ABSTRACT
This chapter sets out on a journey to explore the ways in which post-Jungian thinking around gender can be reformulated and used in the analysis of Soviet and Russian animated fairy tales. By analysing several animated adaptations of ancient Russian fairy tales it demonstrates the transformative effect these narratives offer audiences. The chapter examines gender representations in Soviet and post-Soviet cinematic fairy tales and debate the applicability of Jungian and post-Jungian theories to the analysis of the female imagery produced under totalitarian regimes and emerging democratic societies. Using extracts from animated fairy tales, most of which are unknown in the West, such as Poidi Tuda, Ne Znayu Kuda - Mashini Skazki, it shows how notions of gender appear to change but actually remain static, how gender politics plays an essential role in contemporary identity crisis, and how individuation can become a driving force in overcoming these challenges.
