The textbook contains a systematic presentation of the main provisions of the semiotics of culture - a discipline that had an exceptional influence on the development of the world humanities in the second half of the twentieth century. General problems of semiotics are considered - the definition and structure of a sign, primary and secondary sign relations, semiosis and mimesis - as well as a number of specific sign systems most often touched upon in the study of literature (language and literature, visual systems, storytelling, semiotic aspects of behavior and monetary circulation , the general structure of sign culture). The ideas of leading theorists of semiotics - Roland Barthes, Umberto Eco, Yuri Lotman and others are presented. The theoretical presentation is accompanied by numerous examples, mainly taken from language, fiction and other arts. The book is recommended for philology students enrolled in undergraduate and graduate programs, as well as graduate students. The publishing design is preserved in PDF A4 format.