A mug of hot cocoa or a cup of tea? Refugee’s representation in A Bear called Paddington and its 2014 film adaptation_Wałdoń 8895481

Abstract

Given the growing rate of worldwide migration, its representation in children’s media has become particularly important. This research examined a case of Paddington bear, comparing his representation as a refugee in Bond’s (1958) "A Bear called Paddington" novel and its film adaptation by King (2014). Using a mixed – methods approach consisting of close reading/watching and text mining, Paddington’s mental silhouette was analysed regarding his characterisation in the sources, reception by other characters, representation of host and heritage cultures, and emerging acculturation orientations. The results have shown that in both productions, Paddington is favourably characterised with stereotypically English or Western – appreciated qualities. However, while the book exoticizes Paddington’s appearance, the film normalizes it. In terms of Paddington’s reception, both sources show a mix of perceptions; however, the film presents more of the negative ones. In both sources, the host culture emerges as more powerful than the exoticized heritage culture, yet English societal attitudes are criticised. Nevertheless, only the film presents London as a diverse city. Regarding acculturation orientations, the book mainly presents refugee’s assimilation, while the film presents a mix of assimilation and integration. Sources’ contrasts in refugee’s representation can be attributed to their temporal differences and connected changes in acceptance of racism or current taboo topics and progression of migration from a novelty to a normalized reality. Additionally, the film’s depiction of London as a diverse place could be ascribed to the mode factor -specifically, the presence of visuals. The present study highlights both sources as educationally valuable for discussing migration experiences, learning about living in a multicultural environment, and reflecting on societal attitudes towards migrants.