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The Daily Beast
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Ive thought a lot about the ongoing situation with Ukraine, in terms of what modern Ukraine represents for the West. It took me a long time to find the right word, but I think I finally found it. Its Gollum. Ukraine is Gollum, Kira Sazonova argues
thedailybeast.com
Russian Propaganda Turns to Lord of the Rings to Stir Ukraine Hatred
10:40 AM · Apr 17, 2022
https://www.thedailybeast.com/russian-propaganda-turns-to-lord-of-the-rings-to-stir-ukraine-hatred?via=twitter_page
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https://archive.ph/m2Nsw
ith Russias mounting losses in its war against Ukraine, in addition to Western sanctions threatening the countrys feeble economy, state TV propagandists are resorting to mythical religious claims. Since the assertion that the Ukrainian government is a Nazi regime doesnt hold water, the Kremlins mouthpieces are portraying Moscows invading hordes as modern-day crusaders and their opponents as demons and satanists.
During Fridays broadcast of The Evening With Vladimir Solovyov, one of the most popular political talk shows in Russia, Kira Sazonova of the Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration argued: Ive thought a lot about the ongoing situation with Ukraine, in terms of what modern Ukraine represents for the West. It took me a long time to find the right word, but I think I finally found it. Its Gollum. Ukraine is Gollum.
This reference to a fictional hideous creature from the novel Lord Of The Rings is fully in line with the latest propaganda strategy in Russian state media. In an apparent attempt to dehumanize their opponents, state TVs pundits and hosts have taken to describing Ukrainians as the uncleanthe same word reserved for imps, demons and witches in Russian fairy tales.
During Fridays edition of the program The Big Game on Channel One, deputy of the State Duma Vyacheslav Nikonov claimed: In the modern world, we are the embodiment of the forces of good. This is a metaphysical clash between the forces of good and evil... Were on the side of good against absolute evil, represented by the Ukrainian nationalist battalions... and the American temple of Satan, located in Salem, expressed its support for Ukraine. This is truly a holy war, a holy war were waging and we must win.
*snip*
Dial H For Hero
(2,971 posts)And by the by, Tolkien despised allegory as a literary device.
I cordially dislike allegory in all its manifestations, and always have done so since I grew old and wary enough to detect its presence."
---J. R. R. Tolkien, forward to Lord of the Rings
SunSeeker
(51,657 posts)0rganism
(23,965 posts)The similarity doesn't get very far as details are included but the basic tale of a proud people resisting a massive invasion by dark forces of corruption, dishonesty and base violence remains impossible to miss.
haele
(12,673 posts)Is his "allegorical definition" an attempt of a response to the Ukrainians calling Russian soldiers "Orcs"?
Or maybe that Ukraine is the keeper of some "One Ring" that both Russia and the West wants?
Gollum was both hero and villain in the Lord of the Rings. He kept the Ring out of Sauron's knowledge down in the caves, and at the Pits, was the one character who ensured the destruction of the Ring. Sure, he was corrupt, and sneaky, but ultimately, the great Evil would not have been destroyed without him.
So that means that despite it's problems, he thinks Ukraine would be pretty special, no?
Haele
anamnua
(1,119 posts)but I think Saruman would be a better analogy: devious, secretive, and mendacious -- who ends his career by raping, but eventually getting his comeuppance in the Shire (Ukraine).
gratuitous
(82,849 posts)You mean the chap who kept the Ring safe for centuries and who completed the Rngbearer's quest when Frodo was about to betray all of creation?
BootinUp
(47,179 posts)Putin's war is going very badly for him.
ironflange
(7,781 posts)AntiFascist
(12,792 posts)brought to life in order to protect Eastern Europe from Russian oppression.
muriel_volestrangler
(101,352 posts)"what modern Ukraine represents for the West" - she thinks we see Ukraine like Gollum?
Someone mentioned 'golem' above - it is possible Davis misheard? That would fit the Russian view of their war better - a creature to be used and commanded by the West.
Crunchy Frog
(26,613 posts)And lots of people are thinking of Russia as Morder.
They can't even come up with an analogy on their own, but have to appropriate one from someone else.