Historical and cultural analysis of ideas on the formation of aesthetic culture of the individual

Abstract

The article highlights some issues related to the formation of aesthetic culture of the individual through the historical and cultural prism. The analysis of philosophical ideas on the category of culture and aesthetics of the individual from the ancient era to the present is chronologically presented, which led to the derivation of basic research positions. The definition of the concept of aesthetic culture of the individual is presented, which is an instrument of holistic and conscious perception of beauty in art and reality, the ability to creative self-expression inherent in man. Attention is focused on the exclusivity of this property of personality as a natural and culturally appropriate human need, but which requires conscious, purposeful and systematic formation with prospective development. The author emphasizes that the primary goal in the formation of aesthetic culture is to rely on the identification of artistic and aesthetic characteristics of the individual with their prospective development to the level of aesthetically appropriate human ability to master the surrounding reality. It is assumed that such a level is manifested both in the integrated development of all segments of the aesthetic consciousness of the individual and in the development of skills and abilities of active transformative activity in art, work, life, and socio-cultural processes.  It is substantiated that the main task of forming aesthetic culture is not only to expand the range of artistic perception, the number of books read, musical pieces heard, etc. but also to consciously generate feelings, spiritual growth of the individual, regulation and correction of behavior. In this context, the tasks of aesthetic education are specified, which are the development of sensory (sensual culture), the education of aesthetic tastes and value judgments, and the development of artistic creativity.