"This product should not be shown to children. It is filled with harmful meanings that contradict traditional Russian values."
Russian political scientist, political technologist, and public figure Vadim Popov has initiated a proposal to limit the broadcast of the popular domestic animated series "Masha and the Bear" on Russian television and streaming services.
The public figure stated that the content of the cartoon contradicts traditional family values. According to Popov, the fact that the girl is raised by a bear without parents may form a distorted perception of family relationships among children.
He also criticized the behavior of the main character, calling Masha capricious and mercenary, as well as problematic. Allegedly, all the other characters in the cartoon are afraid of her.
The political scientist expressed particular concern about an episode where the female bear chooses a partner based on material criteria, "preferring the one with the stronger paw and the richer bouquet," and "breaking the heart of a good bear."
But the list of ambiguous episodes does not end there: the scene with the forced treatment of wolves, as noted by Popov, can be perceived as cruel treatment of animals.
"This product should not be shown to children. It is filled with harmful meanings that contradict traditional Russian values. <…> It needs to be removed from TV platforms and streaming," emphasized the political scientist.
The Telegram channel "Kremlin Madman" reacted: "It seemed that the quad bikers had been defeated, but a new enemy has emerged in the form of 'Masha and the Bear.' For some reason, it immediately reminded me of how, in the holy noughties, a book came out about how Harry Potter accepted Orthodoxy and then baptized Hermione, renouncing Darwin's theory. But ahead of us, it seems, is still a long and fascinating journey: Balabanov's films have already been proposed for a ban, and then – the now non-traditional Soviet classics (everything can be banned in batches, from 'Office Romance' to 'Spring' with Orlova), non-traditional Russian classics from the pervert Mayakovsky and the alcoholic Yesenin (my grandfather was even arrested for reading his poems, so we can repeat it!) to non-traditional Lermontov, ironic Chekhov, and the dubious Arap who is 'our everything.' One can look further, of course; who knows how it will go. All these Greek statues, pure nudity and shame, as is known.
At the same time, coming up with something of our own is still not happening. The masterpieces of patriotic caliber in recent years, costing the treasury billions, if they do gather an audience, it is mainly one-time and by directive. The administrative resource often inflates reporting views through mass school trips to cinemas, and film platforms do the same, not waiting for orders from above. In other forms of creativity, the same thing happens: the music department has been taken over by Shaman and a battalion of zombies from the 90s, and what is happening in the artistic sphere and literature (thank God, no one is particularly interested in this, so artists and writers are squeezed out on a residual basis), is better not to know at all.
Actually, it’s not that it’s not happening. Russia has no problems with this; throughout the 20th century, we faithfully supplied artists, writers, and even geniuses to the whole world. It’s just that the unexpectedly revived Soviet model quickly resurrected the behavioral model, dormant in our DNA: don’t stand out. Thus, our creative people have hidden away like cockroaches behind the stove. Some have gone into external emigration, while others have gone into their own 'internal Mongolia.' Current art exhibitions are filled with little-understood abstraction and safe philosophical aesthetics, fearing that even in them, the watchful eye of the public figure will spot a lady's nipple or an inappropriate combination of gold on blue. Literature has completely gone underground, and bookstores are under siege from prosecutors. Overall, understanding that one can end their creativity at some action against the non-Russian spirit, our writers have also fallen into a state of hibernation.
In general, until the fire of the traditional revolution finishes off the last stronghold of homosexuality and mercantilism, until Dugin's round dances fill our Eurasian fields and the streets of deserted cities, until the last Masha is stripped of citizenship, and the Russian bear finds happiness with a she-bear instead of a quad biker, threatening a decline in demographics in the forest, I don’t think that vigilant public figures and critics from the people can sleep soundly. After all, no one has yet given a clear answer to how many angels can dance on the head of a pin?
