Abstract: In reviewing studies of the visual image of the city following the example of Pirogov identified four research paradigms: naturalist, structuralist, constructivist and phenomenological. In this study, the most interesting structuralist paradigm, rather semiotic structuralism, as the city is featured as text readable residents and visitors. In connection with the appeal to visual signs of city system within semiotics approach, sees important to consider concept of a visual image of the city. The subject of the research is the concepts, approaches, models of research of a visual image of the city. Modern social and the humanities saved up the sufficient experience connected with methodology and a technique of research of a visual image of the city. Synthesis of this experience, allocation of key problems, the critical analysis will allow to find effective methodology for the analysis of visual images of the concrete Russian and world cities. The main method of research - the historiographic description, the critical analysis of domestic and foreign research literature. The method of allocation of key concepts, estimated judgments connected with researches of the modern cities is applied. By consideration of researches of a visual image of the city by Pirogov's example four paradigms of researches were allocated: naturalistic, structuralist, constructivist and phenomenological. Within this research the structuralist paradigm, to be exact semiotics structuralism as the city appears as the text which is read out by inhabitants and guests here is most interesting.

Abstract: The subject under research is the dynamics of modern urban studies which origin goes back to ancient times. The uprise of urban studies falls on the XXth - XXIst centuries. To perform urban researches today, it is neccesary to choose adequate conceptual and methodological approaches. To do this, it is also necessary to study and analyze the most famous and brilliant researches conducted by different social and humanitarian sciences. The historiographical review of urban researches will allow to select the most efficient methodological strategy for further analysis of a modern Russian city. The main research method used by the author of the article is the critical analysis and comparative historical review of the cocnepts of urban studies. The researcher has also describes the main historical stages and scientific schools in contemporary urban studies. Based on the historiographical anaylsis of modern city researches, the author concludes that one of the most effective and relevant in terms of volume and quality results in the social sciences is the semiotic approach that investigates the city as a system of signs represented in visual images and read by urban residents. Methodology of the research is mostly based on Michel de Certeau and Walter Benjamin who spoke about the perception of the city in motion and Henri Lefebvre's statements about the importance of the everyday experience of an urban resident.