Applied Cultural Studies from A to Z: Concepts, Spheres, Practice

The article represents a review of “Applied Cultural Studies” Encyclopedia edited by Doctor of Philosophy, Professor I.M. Bykhovskaya (Moscow, “Soglasie” Publishing House, 2019) and dedicated to conceptualization and systematization of research studies in the sphere of applied cultu­ral studies. They are represented in problem-subject units, conside­ring different levels and spheres of this field of know­ledge: from theoretical and methodological contexts of development of applied studies, comprehension of scientific tools, concepts of cultural studies and sociocultural space as a subject field, to social practi­ces in cultural studies dimension. The review reflects the structural and substantive parameters of the publication, features of theoretical and empiric material, genre specificity and symbolic constituent. It gives appraisal of the encyclopedic publication and reveals its unicity and scientific significance. The publication is regar­ded as strong contribution in contemporary cultural knowledge, its outreach and widening spheres of applying. The Encyclopedia is presented in the context of already formed tendencies of comprehension and research of the scientific field as well as in terms of a new stage of development of cultural know­ledge confirming itself not only in the light of theoretical-methodological and historical-cultural research but in the area of social space and practices. The publication is considered as a multidimensio­nal and multifaceted work represented by magnifical writing staff from different Russian cities. Herewith, it is an integral, conceptually structured book, which compares favorably with many other refe­rence publications. Being focused on funded comprehension of cultural processes and events, on attracting the attention of humanities scholars, lecturers and university students to the problems of applied use of cultural know­ledge, this project represents a complex encyclopedic publication integrating theore­tical-methodological base with reference material and the author’s approach.