Spies Like Us: Propaganda in Contemporary Russian Television Series

• In Event: Instruments and Influences of Russian Propaganda I: Weaponizing the Narrative in Cinema, Television, and Mass Media

Abstract

The paper examines some recent Russian television series, focusing on the spy drama Russkie (The Russians) that premiered in 2023 as a direct response to The Americans which appeared on U.S. television in the years 2013-2018. It investigates both the overt and indirect forms of propaganda in Russkie, from storylines and character development to specific use of language, cultural myths, and imagery.

Author

• Kirsten M. Rutsala, Virginia Tech