New Books Network Katharina Wiedlack, "Under Western Eyes: Vulnerable Minorities and the Russian State in New Cold War Cultures" (Academic Studies Press, 2025)
Apr 12, 2026
Katharina Wiedlack, assistant professor of Anglophone cultural studies at the University of Vienna, studies Russian-American relations, queer feminist activism, and racialization. She unpacks how Western media shapes Cold War narratives about LGBTQ+ people, gender and disability in Russia. Short takes explore Putin-centric fear framing, the queer martyr trope, Pussy Riot’s Western iconography, and racialized war reporting.
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Question Anglophone Media Monopolies
- Examine media portrayals critically because Anglophone outlets have outsized global influence and can reproduce imperial legacies.
- Wiedlack recommends interrogating recognizability and monopolies in English-language media to avoid uncritical acceptance.
Why Pop Culture Shapes Geopolitics
- Popular culture shapes global perceptions because many people learn about other countries primarily through media.
- Katharina Wiedlack argues Anglophone media's wide reach and streaming monopolies make its portrayals of Russia especially influential worldwide.
How Western Media Amplifies Putin's Power
- Western coverage often amplifies Russian state narratives by simplifying complex issues into a single powerful figure like Putin.
- Wiedlack shows this occurred with 2016 election coverage and mockery of Putin's macho imagery, both reinforcing his global potency.
