VICTIM OF RUSSIAN BEAR: IMAGE OF UKRAINE IN FRENCH POLITICAL CARTOONS 2014-2018
The article is devoted to the analysis of the basic metaphorical models reflected in the texts of political cartoons selected from different French websites during the Ukrainian crisis (2014-2018). The cartoons reflecting the attitude of French journalists to the situation in Ukraine, as well as to the actions taken by other countries in connection with Ukraine were analyzed. The analysis is made by applying cognitive methodology; political cartoons are considered as creolized texts containing graphical metaphors. Metaphors are classified according to the source domain of conceptual metaphors, the main methods of metaphorical representation of Ukraine are described. We identified the main model of the image of Ukraine - the country is in the position of a victim, absolutely helpless, destroyed, by so-called friendly states. We also carry out the analysis of visual metaphors reflecting the behavior of the leading world powers towards Ukraine, characterized as a consumer metaphor lying behind a desire to help. Besides, it can be stated that in the vast majority of cases the main events of the Ukrainian crisis are represented in creolized texts through the prism of bilateral relations between Ukraine and Russia, which a priori creates the image of Russia as a participant and frequently, the culprit of the distressful situation of Ukraine. The analysis revealed that the image of Russia represented in French political cartoons has stereotyped features: in most cases, publications appeal to the traditional image of a bear. Accordingly, zoomorphic metaphor is presented quite widely. KEY WORDS: evaluation, media linguistics, the Ukrainian crisis, political linguistics, creolized text, political cartoon.