Features of the Artistic Realisation of the Singer Zoia Gaidai in the Ukrainian Cinema of the Stalin Era (1930-1950s)

Abstract

The purpose of the article is to investigate one of the aspects of the professional activity of the Ukrainian singer Z. Gaidai – participation in filming during the period of Stalinism in the 1930-1950s. Within the framework of the research of the specified problem, to show the specificity and artistic significance of the film material on the singer's work, as well as its importance in the context the creative biography of the performer and cinematographic heritage of Ukraine as a whole. The methodology of the work consists in the application of the source study method to analyse archival documents containing information on Z. Gaidai’s participation in filming, as well as other materials on the topic of research; specific historical method – to determine the influence of socio-political processes of the Stalin era on cultural and artistic life, in particular, on the work of the domestic film industry; bio-bibliographic method – to determine the place of this aspect of the singer's activity in her creative biography; general scientific methods (analysis, synthesis, generalisation) – with the aim of thoroughly studying the issue and forming a reasoned conclusion. The scientific novelty of the article consists in the expansion of information about the creative activity of Z. Gaidai in the 1930-1950s, the study of new aspects of it, in particular those related to participation in filming, in the assessment of the specificity and artistic value of the filmed material, as well as its significance in creative biography of the singer and the history of Ukrainian cinematography. Conclusions. The analysis and assessment of the results of Z. Gaidai’s participation in filmmaking during the Stalinism of the 1930-1950s made it possible to reveal the degree of interest of cinematographers in the personality of the singer and her desire to further popularise her work and leave a mark in cinema. However, the totalitarian Stalin era influenced the course of the filming process, determined the specificity of the content and essence of the material offered to the singer and, as a result, its somewhat dubious artistic value, in particular in the context of the domestic film heritage. The "Shelved" concert film "Ukrainian Melodies" generally put an end to the short film career of Z. Gaidai, which prevented her from fully realising herself as a film actress and forced her to focus exclusively on vocal and creative activities.

Keywords: Zoia Gaidai, cinematography of the Stalinism period of the 1930-1950s, film "Natalka Poltavka", Ukrkinokhronika, concert film "Ukrainian Melodies".