Patterns of spiritual and artistic crisis in literature and culture on the verge of centuries

The author of the present article attempts to interpret "the verge of centuries" phenomenon summarizing the researches of Russian and West-European literature and culture in the XIX and the XX centuries. The evidences of spiritual and artistic crisis (reflected in the creative process crisis) on the verge of centuries (fatigue and exhaustion; paradigms of beginning and ending, death and rebirth, destruction and creation) are revealed. Comparative analysis of modern and postmodern literature and culture helps to discover the patterns of reflection and overcoming the crisis situations (synthesis of arts, cultures, genres; religious searches and recent mythos, etc.), to explain contemporary cultural events and possible prospects.