TY - JOUR

T1 - The Evolution of Trump’s Image in Russian Media

AU - Быкова, Елена Владимировна

AU - Гавра, Дмитрий Петрович

AU - Слуцкий, Павел

PY - 2018/8/10

Y1 - 2018/8/10

N2 - The article examines the dynamics of the Donald Trump’s myth creation in Russia through nominations in media discourse. Mythological nominations are objects of reflected reality which are capable of directing public opinion and creating some desired public attitude on irrational levels. The article generalizes nominations-antinomies of Donald Trump in the Russian political media discourse during the information confrontation between Russia and the United States. The analysis is based on the universal sample of articles published in three major Russian newspapers during the period from the inauguration of Donald Trump on January 20, 2017 until May 31, 2018. The results of the discursive and content analysis, together with semiotic and semantic analysis of the nominations, indicate the intention of forming positive image of Trump in Russia. The only notable exceptions in this generally positive narrative were 4 months which coincide with the following events: missile strike on Syria military base in April 2017, threats to North Korea and withdrawal from the Paris climate deal in September 2017, record military budget and relocation of the embassy in Israel to Jerusalem in December 2017, further tightening economic sanctions, trade and military activity in Syria in April 2018. During the periods surrounding these events, the discourse was sharply reversed from a generally positive validation of Trump to a negative one.

AB - The article examines the dynamics of the Donald Trump’s myth creation in Russia through nominations in media discourse. Mythological nominations are objects of reflected reality which are capable of directing public opinion and creating some desired public attitude on irrational levels. The article generalizes nominations-antinomies of Donald Trump in the Russian political media discourse during the information confrontation between Russia and the United States. The analysis is based on the universal sample of articles published in three major Russian newspapers during the period from the inauguration of Donald Trump on January 20, 2017 until May 31, 2018. The results of the discursive and content analysis, together with semiotic and semantic analysis of the nominations, indicate the intention of forming positive image of Trump in Russia. The only notable exceptions in this generally positive narrative were 4 months which coincide with the following events: missile strike on Syria military base in April 2017, threats to North Korea and withdrawal from the Paris climate deal in September 2017, record military budget and relocation of the embassy in Israel to Jerusalem in December 2017, further tightening economic sanctions, trade and military activity in Syria in April 2018. During the periods surrounding these events, the discourse was sharply reversed from a generally positive validation of Trump to a negative one.

KW - Russia-USA relations

KW - Trump

KW - mass media

KW - nominations

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85052560808&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1177/0002764218793691

DO - 10.1177/0002764218793691

M3 - Article

JO - American Behavioral Scientist

JF - American Behavioral Scientist

SN - 0002-7642

ER -