Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
The birth of the Russian bear? The bear symbol in the satirical journals of the Russian revolution of 1905. / Riabov, Oleg .
In: Region: Regional Studies of Russia, Eastern Europe, and Central Asia, Vol. 9, No. 1, 760828, 2020, p. 139-168.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - The birth of the Russian bear? The bear symbol in the satirical journals of the Russian revolution of 1905
AU - Riabov, Oleg
PY - 2020
Y1 - 2020
N2 - The study focuses on the way in which the satirical graphic art of the Russian Revolution of 1905 used the image of the bear to represent revolutionary events and both supporters and opponents of the autocracy. The author comes to the conclusion that this time period saw the emergence of the bear as a political symbol in Russia. The use of the bear as a political image became part of the symbolic struggle in which some political forces sought to delegitimize power, while others pursued the goal of discrediting the revolution. Left-wing journals used the image of the bear to designate both “us” and “them”; in some cases, the image served as an allegory of the oppressed and rebellious people, and in others it personified the autocracy and its supporters, particularly, the reactionaries of the Black Hundreds. Right-wing journals used the bear image as a symbol representing “us,” and the bear was associated only with positive characteristics. Despite the differences mentioned, however, left-and right-wing journals also had something in common: the bear symbol was used to identify “Russianness,” with both its positive and negative aspects. In the “political bestiary,” therefore, the bear received the status of national animal symbol. At the same time, the semantics of the bear as a political symbol during this period were not yet fully established and it had not yet become an allegory personifying Russia.
AB - The study focuses on the way in which the satirical graphic art of the Russian Revolution of 1905 used the image of the bear to represent revolutionary events and both supporters and opponents of the autocracy. The author comes to the conclusion that this time period saw the emergence of the bear as a political symbol in Russia. The use of the bear as a political image became part of the symbolic struggle in which some political forces sought to delegitimize power, while others pursued the goal of discrediting the revolution. Left-wing journals used the image of the bear to designate both “us” and “them”; in some cases, the image served as an allegory of the oppressed and rebellious people, and in others it personified the autocracy and its supporters, particularly, the reactionaries of the Black Hundreds. Right-wing journals used the bear image as a symbol representing “us,” and the bear was associated only with positive characteristics. Despite the differences mentioned, however, left-and right-wing journals also had something in common: the bear symbol was used to identify “Russianness,” with both its positive and negative aspects. In the “political bestiary,” therefore, the bear received the status of national animal symbol. At the same time, the semantics of the bear as a political symbol during this period were not yet fully established and it had not yet become an allegory personifying Russia.
KW - Russian bear
KW - Political symbols
KW - Legitimation of power
KW - the bear symbol
KW - Russian revolution 1905
KW - caricature
KW - Russian satirical journals
KW - the bear symbol
KW - Political symbols
KW - Legitimation of power
KW - the Russian Revolution of 1905
KW - the Russian Bear
KW - Russian satirical journals
KW - Caricature
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85088635738&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - https://www.mendeley.com/catalogue/ab4ae500-43d5-35d6-a7d7-d0c84753b069/
U2 - 10.1353/reg.2020.0008
DO - 10.1353/reg.2020.0008
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85088635738
VL - 9
SP - 139
EP - 168
JO - Region: Regional Studies of Russia, Eastern Europe, and Central Asia
JF - Region: Regional Studies of Russia, Eastern Europe, and Central Asia
SN - 2166-4307
IS - 1
M1 - 760828
ER -
ID: 60272364