The semiotic landscape of volgograd in the context of urban communication studies

Abstract

The aim of the paper is to investigate how urban semiotic signs construct the image of Volgograd as a non-capital city, which is in many ways representative of the current social processes in Russia. The study is done from the perspective of urban communication studies. The interdisciplinary approach is elucidated through the use of the theoretical frameworks of symbolic interactionism and critical discourse analysis, in combination with the research instruments of sociolinguistics, semiotics and ethnography of communication. The investigation shows in what way the semiotic landscape of Volgograd is created by means of verbal and nonverbal signs reflecting the city’s historical memories, its cultural heritage and globalization tendencies. The emergence of new creative forms of communication, such as anti-cafés, “posidelki”, “kvartirniki”, etc., brings about changes in discourse patterns and vocabulary. Social activism based on “bottom-up” information flows produces new forms of urban communication symbolizing the growth of a new generation of the city-dwellers.