Russian culture in foreign lyrics: principles of linguistic culturology

Abstract

The article focuses on the methods of lyrics analysis applied in linguistic culturology. The author shows that song contexts can be used in linguistic research as the source of information revealing cultural background, mentality and national values. The emphasis is laid upon the concept of Russia which is studied in American and European lyrics in English. It allows the author to discover various associations Russia evokes in foreign mentality. The author concludes that the attitude to Russia is double-natured: geography, politics and economics influence the formation of negative associations in foreign mentality while the traits of character of a Russian person as well as appearance of Russian women evoke the positive ones.