Creepypastas are short stories that are designed to unnerve or shock the reader, and they are the modern day equivalent of campfire stories that are told on the internet. In many ways, they are a reflection of current societal fears and worries that manifest themselves on message boards or Reddit forums, and while some of them are fairly cringe-worthy, a few of them succeed in delivering a little shock. These "Russian Spoofs" take this shock factor and, using stereotypes and language, transmit those shocks into jokes that reinforce the preconceived notions of what our idea of Russia must be to those in America.
My point is that this "covert" attitude in American culture that was supposed to have ended during the Cold War is still alive today. Here are some examples of the spoofs, and if one is familiar with the original stories being spoofed some of them are quite funny, but all of them contribute to the American attitude that we discussed, one that is full of religious influences, capitalism and "democracy" over all.
Here is one that uses the "Bloody Mary" folk legend:
Legend is being going like this.
You are entering bathroom and standing in front of mirror. Turning candles off and, while being in front of mirror, spinning rapidly, you chanting "Leon Trotsky" "Leon Trotsky" "Leon Trotsky" "Leon Trotsky", several times, while catching glimpses of self on mirror. It is said that eventually you be seeing image of Leon Trotsky on mirror.
Upon exiting bathroom you are being arrested by KGB for believing in existence of Leon Trotsky, whom party has proven never existed.
Here is another one that references the story of a grave digger who hears a bell, goes to investigate, and finds out that the person who is ringing the bell has been dead for months after the tombstone's death date. This is its spoof:
In Russia, coffin has pipe for air, and bell with string. If man is true Soviet, he does not die. When buried, yells for undertaker and rings bell. Bell rings. Is no wind.
Undertaker asks - "Are you lady Gorbochev?"
Voice says "Da!"
"Born winter of 1927?"
"Da!"
"Gravestone says 'Died 20 February, 1957"
"Niet, am still living!"
"Am sorry, but is August. In June, ground will thaw. You must wait for June."
And woman is true Soviet, waits for June.
There are many many more, but the theme that comes from all of them is this idea that Russian/Soviet culture is radically different than American culture; in them, individuality is suppressed, censorship is par for the course, technology is woefully inferior to America's, and the love for the government is unquestionable. Through the use of language and humor, the writers of these stories continue the grand American tradition of subverting and misinterpreting culture, attitudes and ideals, which is a practice that, in regard to Russia, has continued uninterrupted since the beginning of the Cold War.
Anyway, if one is so interested, here is the site where most of these are collected. Read at own risk:
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