Olga V. Sapunova

The article focuses on the aesthetic category of the ugly in art and discusses its evolution. In particular, key issues concerning the category are being investigated: distinguishing between the concepts "disformed", "ugly" and "disgusting"; analysing the correlations between the category under discussion and the category of beauty; describing the existing category criteria. The review analyses the state of the category in every epoch successively, from the Ancient times to the current state. Moreover, it singles out the major features used to identify the category. The results of the analysis reveal the growing popularity of the category in modern and contemporary art. In conclusion, the authors propose several research issues for further investigation.

The article analyses the aspects underlying the process of constructing a virtual personality within the situation of total digitalization brought to all spheres of human life, including social interactions, culture and art, and creative process. Using methods and tools of deep semiotic analysis and sociological research paradigms, the authors study key structural components of virtual personality (avatar, profile, digital footprint, virtual personality, digital identity, online persona), elaborate a typology of virtual personalities (alter ego, idealised self, experimental identity), and critically overview the mechanisms of constructing virtual personality (selective self-representation, narrative identity in digital environment, and virtual representation). The focus of interest in the analysis is the influence such factors as social context, platform specifics, and cultural paradigm produce on a virtual personality constructing and the preference of a self-presentation strategy. In conclusion, the authors highlight that an adequate study of virtual personality construction requires elaborating and implementing interdisciplinary approaches based on the integration of traditional and digital methods.