Wednesday, May 10, 2006

Anti-smoking Soviet cartoon

Staying up late at night has proven fruitful for once and so has Vova's amusement with cartoons after midnight. In flipping channels we happened upon a cartoon from Soviet times when the earth was smoking itself into a frenzy, puffing away and making a huge smoke bubble around the planet. This Martian from a far away planet, (Not from the league of "clean air" as this Superman style hero tells all the smokers) decides to investigate just into a pair of bowls placed together and turns into a flying saucer scuttling down to earth. There he finds everyone smoking and he is gasping until Superman with a mustache gives him a World War II issued gas mask, then he is able to observe easier. Superman tells the smokers not to kill him too much as he is not from the League of Clean Air, which is another interesting symbol to dissect at a later time. The Martian eventually escapes but Superman, who is obviously playing for both teams slips a pipe in his saucer. By the time he gets back home, he is happy as a clam, smoking away and his Martian wife is begging for some.

Throughout this cartoon, anti-smoking messages such as smoking kills you, reduces your life, etc is very extensive. This was shown on Russian TV here in Tbilisi. I am wondering when this cartoon is from exactly. It seems like it would be the 80's. There were some tobacco ads from Soviet and Western companies but I am curious what Soviet symbolism would be. Obviously, the Martian is the protagonist, but he is from another planet. I suppose that would make it easier in propaganda terms to digest as it is more removed. But the Superman creature? What does he represent? It would seem that it is the neighbor who seems friendly but in the end will sell you to the highest bidder. So, the moral of the story is report on your neighbors and keep to yourself. Any other interpretations?

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