Yablonovoskiy’s family is from the Soviet Union. They raised him on their culture’s values and hated the modernity and values America had to offer them. Yablonovoskiy’s grandfather was relocated during the Holocaust. He survived but was placed in poor living conditions and experienced hardship as a result. Whenever Yablonovoskiy complains about something, his grandfather catches him and explains politely how much harder he had it at an even younger age. To wind down and relax, they would always watch a cartoon, Nu Pogodi. The wolf in the show represents the Soviet government and the bunny represents fugitives from the secret police. They very much enjoyed the political viewpoint the this show provided. Yablonovoskiy explains the strong connection between the Soviet government and the show. He also feels that the show was like an escape from reality and is a cultural text that he holds dear to his heart. The reality in the show helped viewers escape from the very different and worse reality they lived in. But ultimately, this show always brings his family together. Even though they don’t speak the same languages, they enjoy the show and the connection it brings them.
I completely understand the significance that this show plays in Yablonovoskiy’s life. My family and I have a lot of movies that we love watching together which connects us. Cultural artifacts/texts can often be shared by a group of people, not just individually. His persuasiveness about this cartoon really shows how much it means to him which is why it was productive for him to write about. In my analysis, I also analyze a movie scene which my family and I hold dear to our hearts, so I can definitely relate to his subject choice and the feelings that emerged from it.