Aesthetic Transformations of the Image of the Opera Singer: Vasyl Slipak in Contemporary Popular Culture

Abstract

The opera, whose nature is synthetic and spectacular, is sensitive to social upheavals and changing priorities in artistic interests. Thus, in the postmodern era, opera art is revealed to the mass audience and gets closer to popular culture; it adapts to new aesthetic trends and at the same time influences them. One of the bridges that connect opera with popular culture is the figures of famous composers and star performers. Contemporary culture uses and rethinks the images of real-life opera stars, as well as some collective generalized images of opera singers. The Ukrainian opera singer Vasyl Slipak became a hero of popular culture—his story fits perfectly into the global pop cultural narratives of death in the battle for freedom. His image resonates with the current cultural zeitgeist and embodies the essence of Ukrainian society under the Russian invasion and its values. Modern artists skillfully incorporate his iconic persona into the realms of drama, theater, and music, showcasing their ingenuity and creativity.

Keywords

• opera
• drama
• music
• postmodernism
• ukraine