drafting, harmonious composition, light and darkness, tonal contrast, visual perception

Abstract: The subject of this research is the social and conceptual prerequisites for the formation of inclusive approaches towards design in Russia in the late XX century. The goal consists in determination and analysis of inclusive discourse in the USSR as an additional factor for the formation of modern inclusive practice in Russia. The article refers to the analysis of the Soviet theoretical heritage, which has developed similar issues since the 1920s. Brief overview is given to the genesis of available design in Europe, United States and Russia, specificity of popular inclusive concepts. The author explores the inclusive discourse in the USSR, which includes human-oriented ideas, concepts and approaches in the social sphere and design. The novelty consists in consideration of the works of Soviet theoreticians in the area of design in the context of modern inclusive approaches, which allowed characterizing the unique inclusive discourse in the USSR as an additional factor in adaptation of foreign inclusive methodology to the Russian realities; the new ideas for its development are introduced. The following conclusions are made: 1) the Soviet theory of design has developed sufficient grounds for the formation of the original inclusive concept with social process-oriented nature and operation on the level of functional ties; 2) In development of inclusive methodology, it is more effective to refer to any existing inclusive concepts adaptively, rather than mechanically, since the leading factor of adaptation lies in correspondence with the local sociocultural context; 3) for the Russian sociocultural context, most organic is the concept of universal design due to its international character and focus of delicate integration of various social groups.

Keywords: Soviet Design, Social inclusion, Accessibility, Open Form, Technical Aesthetics, Accessible Design, Inclusive Design, Inclusive discourse, Universal Design, Design for All

Abstract: The subject of this research is the Muslim minarets in general and Iranian minarets in particular. The goal consists in forming a typological classification of Muslim minarets, and based on that determine the specificity of the Iranian types of minarets. The article employs iconographic, iconological and cultural methods, and stylistic analysis. The author set the following tasks: determine different types of Muslim minarets; select the Iranian examples among them; determine the degree of prevalence of these types namely in the Iranian architecture; formulate the peculiarities of the architectural image of minaret that emerged in the context of Iranian architecture. For objectivity, the author established the timeframe –since the VII century to the late XVIII century, which marks the Iranian medieval Muslim culture. The scientific novelty is defined by the importance of knowing the characteristics of Iranian minarets, which are perceived as a symbol of Iranian faith. Familiarization with the architectural peculiarities of the minarets reveals the specificity of the Iranian religious architecture and Iranian culture as a whole. The acquired results demonstrate that the Iranian minarets are notable for their cylindrical shape, unique decoration, pairs of towers, location next to the doorway of the mosque ornamenting the sided. One of their primary functions to accentuate the major portal of the mosque. For the most part, Iranian minarets are rather representative and decorative, than resemble a fortress.

Keywords: Seljuk period, mosque, Islam, Iranian art, Iranian architecture, minaret typology, minaret, Timurid period, Safavid period, Qajar period