Wizerunek Rosji i Rosjan w polskich memach internetowych trzy lata po agresji Rosji na Ukrainę

Abstrakt

The aim of this article is to analyze the image of Russia and Russians in Polish internet memes that have emerged following the outbreak of the full-scale Russian-Ukrainian war in February 2022. The study is based on the assumption that memes – as a form of contemporary online communication – serve not only a humorous function but also a symbolic and opinion-shaping one. In contemporary Polish internet memes, Russia is depicted as a brutal and merciless force destroying Ukraine and threatening Europe. The memes frequently compare Russia to Nazi Germany, while Putin is portrayed as a new Hitler. Numerous incidental memes also appear, functioning as ironic commentaries on current political and social events in Russia. The image of Russia and Russians that emerges from contemporary Polish internet memes radically differs from the representations of Russia and Russians embedded in Polish society prior to 2022.