A subgenre of Russian fantasy fiction known as 'Z literature,' characterized by nationalistic, pro-war storylines, has been on the rise since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine three years ago. These books, often featuring 'popadantsy' (accidental travel) narratives and portraying heroic Russians battling 'zombie Nazis' and Western spies, are seen as a propaganda tool aimed at encouraging young men to enlist in the military.
‘Five years from now, these readers will be soldiers’: The Russian literature encouraging teens to enlist
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TL;DR: Key points with love ❤️A subgenre of Russian fantasy fiction known as 'Z literature,' characterized by nationalistic, pro-war storylines, has been on the rise since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine three years ago. These books, often featuring 'popadantsy' (accidental travel) narratives and portraying heroic Russians battling 'zombie Nazis' and Western spies, are seen as a propaganda tool aimed at encouraging young men to enlist in the military.
Trending- 1 Three years ago: Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began, leading to the rise of Z literature.
- 2 May (this year): Mediazona reported on the boom in Z literature.
- 3 Last month: The military demolished much of Khallet A-Daba village.
- 4 Oct. 7, 2023: Hamas attacked Israel, kickstarting the war in the Gaza Strip, leading to increased settler violence.
- 5 1980s: Masafer Yatta was declared a live-fire training zone.
- May be pushing young readers towards enlisting in combat
- Cultivating aggression among young men
- Reinforcing hyper-nationalistic views and hatred towards perceived enemies
What: The rise of 'Z literature,' a subgenre of Russian fantasy fiction with nationalistic, pro-war storylines.
When: Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began three years ago. Mediazona reported on the boom in May.
Where: Russia. Ukraine (as context for the war). Netherlands (mentioned for Scythian gold).
Why: To inspire young men to enlist in the Russian military and cultivate aggression, serving as a propaganda strategy during wartime.
How: Through 'popadantsy' (accidental travel) narratives, rewriting history in Russia's favor, portraying binary worlds of 'hateful foreigners and wonderful Russians,' and tapping into desires for revenge and a 'master-race' fantasy.