Abstract: The subject under research is a set value and meanings of the concept "ethnic picture of the world". This concept is actively formed in modern Russian social knowledge, first of all, of social ethnic researches. Application of the concept "ethnic picture of the world" of researches of processes of ethnic identification and self-identification is most actual. The ethnic picture of the world is a social and mental construct, characteristic for concrete ethnocultural group. As a rule, modern ethnic pictures of the world are base for formation of positive ethnic identity and self-identity. The main method is the conceptual analysis. For a definition of an ethnic picture of the world results of the state-of-the-art and critical review of scientific sources were used. In addition expert and information messages which expanded the academic understanding of an ethnic picture of the world were attracted. An ethnic picture of the world is a new and important scientific concept. In logic of social constructivism of positive ethnic identity the ethnic picture of the world appears not only as objectively developed construct but also as the tool for creation of national Russian identity. Ethnic pictures of the world accent specifics of outlook of a concrete ethnic group, act as the instrument of marking, separation of one ethnic group from another.

Abstract: The article is devoted to the analysis of a cultural and semiotic approach which is viewed as one of the main approaches in studying the art of indigenous groups of the North, Siberia and Far East. The author’s systematization of methodological principals of the cultural and semiotic approach (understanding the culture as a structure which consists of several symbolic systems and cultural texts; the principle of creating the symbols that are actualized in the artistic dialogism; representationism of the culture and symbolic interpretation of the culture’s signs; the notion “value” as one of the key notions in the concept of the art’s semiotic phylosophy) is suggested in the article. The definition of the notion “art” is made clear on the basis of correlating the methodological principles of the cultural and semiotic approach and the ideas of constructivism. The art is understood as a cultural-semiotic set which evokes social senses in individual and collective consciousness and helps to perform verification of the human ideas if the world around and to create our own world vision in the underconsciousness. The method of the research is a conceptual and categorical concepts analysis of the basic notions. The article proves the cultural-semiotic methodological approach ton the analysis of the fine arts objects. The methods of philosophical artistic analysis by V.I. Zhukovskij, N.P. Koptseva, D.V. Pivovarov are used. The most effective methodological strategy for the analysis of the works of art of the native people of the North, Siberia and the Far East is defined for the first time. The double semiotics of the art works is shown as that of cultural texts. Possibilities of cultural-semiotic approach to the analysis of certain works (including the Northern nations living on the territory of the Russian Federation) is analyzed. The problem of the article is of great importance in connection with the new exploration of Siberia and the Far East and the necessity to preserve the unique culture of the native peoples living on that territories.