Ukrainian Views of Putin and Russia as Seen in Their Jokes, Proverbs, Idioms, and Aphorisms
Jokes are more than funny qwips. They can sting, release tensions, and hide fears. Laugh or cry at Ukrainian anti-Putin jokes.
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A culture's jokes, proverbs, idioms and aphorisms tell us a great deal about the lives and minds of the people who share the culture. An aphorism is a commonly accepted truth. A proverb is a short saying that expresses a practical precept. An Idiom is a figurative, non-literal statement. A joke is something said to evoke laughter or amusement. Its intent may be mischievous or demeaning. Such common forms of speech give us insights into the present and the past of peoples, especially as they relate to themselves and to their neighbors.
The people of Ukraine and Russia share some common histories. In addition, each has much that is unique and distinct from the other. Jokes are more than quips and short stories that are meant to be funny or make us laugh. Jokes can ridicule and shame. They can make that unspeakable able to be heard. Jokes are short in form but are able to express deep meanings. The terse statements and short stories gathered here from the Ukrainian and Russian cultures give us another window into the minds and spirits of these people.
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Jokes are window into the souls of cultures. They are mini short stories and one of the most succinct and easily accessible forms of literature. Jokes share the cultural shelf with proverbs, idioms, and aphorisms. According to Dan Youra, jokes are more than statements meant to be funny and elicit laughs. Youra is a political cartoonist and caricature artist, who publishes UkraineDownloads.com/, which features Ukrainian jokes, proverbs, and dioms.
Youra points out that jokes can help a person cope in the face of danger and they can be a weapon to help a person fight an enemy. For Ukrainian people facing invasion by Russia, jokes can be a form of ridicule and a release from the emotions of hate and fear. Youra observes, “Jokes enable a persecuted person to fight back. They can make the unspeakable able to be heard. Jokes are short in form but but can be deep in meaning.”
A sample joke from the Ukraine Downloads website finds Putin at the airport, checking in for a flight. Stewardess asks Putin, “Destination?” He answers, “Ukraine.” “Occupation,” she asks. Putin responds, “Yes .”
A
proverb
is a short saying that expresses a commonly accepted situation. A sample from the Ukraine Downloads website is a Russian New Years proverb. “On average we live pretty well. Worse than last year. But certainly better than next year.”
An idiom is a figurative, non-literal statement. The website quotes the Ukrainian idiom, “A spoonful of tar in a barrel of honey.” The English equivalent would be “A fly in the ointment.”
An
aphorism is a commonly accepted truth. An example from Ukraine Downloads is a statement by Lesya Ukrainka, famous Ukrainian writer and freedom fighter, “What a dishonor to just bend down and obey fate.”
Collection includes TEN 8.5"x 11" Putin Jokes posters [6 samples below]
All illustrations by Dan Youra, caricature artist and political cartoonist
Collection includes TEN 8.5"x 11" Ukraine Culture posters
Aphorisms, Proverbs, joke, and Idiom [6 samples below]
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