Perception of Urban Cultural Space and Peculiarities of Urban Identity: Intergenerational Analysis (Based on Research of Krasnodar Respondents)

Abstract

The article discusses the relevant issue of the interaction between humans and cities in modern society, as well as the influence of the city’s cultural space on urban identity. According to the subjective approach, the category “cultural space of the city” is seen as a semantic sphere embodied in the urban landscape. The purpose of this article is to provide a theoretical basis and empirical research on the influence of the city’s cultural space on the local identity of respondents. Research methods. The ‘City Identity Questionnaire’ (C. A. Litvin, O. I. Muravyova) was used to investigate urban identity. An author-­designed questionnaire was developed to investigate the urban cultural space. The questionnaire identifies the following factors that influence the urban cultural space: recreational effect, positive emotional involvement effect, and creative effect. The questionnaire to analyze the main trends and value dominants of the art space of Krasnodar was compiled on the basis of interview materials with art historians, cultural historians, and cultural workers. Empirical basis of the study: 354 respondents who permanently reside in Krasnodar. The analysis of urban identity characteristics using the mean method showed a high level of expression for all aspects of urban identity in the studied groups. No significant differences were found between the two age groups. The most important factor influencing all aspects of urban identity for both groups is feeling proud of their city and fellow citizens. The recreational effect was a significant factor influencing urban identity in the older age group. In the younger age group, it only affected emotional attachment to the city and the evaluation of personal contribution to its development. The influence of the creative effect in the studied groups was found to be insignificant. The study results showed that the main visual dominants of the urban space in the examined groups were the feeling of pride when seeing urban sculptures, as well as the recreational effect of walking in the central part of the city, parks, and green areas of Krasnodar. Inter-generational differences have been identified in the effect of certain objects in urban cultural spaces. For the older generation, the emotional impression of creative outdoor advertising, whimsical trees and original floral compositions, as well as the opportunity to participate in urban cultural events, were significant factors. The negative factor was the impression of art objects and modern urban sculpture in Krasnodar. After analyzing the author’s questionnaire, two main tendencies in the perception of Krasnodar’s cultural space have been identified, corresponding to different age groups: traditional (aiming to preserve Krasnodar’s historical appearance and characteristics while making it more convenient for residents) and innovative (aiming to change the city in accordance with the latest urban trends, making it modern and functional).