Yellow and Brown Values

A Swedish TV show, “Biss och Kajs,” found itself in the spotlight in November — in Russia, where government-run television apparently used it to send a political message to Ukraine by highlighting the program’s theme of teaching kids about bodily functions. The episode Russia chose featured three bulkily costumed actors sitting around talking — one dressed in yellow, one in brown and the other unmistakably as a large, nude human posterior. “Biss och Kajs” is highly regarded in Sweden; “biss” and “kajs” refer, respectively, to the yellow and brown functions. Ukraine (against Russia’s wishes) is considering a trade agreement with the European Union and, the Russian station director said, pointedly, “There you have European values in all their glory.”