The “demonic image” of Russia in the "New York Times"

This article analyzes the image of Soviet Russia that had been formed by The «New York Times», one of the most influential US newspapers. The research uncovered three media’s key points of view on Soviet Russia during the period from 1918 to 1922: the “demonic” image, the “victim” image, and the “neutral” image. Each of the above mentioned images can be interpreted in different ways, therefore we decided to divide them into subcategories that will help in explaining the images all-around. The concept attributed to the “demonic” image involves the reports of the newspaper on certain events in Russia in which they comment on and criticize the Bolsheviks’ tyranny and inhumanity. The New York Times notes that they turned the once great Russian Empire into a country mired in famine, civil war, and havoc. This image can be explored through the following subcategories: 1) the inability of the Soviet government to deal with the Civil war and other internal territorial problems on its own; 2) incompetence in preventing the famine of 1921-1922 and helping the victims. The “victim” image belonging to Soviet Russia prevailed on The New York Times’ pages during the pinnacle of the Povolzhye famine of 1921-1922. The “neutral” image brought almost nothing to picture the Red Scare that allegedly radiated from the country, its government, and its people; yet it equally deserves our attention. This image was used by the media to specify the similarities that the Russians and other nations shared, and to point out Russia’s desire to work with other countries for the common good of the world.