International Affairs in Satire: An Analysis of Pavel Reisenauer's Cartoons on the Covers of Respekt Magazine

This bachelor thesis examines how international affairs are visually framed in Pavel Reisenauer's political cartoons on the front pages of the weekly magazine Respekt. The theoretical framework is based on the concept of framing, specifically integrating the approaches of Goffman and Entman with the hierarchical four-level model of visual framing developed by Rodriguez and Dimitrova. Methodologically, the research is designed as a qualitative case study utilizing a purposive sampling of seven content-rich cartoons focused on the evolving depiction of Vladimir Putin and the Russian aggression in Ukraine between 2014 and 2023. The examined context is further supplemented by email correspondence with the editor-in-chief, Erik Tabery. The results of the analysis demonstrate how the author reacted to the development of events – shifting from recalling old Soviet threats and criticizing Western alibism, he gradually moved towards sharp satire and open mockery of the Russian president following the invasion in February 2022. Despite limitations stemming from the subjective interpretation of metaphors and the fact that the illustrations were based on editorial assignments, the thesis concludes that Reisenauer’s cartoons are not mere comical additions to the text, but function as complex rhetorical tools and independent visual arguments with a clear moral stance.