The Image Culture

The determination of a ‘consciousness image’, with illustrations from Russian and Japanese cultures

(The journal editors apologise for lack of some images and graphs at this time)

Authors: Dr V. V. Sidarova and Dr F E Vasilyuk

Biographical notes below

Abstract

In this research article, translated from the original Russian by the author, methodological, theoretical and empirical innovative approaches from the psychological school of L.S. Vygotsky, A.N. Leontiev, A.R. Luria, are described to examine the cultural determination of the consciousness image.  New concepts are introduced, amongst which are “image culture” and “strategy of image construction in consciousness”.

It is a specific empiric research for culturally determined build-up of ‘consciousness image’, based on the material of Russian and Japanese cultures. National identity of the individual is revealed by dependency of contents, structure and image construction. The dominating strategies employed in image construction in Russian and Japanese cultures have been emphasized.

It is shown that Russian culture favours consciousness image construction, predominantly based on a subjective perceptible world of meanings, while Japanese culture contributes to image coding, mainly with the significant elements of the material world. The research was conducted in Japan, Russia and the USA.

This article was written under support of Russian Foundation for Basic Research, grant Љ 07-06-00405-а.