Cultural and Axiological Projections of the Lullaby Genre in Contemporary Cultural and Artistic Projects

Abstract

The purpose of the article is to identify the functional and axiological characteristics of the lullaby genre within the context of its historical and cultural evolution, and to analyse the transformation of the traditional functions of the lullaby in contemporary cultural and artistic practices. The research methodology is based on a comprehensive interdisciplinary approach that combines methods of cultural studies, musicology and axiological analysis. The historical-cultural method is applied to study the evolution of the lullaby genre, the functional method to determine its socio-cultural and psycho-emotional functions, and the axiological method to explore the value-related aspects of the phenomenon of sleep and the lullaby. The method of cultural interpretation was used to analyse contemporary artistic practices related to the transformation of the functions of the lullaby in the modern cultural space. Scientific novelty of this study lies in its comprehensive analysis of the lullaby as a functional and axiological phenomenon that emerges at the intersection of cultural, biological and psychological dimensions. This study is the first to analyse the relationship between the genre nature of the lullaby and the phenomenon of sleep in terms of its culture-forming potential and the mechanisms for shaping the emotional and communicative environment. It is demonstrated that the lullaby represents a ritualised model of transition from a state of activity to a state of calm, which has an axiological foundation and is linked to the categories of care, security and the harmonisation of the psycho-emotional state. For the first time, the transformation of the functions of the lullaby in contemporary cultural and artistic practices has been traced, showing how it is integrated into new formats of musical experience and artistic communication. This has made it possible to consider the lullaby as a relevant model of cultural interaction in the contemporary artistic space. Conclusions. The study has demonstrated that the lullaby genre emerges at the intersection of biological, psychological and cultural dimensions, serving as a ritualised transition from activity to rest and creating a space of emotional security and psycho-emotional harmonisation. It has been established that the functional structure of the lullaby is complex in nature, combining oniric, apotropaic, communicative, cognitive and aesthetic functions, which together reveal the axiological nature of the genre – its focus on the values of care, love and cultural continuity. It has been revealed that, in the context of contemporary culture, the traditional functions of the lullaby are undergoing transformation: the phenomenon of sleep is being integrated into new artistic practices, where music serves as a means of meditative experience and overcoming psycho-emotional strain. M. Richter’s ‘Sleep’ project and R. Rich’s ‘sleep concerts’ demonstrate a reimagining of the lullaby genre in line with the needs of the modern individual. It has been demonstrated that the lullaby is transforming from a traditional form of lulling a child to sleep into a multidimensional cultural and artistic phenomenon that retains its cultural relevance and continues to embody the values of tranquillity, inner harmony and human interaction within the contemporary socio-cultural space.