SYMBOL IN THE DIGITAL ERA: CULTURAL STUDIES OF SYMBOLS, APPLIED CULTURAL STUDIES, DIGITAL CULTURE

Abstract

The paper presents an overview of recent publications examining the role of symbols in digital culture and their importance in applied cultural studies. The aim of the research is to identify how symbolic systems evolve under the influence of digital communication and technological mediation. The study discusses theoretical and methodological approaches to analyzing digital symbols, focusing on their transformation in visual, textual, and multimedia formats. The research methodology combines comparative, semiotic, and cultural analysis to explore the functioning of digital symbols across artistic and communicative practices.
Results. The analysis reveals that modern digital symbols act as communicative, identificational, and aesthetic markers within virtual environments, performing the role of mediators between technology and human creativity. The study outlines key trends in the development of digital culture in Ukraine and worldwide, emphasizing the contribution of creative industries to the generation of new cultural meanings.
Novelty. The paper introduces an interdisciplinary framework for understanding digital symbols as elements of cultural production, connecting theoretical concepts of cultural studies with practical applications in digital media.
Practical significance. The findings can be useful for cultural practitioners, educators, and researchers developing strategies for symbolic communication and creative content production in the digital era.