Abstract
<jats:p>An analysis of the methodological principles and history of the formation and development of such branches of knowledge as musicology and cultural studies in the Russian scientific community has revealed symptomatic problems in human research provoked by the enormous transformations of modern culture. The article exam-ines modern research trends in musicology and cultural studies using the historical and comparative method, M. Foucault’s theory of the archaeology of knowledge and I. Lakatos’ concept of scientific research programs. Sociocultural barriers and methodological problems characteristic of two scientific disciplines are identified. The analysis is carried out in three positions: 1) the relationship of scientific knowledge with practical activity; 2) the existence of an autonomous subject of research; 3) interaction with other scientific disciplines. The conclu-sion is made about promising areas of research in the sciences of music and culture related to the current sci-entific agenda.</jats:p>