The article describes possible uses of the term “culture” as implemented to the Internet and proposes four levels of its interpretation. The fi rst level is proposed for the Web construed as a way of gathering information about cultural events, so functioning mostly as a channel of information. The second level perceives the Internet as an environment for any organization which could be recognized as “cultural” in any way, including public institutions of culture. The third meaning of culture in the context of the Internet gathers all artistic activities usually connected with social actions. These activities could evolve into particular social events, which usually would cover existing social needs or cultural insuffi ciencies. The fourth meaning sees culture as a tool to perform an abstract and general theory of the Internet seen as a broad environment which includes social matters, technology, history, economy and so on. Each level of interpretation is widely described and supplemented by mostly Polish examples and literature.

Zeszyty Naukowe Uniwersytetu Jagiellońskiego, ISSN 0860-0139; 1334 ISBN 978-83-233-3602-0