Virtual image of an environmental disaster (on the example of the Kyshtym accident, 1957)

The article represents first results of the implementation of a scientific project dedicated to the problems of forming virtual images of some environmental processes taking place in the modern world. On the example of the Kyshtym accident in 1957 yr. authors analyze the main elements of the virtual image of one of the largest environmental disasters of the 20th century, show the dynamic and individualized nature of this image, note the high degree of its emotional perception by the youth (primarily student) audience. Also the article contains materials of a small sociological research of students of the South Ural State University in the spring of 2023, which studied the processes of forming the cultural memory of young people about the Kyshtym accident in 1957. The main conclusion of the research is that the most important component of the virtual image of the ecological catastrophe still is a visual range, however, as new information technologies develop, it may have «strong» competitors. From the point of view of the youth audience, today the strongest emotional impact on the consumer of the relevant content is provided by video materials, which include not only verbal information, but also musical accompaniment. To the number of elements of the image that create the most disturbing sensations from working with content dedicated to the Kyshtym accident in 1957 include: the radiation hazard sign, the Techa River, elements of a chemical protection suit, the word Chernobyl, a symbolic image of the explosion.