Animation as a form of media memory: the image of Peter the Great in animated films

Abstract

The article is devoted to the study of animation as a form of media memory on the example of studying the image of Peter I in animated films. Cartoons on historical themes have become the most important element of media memory, which constructs collectively shared ideas about the Past in the digital environment. The author considers media memory in the article as a special mechanism for storing and reproducing images of the Past, using visualization as the main tool for representing history. The historical figure of Peter I occupies a special place in modern media memory, being extremely mythologized. The main myths about the Peter the Great era are reflected in animated films dedicated to the first Russian emperor. The author explores not only studio animation works, but also those made by non-professionals, fans of animation and history. The participation of non-professionals, who make up the masses of Internet users, is characteristic of reproducing ideas about the Past in media memory. Having mastered digital technologies, including for the production of animated films, Internet users create their own versions of history, subjecting it to a deep interpretation. Professional animators who create historical cartoons are also not free from mass stereotypes of perception of the Past and often use history as a background for artistic creativity. Animated films with the mention of Peter the Great show that history has become part of popular culture, undergoing mediatization in a digital society.