How ‘Masha and the Bear’ Upset This Putinist Activist
Vadim Popov, a political scientist and activist, has sought attention by urging Russia to limit the broadcast of the popular cartoon Masha and the Bear. He argues the show contains “a scattering of harmful meanings that contradict traditional Russian values.”
This is not the first time that a moral guardian has criticized children's entertainment on similar grounds. In 1928, Nadezhda Konstantinovna Krupskaya, Lenin’s widow, proposed banning Korney Chukovsky’s children’s poems such as Doctor Aybolit and Moydodyr, using almost the same language.
Concerns Over the Portrayal of Childhood
“How can it be that a little girl lives alone?” Popov questions.
His concern revolves around the unusual situation depicted in the cartoon: a child living unsupervised. However, this very scenario is designed to create emotional tension that drives the story’s drama, comedy, and sometimes tragedy.
Historical Echoes of Moral Censorship
- Popov’s critique echoes past calls for censorship tied to perceived threats to traditional values.
- Krupskaya’s early 20th-century campaign targeted children’s poetry with similar accusations.
- Both instances reflect a recurring tension between creative expression and conservative social norms in Russia.
Author’s summary: Vadim Popov’s call to restrict Masha and the Bear highlights persistent Russian debates on children’s content and traditional values, echoing historical patterns of moral censorship.