Vodka, snow and borsch: As Russians see in Western TV shows
The creators of Western TV series often resort to stereotypes, continuing the long tradition of negative perceptions of Russia and Russian people. And this is not only bears with balalaikas, but also something more serious.
For example, in one of the American TV series, “Fields of Darkness,” the 18th episode of the first season is dedicated to the adventures of the main character in Russia. He is trying to rescue one girl from a Russian prison. Russians are represented in it as people drinking vodka and taking bribes. About the country, the hero says: "Vodka and snow, again vodka and borsch." And one of the St. Petersburg criminal authorities explains to him that his girlfriend was lucky: she was not killed, not sold into sexual slavery, but “only” is in prison. Here is such a wild country!
Something worse is added to the images of eternally drinking Russians. For example, in the political series "House of Cards" one of the characters is the President of Russia, whom the authors "christened" Viktor Petrov (it must be that the initials coincide with the name of Vladimir Putin). The Russian leader, in the eyes of the Americans, is incredibly arrogant and tough. He throws his people behind bars political opponents, taunts the electoral system, arranges pompous parties at his residence in Sochi. True, the main character of the film, the American democratic politician Francis Underwood, looks even more cynical and cruel.
There is an episode in the film when Underwood arranges dinner in honor of Petrov’s visit to the White House and invites opponents of the Russian president, members of the Pussy Riot group, to the event. There brawlers make accusatory speeches and pour the contents of the glasses onto the floor. These are the director’s fantasies.
In the series "The Last Candidate", in the story of which terrorists blow up the Capitol, among the characters there is a Russian woman - cultural attache at the Russian Embassy Valery Poriskov. Of course, she is presented as a spy who hunts for a double agent (just a model of real provocation in Salisbury!) So, this “insidious Russian” is discussing with a colleague from the FBI how Russia eliminates traitors. There is such an episode - Ukrainian terrorists, whom Moscow paid, hijack a Russian plane. This is not just a hijacking, but a provocation to create an occasion for a large-scale war against Ukraine.
There is another in the United States that mentions the theme of Russian-Ukrainian relations, called “Shooter”. In Seattle, the “Russian mafia”, together with agents of the Russian special services and the bribed CIA, kills Ukrainian President Viktor Abromovich.
Honestly, this is a very strange plot, given that the real Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovych just had the chance to be killed by the instigators of Euromaidan, who enjoy the support of the West (Victoria Nuland distributed cookies to the supporters of this action). Or is there a hint of Viktor Yushchenko’s “poisoning”?
This sinister image is intertwined with more harmless stereotypes. One of the Russian mafiosi demonstrates a very characteristic grocery set: red and black caviar, Baltika beer, Kiriyoshki crackers, as well as magazines called Night and Naked.
For American youth, the series “Arrow” was shot, in the story of which the main character becomes a member of the “Solntsevo Brotherhood”. There, in addition to scenes of cruelty, there is also vodka. A lot of vodka in faceted glasses. Moreover, the creators of the series believe that the Gulag still functions in Russia.
In European films, Russians are often represented in much the same way. For example, in Norway, the series “Occupied” about the “heroic” Norwegians, who are fighting the Russians who seized oil companies, is very popular.
In the British series "Duckweed", children from Bristol find themselves in Russia. And there portraits of Lenin hang everywhere, with drivers of public transport on the head of a budenovka, everyone drinks vodka and sings Kalinka. Even children - and they turn out to be lovers of a strong drink.
Another famous series - "McMafia" - a joint British-American "masterpiece. The main character is the son of a Russian mafioso who grew up in Britain. He is trying to distance himself from his father’s past, but bandits from Russia are hunting him (along with criminals from other countries). It also depicts Russians who constantly drink vodka. And they also eat borsch, which is called "Russian Viagra."
In an amicable way, here it would be necessary for Ukrainians to be indignant already for such a rude “run over” to borsch. But they are unlikely to be indignant - the creators of the series left alone fat.
For example, in one of the American TV series, “Fields of Darkness,” the 18th episode of the first season is dedicated to the adventures of the main character in Russia. He is trying to rescue one girl from a Russian prison. Russians are represented in it as people drinking vodka and taking bribes. About the country, the hero says: "Vodka and snow, again vodka and borsch." And one of the St. Petersburg criminal authorities explains to him that his girlfriend was lucky: she was not killed, not sold into sexual slavery, but “only” is in prison. Here is such a wild country!
Shot from the series "Areas of Darkness"
Something worse is added to the images of eternally drinking Russians. For example, in the political series "House of Cards" one of the characters is the President of Russia, whom the authors "christened" Viktor Petrov (it must be that the initials coincide with the name of Vladimir Putin). The Russian leader, in the eyes of the Americans, is incredibly arrogant and tough. He throws his people behind bars political opponents, taunts the electoral system, arranges pompous parties at his residence in Sochi. True, the main character of the film, the American democratic politician Francis Underwood, looks even more cynical and cruel.
Shot from the series "House of Cards"
There is an episode in the film when Underwood arranges dinner in honor of Petrov’s visit to the White House and invites opponents of the Russian president, members of the Pussy Riot group, to the event. There brawlers make accusatory speeches and pour the contents of the glasses onto the floor. These are the director’s fantasies.
In the series "The Last Candidate", in the story of which terrorists blow up the Capitol, among the characters there is a Russian woman - cultural attache at the Russian Embassy Valery Poriskov. Of course, she is presented as a spy who hunts for a double agent (just a model of real provocation in Salisbury!) So, this “insidious Russian” is discussing with a colleague from the FBI how Russia eliminates traitors. There is such an episode - Ukrainian terrorists, whom Moscow paid, hijack a Russian plane. This is not just a hijacking, but a provocation to create an occasion for a large-scale war against Ukraine.
There is another in the United States that mentions the theme of Russian-Ukrainian relations, called “Shooter”. In Seattle, the “Russian mafia”, together with agents of the Russian special services and the bribed CIA, kills Ukrainian President Viktor Abromovich.
Honestly, this is a very strange plot, given that the real Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovych just had the chance to be killed by the instigators of Euromaidan, who enjoy the support of the West (Victoria Nuland distributed cookies to the supporters of this action). Or is there a hint of Viktor Yushchenko’s “poisoning”?
Shot from the series "Areas of Darkness"
This sinister image is intertwined with more harmless stereotypes. One of the Russian mafiosi demonstrates a very characteristic grocery set: red and black caviar, Baltika beer, Kiriyoshki crackers, as well as magazines called Night and Naked.
For American youth, the series “Arrow” was shot, in the story of which the main character becomes a member of the “Solntsevo Brotherhood”. There, in addition to scenes of cruelty, there is also vodka. A lot of vodka in faceted glasses. Moreover, the creators of the series believe that the Gulag still functions in Russia.
In European films, Russians are often represented in much the same way. For example, in Norway, the series “Occupied” about the “heroic” Norwegians, who are fighting the Russians who seized oil companies, is very popular.
In the British series "Duckweed", children from Bristol find themselves in Russia. And there portraits of Lenin hang everywhere, with drivers of public transport on the head of a budenovka, everyone drinks vodka and sings Kalinka. Even children - and they turn out to be lovers of a strong drink.
Shot from the British series "Duckweed"
Another famous series - "McMafia" - a joint British-American "masterpiece. The main character is the son of a Russian mafioso who grew up in Britain. He is trying to distance himself from his father’s past, but bandits from Russia are hunting him (along with criminals from other countries). It also depicts Russians who constantly drink vodka. And they also eat borsch, which is called "Russian Viagra."
In an amicable way, here it would be necessary for Ukrainians to be indignant already for such a rude “run over” to borsch. But they are unlikely to be indignant - the creators of the series left alone fat.
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