Putin's Bare Chest: What it Really Means for Russia












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            * Putin's Bare Chest: What it Really Means for Russia
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            ‘Technological symbolism in Putin's Russia: is there a continuity with Soviet icons?' This

            Paul Josephson (Colby College, Maine) posed to us as he began his lecture in the Faculty o
            12th November. As a relatively neutral spectator during this lecture, I was surprised to f
            Josephson's probing into Putin's publicity actually captured my interest more vividly than

            I'd be the first to admit that Russian politics aren't my area of expertise, but they didn
            Josephson explored the topic so admirably that I learnt more in the lecture than I had in 
            Putin had been president of Russia.

            Josephson used a lot of pictures to illustrate his points; which was necessary really, con
            the lecture centred around Putin's publicity stunts and their link to similar uses during 

            the Soviet Union. Here is the overriding theme to the lecture: Putin use of his monopoly o
            illustrate to the public his dominant power, control and superiority, just as Soviet icons
            same effect. There's the classic image which, personally, was my favourite, and which cred

            laugh from the attendees: Putin bare chested and straddling a rifle in his hands. Now, to 
            was ridiculous, but Josephson explained what it really meant: the image it presented to th
            An image of Putin as the master of the Universe, more powerful than nature itself.

            So how did this compare to the use of Soviet icons? This is an area I would have liked Jos
            explored more: a little less focus on the present, and a little more link to the past. He 
            make use of some very good examples. One of these was in the use of the nature transformat

            Putin has placed himself at the forefront of achievements in the arctic, oil and gas trans
            hi tech developments. Here is the idea: Putin is above nature, he can control nature, the 
            Numerous photographs demonstrating this are plastered throughout the media: Putin as the h

            taming Siberian tigers, Putin undersea as Russia 'claimed' the arctic. Josephson makes the
            the way media was used to demonstrate Soviet power over nature in the past. The soviet met
            workers to work for free on Saturdays is likened to the construction of the 2018 world cup

            which Gazprom workers were asked to volunteer for free.
            The thing that most interested me is the absurdity of it all. Putin can't afford to pay hi
            can dish out the millions to keep snow frozen for two years. Why? Because Putin can make i

            he wants; Putin can do the undoable. Just like his predecedors in Soviet Union could beat 
            the first man into space. Picture the scene: a group of cranes bred in captivity are set t
            into the wild. Of course, Putin is there with his cameras, hang-gliding in order to 'guide

            their habitat. What is this image supposed to convey? Putin as the hero, the saviour, the 
            It's a point that needs to be taken. Once you actually study the publicity stunts, you rea
            they really are. But if you didn't - well you'd be clueless as I was going into the lectur

            to be aware, because politics and politicians should not be in the position to manipulate 
            easy. Media should not be monopolised, and propaganda has found a new way to control what 
            might not seem as obvious as looking back on the way Lenin and for a time Stalin were used

            to symbolise the state’s power and control, but it is still very evident today; not just b
            but undoubtedly worldwide - the USA demonstrates a very prime example. Let's look again: P
            and straddling a rifle? Does it really make Putin look macho, strong and powerful? Or is t