BOOK REVIEW: CONTEMPORARY CULTURAL STUDIES: AN ERA OF CULTURAL AND HISTORICAL RUPTURES (SABADASH, J. (ED.), 2026)

Abstract

The collective monograph "Contemporary Cultural Studies: An Era of Cultural and Historical Ruptures" offers a comprehensive and conceptually balanced study aimed at a systematic understanding of transformations in the humanities in the context of global socio-cultural shifts of the early 21st century. The publication synthesizes the results of multifaceted scholarly inquiries, representing the current state of cultural studies as an integrative field that responds to the challenges of digitalization, transformations of cultural memory, and the reinterpretation of identities. Particular attention is paid to the Ukrainian context, where the discipline emerges as an effective instrument for reflection on the processes of decolonization of knowledge, reevaluation of historical experience, and formation of new value orientations. The structure of the work logically combines fundamental theoretical and methodological explorations with analytical case studies, revealing not only the architectonics of contemporary cultural studies but also their applied potential in a rapidly changing environment.

The originality of the publication lies in its comprehensive presentation of cultural studies as an open system capable of integrating various research paradigms ranging from systems and structural-functional analysis to semiotic and interdisciplinary approaches. The authors demonstrate the ability to combine profound theoretical reflection with analysis of institutional practices, artistic processes, and innovative strategies for the preservation of cultural heritage. The practical significance of the monograph lies in the potential for broad application of its materials in higher education, particularly in the development of courses on the theory and history of culture, museum studies, media culture, and cultural policy. The work is intended for scholars, doctoral and master's students, and all humanities professionals who seek to grasp the logic of cultural transformations in an era of global historical ruptures, providing a reliable foundation for further academic dialogue.