ABSTRACT
Rudaia D. V. The figurative system of performing in the contemporary Ukrainian Puppet Theatre: the visual component. – Qualifying scientific work on the rights of the manuscript.
The dissertation for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the speciality 026 “Stage Art”. – I. K. Karpenko-Kary Kyiv National University of Theatre, Cinema and Television, Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communications of Ukraine. Kyiv, 2025.
Relevance of the study. Contemporary puppet theatre in Ukraine is a complex and vibrant artistic phenomenon, demonstrating a wide range of artistic possibilities at various genre and stylistic levels. An important place in the set of expressive means of puppet theatre performances is now occupied by elements that are carriers of visual information. The dominance of visuality, which is one of the key components in the formation of the stage concept, is a demonstration of two trends: on the one hand, the growing importance of a number of immanent features of this type of theatre and, on the other hand, the increasingly active spread of the influence of the so-called visual turn in contemporary culture as a whole. The visual component of the figurative system of a performance, in its entirety and diversity, is decisive in shaping the spectacle of a stage work, which appears as an important (and necessary) qualitative characteristic of a contemporary artistic product.
Historical and theoretical aspects of the functioning and development of puppet theatre are studied by scholars from various countries. The Ukrainian puppet theatre has become the object of attention of Ukrainian scholars, whose works highlight the dynamics of creative processes in this field, pay great attention to the specifics of puppet theatre and its expressiveness. However, a systematic study of the visual component of the figurative performance system of contemporary Ukrainian puppet theatre has not yet been carried out.
The purpose of the study is to highlight the specific features of the visual component of the figurative system of puppet theatre performances in contemporary Ukraine.
The scientific significance of the study. The thesis for the first time: based on the analysis of a significant body of cultural and artistic works, outlines the range of problems of studying visuality and spectacular culture in the projection on puppetry; applies the concepts of “monosystemicity” and “polysystemicity” to determine the interdependence of technological and content characteristics of the production; examines a significant body of performances representing the creative work of contemporary Ukrainian puppeteers. The work deepens the understanding of the structure of the figurative system of a puppet theatre performance. The information on the peculiarities of the methodology and specific aspects of puppet theatre research, the interpretation of the concept of “figurative system of a performance”, the description of the relationship between its elements have been clarified and completed. The dissertation systematises the following: existing approaches to the scientific understanding of the phenomenon of puppet theatre; contemporary puppet theatre productions based on the use of specific means of expression. The characteristics of the peculiarities of the introduction of modern technologies in theatrical productions have been further developed.
Research results. The problems of spectacular culture are the focus of the attention of many researchers, as evidenced by the accumulation of a significant body of cultural and art historical works. In the complex of expressive means of the performing arts, the proportion of those of a visual nature has increased. This is particularly evident in the field of puppet theatre, where the visual component is often the main tool for realising an artistic idea, making it possible to perceive a performance as a spectacle. The spectacle as a phenomenon and the spectacle as a specific feature of stage works are dealt with in different aspects. It is important to clarify the conceptual and categorical apparatus of such studies, carried out in particular in the works of K. Stanislavska. The mechanisms of the spectacle's functioning as an instrument of socio-cultural communication are also considered. It is argued that through theatricalisation, which is an integral part of spectacle culture, the influence of theatre on the social, cultural and communicative processes of modern society is realised. The ways in which visual images are formed within theatrical performances that can replenish the set of cultural codes are explored. In the art of puppet theatre with its expressive specificity, visual means include all aspects of what the spectator sees on stage: a puppet (or an object that replaces it), stage costumes, textures, colours, other means of scenography, plastic design, lighting.
