VARIETY STUDIES – THE SCIENCE OF VARIETY ART

Abstract

The article raises the problem of objectively identifying the place of modern variety art in the national cultural space, in this context the concepts of “elite art” and “mass culture” are understood. The level of scientific research of representatives of the academic field and variety researchers on a given topic is analyzed. The article considers the specifics of the variety, which is reflected in its multi-genre, which are not found in any of the scenic arts. Legitimating in the scientific field of the concept of “variety studies” is proposed as a direction of art history studying variety, its features and general dynamic processes associated with the development of national variety art. The conceptual and methodological foundations of variety science as an art direction, which studies variety art in its genre, generic and species branches, are specified, and the basic principles of variety art are defined. On the basis of the works of Y. Dmitriev, S. Klitin, Y. Kuznetsov, E. Uvarova seven basic principles of variety art were identified and characterized – openness, lightness, synthetics, laconicism, improvisation, mobility, individuality. The openness of the variety art is based on the artist's active dialogue with the audience; lightness outlines the specificity of the perception of variety art, which does not require prior preparation of the viewer; synthetics combination reasons in the performance of elements of different types of art (hence the multi-genre of art); laconicism implies a high concentration in work both on content and means of artistic expression; improvisation is a creative component of a stage artist's stage behavior, his openness to one or another reaction of public; mobility implies the artist's ability to perform on-stage activities in all conditions (professional mobility) and prompt response to society's demands (social mobility); the artist's personality is manifested in the constant search for originality, dissimilarity, individual performing style, his own stage image. It is stated that the basic principles of variety art are universal for all genres and types of variety art. The differences between variety art and show business are specified, which is part of mass culture. There is a shortage of Ukrainian variety art experts, in particular specialists in the field of variety vocal in training programs for young variety artists.

Keywords: modern variety art, elite art, mass culture, variety studies, specificity, criteria’s for evaluation, jazz.