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"In Soviet Russia", also called the Russian reversal, is a
"In Soviet Russia", also called the Russian reversal, is a joke
A joke is a display of humour in which words are used within a specific and well-defined narrative structure to make people laugh and is usually not meant to be interpreted literally. It usually takes the form of a story, often with dialogue, ...
template taking the general form "In America you do ''X'' to/with ''Y''; in Soviet Russia ''Y'' does ''X'' to/with you". Typically the American clause describes a harmless ordinary activity and the inverted Soviet form something menacing or dysfunctional, satirizing life under a Communist state, or in the "old country". Sometimes the first clause is omitted, and sometimes either clause or both are often deliberately rendered with English grammatical errors stereotypical of Russians. Said with a heavy Russian accent, the punchline can highlight a backwards Russian scenario.
Although the exact origin of the joke form is uncertain, an early example is from the 1938 Cole Porter
Cole Albert Porter (June 9, 1891 – October 15, 1964) was an American composer and songwriter. Many of his songs became standards noted for their witty, urbane lyrics, and many of his scores found success on Broadway and in film.
Born to ...
musical '' Leave It to Me!'' ("In Soviet Russia, messenger tips you."). Bob Hope used the form at the 1958 Academy Awards. In the 1968–1973 television show '' Laugh-In'', a recurring character, "Piotr Rosmenko the Eastern European Man" (played by Arte Johnson), delivered short jokes such as "Here in America, is very good, everyone watch television. In old country, television watch you!" This joke alludes to " telescreens" from George Orwell
Eric Arthur Blair (25 June 1903 – 21 January 1950), better known by his pen name George Orwell, was an English novelist, essayist, journalist, and critic. His work is characterised by lucid prose, social criticism, opposition to totalitar ...
's dystopian novel '' Nineteen Eighty-Four'', which both reproduce images and monitor the citizenry.
The joke form is often mistakenly credited to the Soviet ''émigré'' comedian Yakov Smirnoff. An example is a Miller Lite commercial in which he appeared in 1985, wherein he stated: "In America, there's plenty of light beer and you can always find a party. In Russia, Party always finds you". Another mistaken credit is by Garry Kasparov: "Every country has its own mafia; In Russia, the mafia has its own country."
See also
* Antimetabole * Russian political jokes * Two cows in RussiaReferences
Joke cycles Snowclones {{humor-stub