The article is devoted to the study of precedent texts as a mechanism for transmitting cultural values and historical context. The paper analyzes the role of precedent texts, including folklore, literary and historical works, in the preservation and transmission of moral, ethical and philosophical guidelines, as well as their functions as a “mirror of time” reflecting the key events and phenomena of the era. To identify the role of precedent texts, to determine their influence on the formation of collective experience and cultural identity. Methods of content analysis, semantic analysis, comparative analysis, as well as methods of interpretation and deconstruction of texts were used to analyze precedent texts. Special attention is paid to the process of adapting precedent texts in modern media and cultural contexts, their ability to keep in touch with the original meaning, while simultaneously actualizing in the public consciousness. The article also examines the interaction of precedent texts from different cultures in the context of globalization and its impact on local cultural codes.Using the examples of Kazakh and Russian folklore, it is shown how these texts serve as important tools for forming collective identity and strengthening social cohesion. The article is a contribution to the study of cultural memory, folklore and media culture.