Abstract: The research is devoted to the images of Soviet economic culture of the 1960 - 1980's represented in art of that period. Economic culture is viewed as a form of human activity aimed at acquiring material wealth. The purpose of the present research is to reconstruct the process of interconnection and interdependence of material, spiritual and art elements of Soviet culture based on the analysis of peculiarities, main trends and cultural dynamics of images of Soviet economic culture in popular art. Research methods included system approach, method of historical typology, cultural (diachronic), semiotic and hermeneutic analysis of art work. The results of the research showed that: art images of transport contained typical features of Soviet economic culture of the 1960 - 1980's, in particular, contradictory combination of the dominating administrative-command economy and black market economy as well as combination of the industrial culture and traditional culture. Soviet society was depicted in art images of transport, too and it was the mixed type of industrial and pre-industrial, traditional and innovative, open and closed, popular and consumer society.  Art images of transport showed a Soviet man of different axiological types,  from 'the builder of communism' to the 'everyman'. Changes in art images of transport since the period 'of thaw' to the 'seventieth' also reflected transformation of values from socialistic values to traditional values and values of the consumer society. Conclusions and research materials can be used for teaching cultural studies, philosophy of culture, history of Russian culture, economy and art history. Some aspects of the research can help to solve particular issues in the field of modern economic culture. Research results can also help to form the system of values of the younger generation.

Keywords: transport, images, popular, art, material, objectivity, economic, Soviet, culture, cultural research

Abstract: The article duscusses both traditional application of metaphors in art, literature and cinematograph and less traditional application of metaphors (in social studies, professional vocabulary). Metaphors were first used in literature and scientific vocabulary not so long ago. Based on the example of the interest of the Soviet society towards  the Lesser Dutchmen after the war, the author makes an attempt to understand the cause of their latent attraction to bourgeoisie. The author also analyzes the phenomenon of the Soviet middle class culture as a gnoseological factor of the USSR dissidence. Metaphor is also viewed as a social indicator. 

Keywords: cultural studies, metaphor, literature, art, social studies, vocabulary, analogy, statistics, craft, revenue

Abstract: The article is built on the thematic-rhematic analysis of Polish, Russian and Belarusian proverbs about poverty and wealth. Special attention is paid to the characteristics of Polish, Russian and Belarusian mentalities. The results of the given research show similarities in understanding of poverty and wealth in three cultures. The attitudes towards poverty and wealth are ambivalent in traditional and contemporary societies. In all cultures analysed we found both dispraise and praise of poverty and wealth.

Keywords: cultural research, social studies, Polish culture, Belarusian culture, Russian culture, poverty, wealth, inequality, proverbs, mentality

Abstract: The purpose of the article is to show the difference between the two thinking strategies in art and culture. Chromatic methodology was used to perform the semantic marking of color and picture based on well known patterns of bilateral cogitation. The research allowed semiotic characteristics that described peculiarities of everyday, logical and creative thinking. The results of the research can be used in the theory of culture, creativity, fashion and art history practice. 

Keywords: cogitation semiotics, color semiotics, creativity, theory of fashion, color, paint, shape, image, term

Abstract: In the post-revolutionary period avant-garde culture in Odessa was supported by Ukrainian artist M. Boychuk, the follower of D.Rivera and Siqueiros. He and his students were invited to teach at Odessa in Polytechnic Institute of Arts. The main goals of the M.Boychuk’s monumental painting were addressed to the general public. Despite ideological pressing in the USSR art life after the Second World War, the followers of the classical avant-garde arts, Theophilus Fraerman, Michael Zuk, Nicholas Shelyutto continue to work and teach art in Odessa. They created a productive creative environment by teaching their students the taste for philosophical and aesthetic discussions about the language of avant-garde. Traditions of the early avant-garde were then reviewed by their followers, the leaders of nonconformism in the 50 - 60's O. Sokolov and E. Egorov who create a new approach to art. 

Keywords: Khrusch, nonconformism, Fraerman, Abstract symbolism, Sokolov, Egorov, Expressionism, Sychev, Nedoshitko, hawk

Abstract: The article gives a general description of the laws of existence and perception of classical music in a modern civilized environment and everyday life. The article deals wit particular functions of classical music indicated as a substitute for "empty" time, as a background in the process of working and different contexts of "live" communication. Classical music creates the illusion of harmony and aesthetic attraction of the surrounding world, everyday activities and social relationships. Furthermore classical music helps to eliminate the borders between distant historical epochs and brings the sense of the spiritual pithiness and consequence in monotonous operations. Also the article discusses the role of classical music in the structure of personal technical communication, namely virtual musical postcards and ringtones of mobile phones. By using classical melodies in this kind of communication, person can create one’s winning social and cultural image. However, the opposite trend is related to emotionally detached and full of irony treatment of the classics, when it’s involved in the process of interpersonal communication as a joke, surprise or shocking. 

Keywords: social behavior, entertainment, everyday life, sound sources, soundscape, background music, classic music, communication, mobile phone, ringtone