Dynamics of masculine visions in 21st century Ukrainian drama

Abstract

Background. This article examines the transformation of masculinity in 21st-century Ukrainian drama, particularly against the backdrop of national crises, economic instability, and war. Gender studies in Ukrainian literary criticism have gone through stages from feminist criticism to a deep understanding of masculine discourse, which became particularly important after the collapse of the Soviet Union and the start of the Russian-Ukrainian war. The aim of the study is to analyze the evolution of the image of men in contemporary Ukrainian drama and to identify the main stages of change in masculinity.

Methods. The analysis uses textual and contextual analysis methods, as well as a gender approach, which allows us to examine the change in masculine models in drama through the prism of sociocultural and political changes. The plays of Ukrainian playwrights Oksana Taniuk, Oleksandr Irvanets, Vitalii Chenskyi, and others are analyzed.

Results. The study identified three main stages in the development of masculinity in Ukrainian drama: 1990-2013 - a crisis of the traditional male image associated with economic destabilization and colonial trauma. Male characters are portrayed as weak and devalued, which is reflected in their dependence on the Russian model of masculinity. 2014-2021 - ethical search, formation of new morally responsible images. Male characters strive to find a balance between strength, spirituality, and ethical responsibility.

2022-present - post-gender heroism, where masculinity becomes collective and integrates elements of empathy and responsibility, transforming into a universal model of action.

Conclusions. The development of the image of men in Ukrainian drama reflects profound sociocultural changes and reactions to external challenges, particularly national identity, wars, and social transformations. Contemporary Ukrainian drama demonstrates post-gender heroism, where strength and empathy are combined in a new male image. This approach to the portrayal of masculinity shapes Ukraine's new cultural identity, which includes not only patriarchal elements but also the capacity for collective care and responsibility to society.