ANALYSIS OF PANDEMIC PICTURE BOOKS FOR CHILDREN BASED ON THE BOOK BY SLAVOJ ŽIŽEK, PAN[DEM]IC! COVID-19 SHAKES THE WORLD

Abstract

The article contains an analysis of the pandemic and pandemic picturebooks based on the book by the established Slovenian philosopher, Slavoj Žižek, Pan[dem]ic! Covid-19 shakes the world (2020), which consists of ten chapters. For the analysis of selected pandemic picture books, supposedly intended for children, the fifth chapter is relevant, entitled Five phases of the epidemic, which Žižek connects with the phases of dying (after Elizabeth Kubler Ross). Žižek says that the virus is similar to an asteroid that can destroy the world. He concludes with the thought that humanity has learned nothing from ecology which reminds us that humans are just one of the living beings on planet Earth and that we are more dependent on nature than we think. According to Žižek, the virus will have a catastrophic impact on the economy, travel, social life, technology, etc. Žižek points out the paradox that technological development has made humanity more independent and at the same time more dependent on nature. The best example of this is COVID-19. The article will try to answer the question of whether pandemic picture books are a reflection of the pandemic or panic?