ПРОБЛЕМА КУЛЬТУРНОЙ ИДЕНТИЧНОСТИ В ПРОСТРАНСТВЕ ИНФОРМАЦИОННОГО ОБЩЕСТВА

The article considers the problem of identity formation in the information society. Its purpose is to analyze the transformation of the cultural identity of anindividual as a result of the emergence of media space. It has been analyzed the influence of the newest information technologies, which led to the significantchanges in the understanding of human identity. It has been pointed out that information and technological innovations modified the mechanisms of personalself-determination. It has been concluded that this situation testifies the existence of the cultural identity’ crisis as well as the appearance of its new forms as a result of the routine way’s of life destruction.The article considers the problem of identity formation in the information society. Its purpose is to analyze the transformation of the cultural identity of anindividual as a result of the emergence of media space. It has been analyzed the influence of the newest information technologies, which led to the significantchanges in the understanding of human identity. It has been pointed out that information and technological innovations modified the mechanisms of personalself-determination. It has been concluded that this situation testifies the existence of the cultural identity’ crisis as well as the appearance of its new forms as a result of the routine way’s of life destruction

DEPARTMENT STORE AS SPACE OF URBAN CONSUMPTION IN 1920-1930S IN SOVIET UKRAINE

In the article, the features of department stores as trade establishments in Soviet Ukraine in 1920-1930s are examined. Department store is investigated as a unique space of urban consumption. It got the special place in ideology and propaganda and “fixed the victories and advantages of Soviet cultural trade”, the democratization of consumption. Department stores were to become a model of successful Soviet trade management and marketing. In urban space, department stores became the symbol of novelty, sufficiency and example for other trade institutions. Special attention is given to the transition in public discourse the image from “customer” to “consumer” during 1920-1930s. The innovativeness of univermags let to the use of modern tendencies in the arrangement of space, in particular, window displays and counters. It has been analyzed how department stores were equipped according to the last requirements of time with the help of mechanical devices and refrigeration units. The experience existence of universal type institutions was not as unique as it was in line with the world tendencies of trade modernization. But by borrowing and transforming the idea of universal trade into Soviet realities, the Bolshevik authorities gave it new meaning. In the Ukrainian department stores at that time a new commercial space was planned for the premises, showcases and counters were equipped, but despite these innovations, the shortage of goods, queues and state control of the market continued to remain. It has been concluded that state department stores could have become a model of successful Soviet management and marketing in the field of trade. Nevertheless, it was not enough to create a properly equipped store space, because consumer and department store was dependent on the ideological and economic policies of Soviet authorities. At the same time, the opening of department stores became a new stage in the development of Soviet trade, where the consumer could have become the main actor of these processes. However, in spite of this fact, during 1920-1930s a “new Soviet consumer” with its culture and consumption practices was created

Bogactwo w czasach radzieckich: wymiar materialny życia ukraińskiej elity ekonomicznej w latach dwudziestych i trzydziestych XX wieku

The purpose of this research is to investigate the material world of the Ukrainian economic elites in the 1920s–1930s. The turn to the Communist ideology caused the transformation of the state’s and society’s attitude towards everyday life and the world of things. In those circumstances, wealth and luxury as characteristic features of the material world of any elite should have also lost their relevance. The material world of the Ukrainian economic elites under NEP and early Stalinism kept all signs of belonging to the higher social strata. Thus, the main objects of this research are two groups of the Ukrainian economic elites: private entrepreneurs and managers of state industrial companies, ‘nepmen’ and Soviet ‘red directors’ respectively.It is necessary to find out what were the features of wealth in Soviet times. Some other important issues arise: what the material world of the Ukrainian economic elite was during the 1920s–1930s; what the difference in the position of its various representatives was; what kind of goods ‘created’ the elitist everyday life for entrepreneurs and directors of the Soviet industry; whether it is possible to create a sort of formula of wealth in the Soviet times in the interwar period.In fact, the personal and social identity of the economic elites in the 1920s–1930s was shaped by the possession of a certain set of goods and services that emphasized the status of their owners. Some researchers, on the contrary, suggest paying attention to the immateriality as a key feature of the Soviet project as a whole. That is why the prosperous consumer groups of Soviet society could be an interesting and controversial field of research, which can lead to understanding how the ideals of equality were implemented in practice.During the 1920s and 1930s, the social class of the Soviet economic elite and its consumer culture were formed. Both for ‘nepmen’ and ‘red directors’ things had the same material value. However, the acquisition of wealth by those two groups of the economic elite took place in a different way. While private traders bought certain material assets, the Soviet managers received them, mainly through a system of state distribution for workers or through social benefits. As a result, their consumer basket included not only things of everyday consumption, but also more durable items such as real estate, vehicles and other property.To summarize, the material values, symbols of luxury and wealth, were extremely valuable for the economic elites of the 1920s–1930s. It was one of the reasons that differentiated them from other strata of Soviet society. Their consumption had statutory and demonstrative features. It was the period when shortage and closed distribution of goods transformed usual everyday things into luxury items that were available only to the higher layers. In fact, the priority of wealth as the characteristic feature of the elite led to the formation of a privileged group of Soviet society, based on the ownership of property and goods.Artykuł ma na celu zbadanie materialnego wymiaru życia ukraińskich elit ekonomicznych w latach dwudziestych i trzydziestych XX wieku. Implementacja ideologii komunistycznej spowodowała zmianę w nastawieniu państwa i społeczeństwa do życia codziennego oraz świata dóbr materialnych. W zaistniałych okolicznościach bogactwo i luksus, stanowiące wartość definiującą świat materialny każdej grupy z wyższych sfer, powinny były stracić swoją ważność. Tenże aspekt świata ukraińskich elit gospodarczych pod rządami NEP i wczesnego stalinizmu zachował wszystkie oznaki przynależności do wyższych warstw społecznych. Głównym obiektem niniejszej analizy są dwie grupy społeczne: prywatni przedsiębiorcy (nepmen) oraz zarządcy państwowych przedsiębiorstw przemysłowych, sowieccy czerwoni dyrektorzy.Istotnym punktem pracy jest zdefiniowanie cech bogactwa w czasach radzieckich. Ponadto, w tekście wyłaniają się również inne ważne do poruszenia kwestie, to jest: nakreślenie obrazu materialnego świata ukraińskiej elity gospodarczej w latach dwudziestych i trzydziestych XX w., wyznaczenie różnic w pozycji społecznej różnych jej przedstawicieli, określenie jakie dobra kontrybuowały w tworzeniu ekskluzywnego życia codziennego przedsiębiorców oraz dyrektorów przemysłu radzieckiego. Autorka zadaje pytanie o to, czy możliwe jest stworzenie pewnego rodzaju przepisu na zdobycie bogactwa w czasach radzieckich okresu międzywojennego.W rzeczywistości, osobista i społeczna tożsamość elit ekonomicznych w latach dwudziestych i trzydziestych XX w. definiowana była przez dostęp do określonego zestawu dóbr i usług, które podkreślały status ich właścicieli. Przeciwne zdanie wyrażają niektórzy z badaczy, którzy sugerują konieczność zwrócenia uwagi na niematerialne aspekty jako kluczową cechę projektu sowieckiego jako całości. Ze względu na tą dwojakość poglądów dobrze usytuowane grupy konsumenckie społeczeństwa radzieckiego mogą być interesującym, kontrowersyjnym obszarem badawczym, którego badanie doprowadzić może do zrozumienia w jaki sposób ideały równościowe realizowane były w praktyce.W latach dwudziestych i trzydziestych XX w. pojawiła się nowa klasa społeczna, a wraz z nią charakterystyczna dla niej kultura konsumpcyjna. Zarówno nepmeni, jak i czerwoni dyrektorowie przypisywali rzeczom tą samą wartość materialną. Niemniej obie z tych grup dochodziły do bogactwa w inny sposób. Prywatni przedsiębiorcy zdobywali pewne dobra materialne drogą zakupu, podczas gdy radzieccy kierownicy otrzymywali je za pośrednictwem systemu państwowej dystrybucji lub pomocy socjalnej. Okoliczności te sprawiły, że w ich koszyku konsumenckim znalazły się nie tylko przedmioty codziennego użytku, ale również obiekty bardziej trwałe – nieruchomości, pojazdy oraz inny dobytek.Podsumowując, obiekty materialne – symbole luksusu i bogactwa, były niesamowicie cenne dla elit ekonomicznych tamtych lat. Odróżniały one te grupy od innych warstw społeczeństwa radzieckiego. Ich konsumpcja sygnalizowała przynależność do grupy i stanowiła jej gwarant. Lata dwudzieste i trzydzieste XX w. były okresem, w którym deficyt towarów oraz ich zamknięta dystrybucja uczyniły przedmioty codziennego użytku przedmiotami luksusowymi, dostępnymi jedynie dla wyższych warstw. Priorytet gromadzenia bogactwa, jako cechy charakterystycznej dla elit, doprowadził do powstania uprzywilejowanej grupy społeczeństwa radzieckiego, wywodzącej swoje korzenie z posiadania dóbr i własności.The purpose of this research is to investigate the material world of Ukrainian economic elites in 1920-1930s. The turn to the Communist ideology caused the transformation of the state’s and society’s attitude towards the everyday life and the world of things. In those circumstances wealth, luxury, as characteristic features of the material world of any elite, should have also lost its relevance. The material world of the Ukrainian economic elites under NEP and early Stalinism kept all signs of belonging to the higher social strata. Thus, the main objects of this research are two groups of Ukrainian economic elites: private entrepreneurs and managers of state industrial companies, “nepmen” and Soviet “red directors” respectively.It is necessary to find out what were the features of wealth in Soviet times? What was the material world of the Ukrainian economic elite during the 1920s-1930s? What was the difference in the position of its various representatives? What kind of goods “created” the elite everyday life for entrepreneurs and directors of Soviet industry? Is it possible to create a sort of formula of wealth in Soviet times in the interwar peiod?In fact, the personal and social identity of the economic elites in the 1920s-1930s was shaped by the possession of a certain set of goods and services that emphasized the status of their owner. Some researchers, on the contrary, suggest to pay attention on the immateriality as a key feature of the Soviet project as a whole. That is why the prosperous consumer groups of Soviet society could be an interesting and controversial field of research, which can lead to understanding how were implemented the ideals of equality in practice.During the 1920s and 1930s, the social class of the Soviet economic elite and its consumption culture was formed. Both for “nepman” and “red director” things represented the same material value. However, the acquisition of wealth by those two groups of the economic elite took place in a different way. When a private trader bought certain material assets, the Soviet manager received them, mainly through a system of state distribution for workers or through the though social benefits. As a result, his consumer basket included not only things of everyday consumption, but also more durable items such as real estate, vehicles and other property.To summarize, the material values, symbols of luxury and wealth, were extremely valuable for the economic elites of 1920-1930s. It was one of the reasons that differed them from the others strata of Soviet society. Their consumption had the statutory and demonstrative features. It was the period when shortage and closed distribution of goods transformed usual everyday things into luxury items that were only available to the higher circles. In fact, the priority of wealth as the characteristic features of the elite, led to the formation of privileged group of Soviet society, based on the ownership of property and goods

Чоловічі споживчі потреби в міському просторі радянської України в 1920-1930-ті роки

У дослідженні розглядаються характерні риси чоловічих споживчих потреб у 1920-1930-ті роки. Розглянуто вплив комуністичної ідеології на чоловічі споживчі потреби в СРСР. У процесі дослідження з'ясовано, що біографія чоловічих речей, тривалість їхнього життя були іншими порівняно із жіночими в досліджуваний період. Соціальний статус, професійне середовище та близькість до каналів розподілу сконструювали мозаїчний образ чоловіка-споживача. Модернізація стала важливим фактором, який вплинув на появу нових практик споживання і предметів чоловічого побуту

Багатство по-радянськи: матеріальний світ української економічної еліти 1920-1930-х років

The purpose of this research is to investigate the material world of the Ukrainian economic elites in the 1920s–1930s. The turn to the Communist ideology caused the transformation of the state’s and society’s attitude towards everyday life and the world of things. In those circumstances, wealth and luxury as characteristic features of the material world of any elite should have also lost their relevance. The material world of the Ukrainian economic elites under NEP and early Stalinism kept all signs of belonging to the higher social strata. Thus, the main objects of this research are two groups of the Ukrainian economic elites: private entrepreneurs and managers of state industrial companies, ‘nepmen’ and Soviet ‘red directors’ respectively.It is necessary to find out what were the features of wealth in Soviet times. Some other important issues arise: what the material world of the Ukrainian economic elite was during the 1920s–1930s; what the difference in the position of its various representatives was; what kind of goods ‘created’ the elitist everyday life for entrepreneurs and directors of the Soviet industry; whether it is possible to create a sort of formula of wealth in the Soviet times in the interwar period.In fact, the personal and social identity of the economic elites in the 1920s–1930s was shaped by the possession of a certain set of goods and services that emphasized the status of their owners. Some researchers, on the contrary, suggest paying attention to the immateriality as a key feature of the Soviet project as a whole. That is why the prosperous consumer groups of Soviet society could be an interesting and controversial field of research, which can lead to understanding how the ideals of equality were implemented in practice.During the 1920s and 1930s, the social class of the Soviet economic elite and its consumer culture were formed. Both for ‘nepmen’ and ‘red directors’ things had the same material value. However, the acquisition of wealth by those two groups of the economic elite took place in a different way. While private traders bought certain material assets, the Soviet managers received them, mainly through a system of state distribution for workers or through social benefits. As a result, their consumer basket included not only things of everyday consumption, but also more durable items such as real estate, vehicles and other property.To summarize, the material values, symbols of luxury and wealth, were extremely valuable for the economic elites of the 1920s–1930s. It was one of the reasons that differentiated them from other strata of Soviet society. Their consumption had statutory and demonstrative features. It was the period when shortage and closed distribution of goods transformed usual everyday things into luxury items that were available only to the higher layers. In fact, the priority of wealth as the characteristic feature of the elite led to the formation of a privileged group of Soviet society, based on the ownership of property and goods.Artykuł ma na celu zbadanie materialnego wymiaru życia ukraińskich elit ekonomicznych w latach dwudziestych i trzydziestych XX wieku. Implementacja ideologii komunistycznej spowodowała zmianę w nastawieniu państwa i społeczeństwa do życia codziennego oraz świata dóbr materialnych. W zaistniałych okolicznościach bogactwo i luksus, stanowiące wartość definiującą świat materialny każdej grupy z wyższych sfer, powinny były stracić swoją ważność. Tenże aspekt świata ukraińskich elit gospodarczych pod rządami NEP i wczesnego stalinizmu zachował wszystkie oznaki przynależności do wyższych warstw społecznych. Głównym obiektem niniejszej analizy są dwie grupy społeczne: prywatni przedsiębiorcy (nepmen) oraz zarządcy państwowych przedsiębiorstw przemysłowych, sowieccy czerwoni dyrektorzy.Istotnym punktem pracy jest zdefiniowanie cech bogactwa w czasach radzieckich. Ponadto, w tekście wyłaniają się również inne ważne do poruszenia kwestie, to jest: nakreślenie obrazu materialnego świata ukraińskiej elity gospodarczej w latach dwudziestych i trzydziestych XX w., wyznaczenie różnic w pozycji społecznej różnych jej przedstawicieli, określenie jakie dobra kontrybuowały w tworzeniu ekskluzywnego życia codziennego przedsiębiorców oraz dyrektorów przemysłu radzieckiego. Autorka zadaje pytanie o to, czy możliwe jest stworzenie pewnego rodzaju przepisu na zdobycie bogactwa w czasach radzieckich okresu międzywojennego.W rzeczywistości, osobista i społeczna tożsamość elit ekonomicznych w latach dwudziestych i trzydziestych XX w. definiowana była przez dostęp do określonego zestawu dóbr i usług, które podkreślały status ich właścicieli. Przeciwne zdanie wyrażają niektórzy z badaczy, którzy sugerują konieczność zwrócenia uwagi na niematerialne aspekty jako kluczową cechę projektu sowieckiego jako całości. Ze względu na tą dwojakość poglądów dobrze usytuowane grupy konsumenckie społeczeństwa radzieckiego mogą być interesującym, kontrowersyjnym obszarem badawczym, którego badanie doprowadzić może do zrozumienia w jaki sposób ideały równościowe realizowane były w praktyce.W latach dwudziestych i trzydziestych XX w. pojawiła się nowa klasa społeczna, a wraz z nią charakterystyczna dla niej kultura konsumpcyjna. Zarówno nepmeni, jak i czerwoni dyrektorowie przypisywali rzeczom tą samą wartość materialną. Niemniej obie z tych grup dochodziły do bogactwa w inny sposób. Prywatni przedsiębiorcy zdobywali pewne dobra materialne drogą zakupu, podczas gdy radzieccy kierownicy otrzymywali je za pośrednictwem systemu państwowej dystrybucji lub pomocy socjalnej. Okoliczności te sprawiły, że w ich koszyku konsumenckim znalazły się nie tylko przedmioty codziennego użytku, ale również obiekty bardziej trwałe – nieruchomości, pojazdy oraz inny dobytek.Podsumowując, obiekty materialne – symbole luksusu i bogactwa, były niesamowicie cenne dla elit ekonomicznych tamtych lat. Odróżniały one te grupy od innych warstw społeczeństwa radzieckiego. Ich konsumpcja sygnalizowała przynależność do grupy i stanowiła jej gwarant. Lata dwudzieste i trzydzieste XX w. były okresem, w którym deficyt towarów oraz ich zamknięta dystrybucja uczyniły przedmioty codziennego użytku przedmiotami luksusowymi, dostępnymi jedynie dla wyższych warstw. Priorytet gromadzenia bogactwa, jako cechy charakterystycznej dla elit, doprowadził do powstania uprzywilejowanej grupy społeczeństwa radzieckiego, wywodzącej swoje korzenie z posiadania dóbr i własności.The purpose of this research is to investigate the material world of Ukrainian economic elites in 1920-1930s. The turn to the Communist ideology caused the transformation of the state’s and society’s attitude towards the everyday life and the world of things. In those circumstances wealth, luxury, as characteristic features of the material world of any elite, should have also lost its relevance. The material world of the Ukrainian economic elites under NEP and early Stalinism kept all signs of belonging to the higher social strata. Thus, the main objects of this research are two groups of Ukrainian economic elites: private entrepreneurs and managers of state industrial companies, “nepmen” and Soviet “red directors” respectively.It is necessary to find out what were the features of wealth in Soviet times? What was the material world of the Ukrainian economic elite during the 1920s-1930s? What was the difference in the position of its various representatives? What kind of goods “created” the elite everyday life for entrepreneurs and directors of Soviet industry? Is it possible to create a sort of formula of wealth in Soviet times in the interwar peiod?In fact, the personal and social identity of the economic elites in the 1920s-1930s was shaped by the possession of a certain set of goods and services that emphasized the status of their owner. Some researchers, on the contrary, suggest to pay attention on the immateriality as a key feature of the Soviet project as a whole. That is why the prosperous consumer groups of Soviet society could be an interesting and controversial field of research, which can lead to understanding how were implemented the ideals of equality in practice.During the 1920s and 1930s, the social class of the Soviet economic elite and its consumption culture was formed. Both for “nepman” and “red director” things represented the same material value. However, the acquisition of wealth by those two groups of the economic elite took place in a different way. When a private trader bought certain material assets, the Soviet manager received them, mainly through a system of state distribution for workers or through the though social benefits. As a result, his consumer basket included not only things of everyday consumption, but also more durable items such as real estate, vehicles and other property.To summarize, the material values, symbols of luxury and wealth, were extremely valuable for the economic elites of 1920-1930s. It was one of the reasons that differed them from the others strata of Soviet society. Their consumption had the statutory and demonstrative features. It was the period when shortage and closed distribution of goods transformed usual everyday things into luxury items that were only available to the higher circles. In fact, the priority of wealth as the characteristic features of the elite, led to the formation of privileged group of Soviet society, based on the ownership of property and goods

Problem of Cultural Identity in the Space of Information Society

The article considers the problem of identity formation in the information society. Its purpose is to analyze the transformation of the cultural identity of anindividual as a result of the emergence of media space. It has been analyzed the influence of the newest information technologies, which led to the significantchanges in the understanding of human identity. It has been pointed out that information and technological innovations modified the mechanisms of personalself-determination. It has been concluded that this situation testifies the existence of the cultural identity' crisis as well as the appearance of its new forms as a result of the routine way's of life destruction