From forest to Facebook

This chapter delves into how the character of the bear in cartoons reacts to news events, especially those concerning bear–human interactions. These interactions often serve as triggers for opposing sentiments within Slovak society, highlighting divisions on issues ranging from geopolitics to animal rights. The Russo–Ukrainian war and the pervasive influence of social media have further intensified these divisions, with bears becoming symbolic instruments in political discourse. Through an analysis of a corpus of cartoons by contemporary artist and animal rights advocate Ružena Babicová (aka Rosie Naive Art), along with social media posts and news articles, the chapter explores the instrumentalisation of bears for political gain versus their portrayal as advocates for their own rights. Additionally, it examines the parallels drawn between the character of the bear and marginalised groups such as the LGBTQI+ community, reflecting the broader societal trend of equating dissent with anti-national sentiments. By examining Rosie&s;s cartoons – published primarily on a social media account with 22,000 followers – as post-literary literary artefacts, the portrayal of bears against the backdrop of news discussions is analysed, particularly focusing on their characterisation and societal perception.