History Main / SocialistRealism

* The UsefulNotes/MoscowMetro

* The [[TheAllegedCar Wartburg 353]]
* [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All-Russia_Exhibition_Centre V.D.N.Kh.]] (Exhibition of Achievements of the People's Economy), site of the most famous "Worker and Peasant" statue

A style of art prevalent in the [[UsefulNotes/SovietRussiaUkraineAndSoOn Soviet Union]] and the Eastern Bloc throughout most of their existence, but especially emphasized between UsefulNotes/TheSovietTwenties and the death of UsefulNotes/JosefStalin. At its height, it was the only official and acceptable style of poetry, architecture and essentially any other art (with the CulturePolice ready to send you to the gulag if you disagreed). After the 50s, more artistic variation was allowed, although Socialist Realism remained the dominant style and was still heavily promoted.

* ''Realistic.'' In terms of representation -- none of the abstract modern art hated by your grandpa -- anything not strictly representational was "decadent", "bourgeois", "formalist", etc. Basically the opposite of TrueArtIsIncomprehensible, as the Soviets wanted to appeal to the common worker. Note that the "realism" in Socialist Realism does not mean "accurately portraying real life", and was never intended to mean this. Rather, it meant "easy to understand, not abstract, bluntly delivering a clear message, not relying on subtle hints or symbolism". In a twist of fate, most other socialists in the West began to favor abstract art.

A style of art prevalent in the [[UsefulNotes/SovietRussiaUkraineAndSoOn Soviet Union]] and the Eastern Bloc throughout most of their existence, but especially emphasized between UsefulNotes/TheSovietTwenties and the death of UsefulNotes/JosephStalin. At its height, it was the only official and acceptable style of poetry, architecture and essentially any other art (with the CulturePolice ready to send you to the gulag if you disagreed). After the 50s, more artistic variation was allowed, although Socialist Realism remained the dominant style and was still heavily promoted.

Declared official Soviet state policy in 1932, its principles stated that every work of art should be created according to the ideals of Marxism-Leninism. The basic tenets in literature, film or poetry were:

To modern eyes, Socialist Realism sometimes seems to be bursting with HoYay. Though this is generally true of Eastern European and East Asian art, due to those cultures having very different ideas about what constitutes polite public displays of affection. The healthy dose of kitsch that all art from the period shares doesn't help though. Of course, it is not provable that the artists had no intention of GettingCrapPastTheRadar. Homosexuality was decriminalized in 1918 in the Soviet Union but decriminalized by Stalin in 1933, remaining so until the Union's fall, although not in all of the Warsaw Pact states. Notably, not in East Germany which was actually very queer positive (and produced a LOT of explicitly queer positive propaganda, some of which can still be found) mainly because of the significant role that the queer community played in the Communist Party before the war. For example, [[http://www.mockduck.net/2009/09/06/oafish-state-sponsored-art/ this statue outside Prague's main rail station]] which depicts a (somewhat effeminate) Czechoslovak soldier joyously embracing a significantly larger Russian soldier.

To modern eyes, Socialist Realism sometimes seems to be bursting with HoYay. Though this is generally true of Eastern European and East Asian art, due to those cultures having very different ideas about what constitutes polite public displays of affection. The healthy dose of kitsch that all art from the period shares doesn't help though. Of course, it is not provable that the artists had no intention of GettingCrapPastTheRadar. Homosexuality was illegal in the Soviet Union after Lenin's death, although not in all of the Warsaw Pact states. Notably, not in East Germany which was actually very queer positive (and produced a LOT of explicitly queer positive propaganda, some of which can still be found) mainly because of the significant role that the queer community played in the Communist Party before the war. For example, [[http://www.mockduck.net/2009/09/06/oafish-state-sponsored-art/ this statue outside Prague's main rail station]] which depicts a (somewhat effeminate) Czechoslovak soldier joyously embracing a significantly larger Russian soldier.

To modern eyes, Socialist Realism sometimes seems to be bursting with HoYay. Though this is generally true of Eastern European and East Asian art, due to those cultures having very different ideas about what constitutes polite public displays of affection. The healthy dose of kitsch that all art from the period shares doesn't help though. Of course, it is not provable that the artists had no intention of GettingCrapPastTheRadar. Homosexuality was illegal in the Soviet Union, although not in all of the Warsaw Pact states. Notably, not in East Germany which was actually very queer positive (and produced a LOT of explicitly queer positive propaganda, some of which can still be found) mainly because of the significant role that the queer community played in the Communist Party before the war. For example, [[http://www.mockduck.net/2009/09/06/oafish-state-sponsored-art/ this statue outside Prague's main rail station]] which depicts a (somewhat effeminate) Czechoslovak soldier joyously embracing a significantly larger Russian soldier.

To modern eyes, Socialist Realism sometimes seems to be bursting with HoYay. Though this is generally true of Eastern European and East Asian art, due to those cultures having very different ideas about what constitutes polite public displays of affection. The healthy dose of kitsch that all art from the period shares doesn't help though. Of course, it is not provable that the artists didn't intend to GetCrapPastTheRadar. Homosexuality was illegal in the Soviet Union, although not in all of the Warsaw Pact states. Notably, not in East Germany which was actually very queer positive (and produced a LOT of explicitly queer positive propaganda, some of which can still be found) mainly because of the significant role that the queer community played in the Communist Party before the war. For example, [[http://www.mockduck.net/2009/09/06/oafish-state-sponsored-art/ this statue outside Prague's main rail station]] which depicts a (somewhat effeminate) Czechoslovak soldier joyously embracing a significantly larger Russian soldier.

To modern eyes, Socialist Realism sometimes seems to be bursting with HoYay. For example, [[http://www.mockduck.net/2009/09/06/oafish-state-sponsored-art/ this statue outside Prague's main rail station]] which depicts a (somewhat effeminate) Czechoslovak soldier joyously embracing a significantly larger Russian soldier.

The legacy of Socialist Realism is hotly debated, at least among people with an interest in such things. Surprisingly, it's not quite as split among political lines as one might think. There are some who call themselves capitalists who claim the genre had some merits,[[note]]As an "honest look" into the minds of working class people[[/note]] and there are those who call themselves communists who claim that the genre was the Soviet Union's greatest atrocity.[[note]]This viewpoint is especially common in Russia where literature is very much SeriousBusiness. It turns out the whole "working class people won't like Surrealism/Fantasy" bit of Socialist Realist requirements was unfounded. The average Russian turns out to have a healthy appetite for both. Some argue that Socialist Realist literature got in the way of Russian literary progression, indeed a crime worthy of the most severe punishment in their minds.[[/note]] [[Administrivia/RuleOfCautiousEditingJudgment But perhaps it's best to leave it there.]]

* ''Realistic.'' In terms of representation -- none of the abstract modern art hated by your grandpa -- anything not strictly representational was "decadent", "bourgeois", "formalist", etc. Basically the opposite of TrueArtIsIncomprehensible as the Soviets wanted to appeal to the common worker. In a twist of fate, most other socialists in the west began to favor abstract art.

The legacy of Socialist Realism is hotly debated, at least among people with an interest in such things. Surprisingly, it's not quite as split among political lines as one might think. There are some who call themselves capitalists who claim the genre had some merits,[[note]]As an "honest look" into the minds of working class people[[/note]] and there are those who call themselves communists who claim that the genre was the Soviet Union's greatest atrocity.[[note]]This viewpoint is especially common in Russia where literature is very much SeriousBusiness. It turns out the whole "working class people won't like Surrealism/Fantasy" bit of Socialist Realist requirements was unfounded. The average Russian turns out to have a healthy appetite for both. Some argue that Socialist Realist literature got in the way of Russian literary progression, indeed a crime worthy of the most severe punishment in their minds.[[/note]] [[Administrivia/RuleOfCautiousEditingJudgment But perhaps it's best to leave it there.]]

Not to be confused with Social Realism, colloquially known as KitchenSinkDrama, which is a closely related style but a very distinct genre. Many social realist artists were also socialists (though not necessarily Marxists), but the style is not necessarily political and certainly isn't part of any official PropagandaMachine when it is; if anything, it tends to be quite ''anti''-Establishment.

To modern eyes, Socialist Realism sometimes seems to be bursting with HoYay. For example, [[http://www.mockduck.net/2009/09/06/oafish-state-sponsored-art/ this statue outside Prague's main rail station]] which depicts a (somewhat effeminate) Czechoslovak soldier joyously embracing a significantly larger Russian soldier.

'''Notable examples:'''

** Technically, the first two were called "critical realism" because they depicted life under capitalism. Actual socialist "realism" took place in a {{Utopia}}n depiction of socialism and gave writers nightmares trying to put some conflict in. In fact, this was the biggest problem with most Socialist Realist literature: it was too boring, because the characters, living in a perfectly harmonious socialist society, could not be portrayed as facing major struggles against other people. Conflict could only occur as a result of nature, or accidents, or misunderstandings.

If you want to create something different... you can't. No, really. The Party gives you money. The Party is responsible for promotion of your works. [[BigBrotherIsWatching The Party knows where you live.]] If you create something in a different style, that's suspicious. You might be a class traitor. At the absolute bare minimum, your career will suffer and your work will be underfunded. If it's particularly experimental or abstract, it might never see the light of day. And if you're trying to embed some criticism of the government into it, you may be sent to a [[TheGulag gulag]] (where [[HellholePrison unfortunate tragic accidents happen every day]]), or simply shot in the head by the StateSec if you're considered too much of a troublemaker.

However, not all Socialist Realist art was made in the Soviet Union. Quite a lot of it was made by communists living in other countries, even capitalist ones. It was almost exclusively aimed at consumption by the Soviet and East European public, but there was a notable PeripheryDemographic that [[{{Irony}} purchased]] these works. Perhaps the most well known of these foreign socialist realist authors was [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nur_Muhammad_Taraki Nur Muhammad Taraki]] who would later become President of Afghanistan after that country's communist "revolution" [[note]]A coup in all but name[[/note]], and would be assassinated leading to the UsefulNotes/SovietInvasionOfAfghanistan.

The legacy of socialist realism is hotly debated, at least among people with an interest in such things. Surprisingly its not quite as split among political lines as one might think, there a some who call themselves capitalist who claim the genre had some merits[[note]]As an "honest look" into the minds of working class people[[/note]] and there are those who call themselves communist who claim that the genre was the Soviet Union's greatest atrocity.[[note]]This viewpoint is especially common in Russia where literature is very much SeriousBusiness. It turns out the whole "working class people won't like Surrealism/Fantasy" bit of socialist realist requirements was unfounded. The average Russian turns out to have a healthy apatite for both. For some Socialist Realist literature got int the way of Russian literary progression, indeed a crime worthy of the most severe punishment in their minds.[[/note]] [[Administrivia/RuleOfCautiousEditingJudgment But perhaps it's best to leave it there.]]

Socialist realism was often satirized as "girl meets tractor" stories.-] ]]

A style of art prevalent in the [[UsefulNotes/SovietRussiaUkraineAndSoOn Soviet Union]] and Eastern Bloc roughly between UsefulNotes/TheSovietTwenties and the death of UsefulNotes/JosephStalin. It was the only official and acceptable style of poetry, architecture and essentially any other art (with the CulturePolice ready to send you to the gulag if you disagreed).

** Technically, the first two were called "critical realism" because they depicted life under capitalism. Actual socialist "realism" took place in a {{Utopia}}n depiction of socialism and gave writers nightmares trying to put some conflict in.

If you want to create something different... you can't. No, really. The Party gives you money. The Party is responsible for promotion of your works. [[BigBrotherIsWatching The Party knows where you live.]] If you create something in different style, you're a class traitor. At the absolute bare minimum, your work will never see the light of day, and you may be sent to a [[TheGulag gulag]] (where [[HellholePrison you will inevitably die in a manner that the state can easily wash their hands of]]) or simply shot in the head by the StateSec in addition to this.

However not all socialist realist art was made in the Soviet Union. Quite a lot of it was made in communist living in other countries, even capitalist ones. It was almost exclusively aimed at consumption by the Soviet public, but there was a notable PeripheryDemographic that [[{{Irony}} purchased]] these works. Perhaps the most well known of these foreign socialist realist authors was [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nur_Muhammad_Taraki Nur Muhammad Taraki]] who would later become President of Afghanistan after that country's communist "revolution" [[note]]A coup in all but name[[/note]], and would be assassinated leading to the UsefulNotes/SovietInvasionOfAfghanistan.

The legacy of socialist realism is hotly debated, at least among people with an interest in such things. Surprisingly its not quite as split among political lines as one might think, there a some who call themselves capitalist who claim the genre had some merits [[note]]As an "honest look" into the minds of working class people[[/note]]and there are those who call themselves communist who claim that the genre was the Soviet Union's greatest atrocity.[[note]]This viewpoint is especially common in Russia where literature is very much SeriousBusiness. It turns out the whole "working class people won't like Surrealism/Fantasy" bit of socialist realist requirements was unfounded. The average Russian turns out to have a healthy apatite for both. For some Socialist Realist literature got int the way of Russian literary progression, indeed a crime worthy of the most severe punishment in their minds.[[/note]] [[Administrivia/RuleOfCautiousEditingJudgment But perhaps it's best to leave it there.]]

However not all socialist realist art was made in the Soviet Union. Quite a lot of it was made in communist living in other countries, even capitalist ones. It was almost exclusively aimed at consumption by the Soviet public, but there was a notable PeripheryDemographic that [[{{Irony}} purchased]] these works. Perhaps the most well known of these foreign socialist realist authors was [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nur_Muhammad_Taraki Nur Muhammad Taraki]] who would later become President of Afghanistan after that countries communist "revolution" [[note]]A coup in all but name[[/note]], and would be assassinated leading to the UsefulNotes/SovietInvasionOfAfghanistan.

However not all socialist realist art was made in the Soviet Union. Quite a lot of it was made in communist living in other countries, even capitalist ones. It was almost exclusively aimed at consumption by the Soviet public, but there was a notable PeripheryDemographic that [[{{Irony}} purchased]] these works. Perhaps the most well known of these foreign socialist realist authors was [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nur_Muhammad_Taraki Nur Muhammad Taraki]] who would later become President of Afghanistan after that countries communist "revolution" [[note]]A coup in all but name[[/note]], and would be assassinated leading to Soviet intervention in Afghanistan and the UsefulNotes/SovietInvasionOfAfghanistan.

Despite what you think, many Socialist Realism arts are filled with [[SugarWiki/VisualEffectsOfAwesome tons of artistic details]].

Despite what you think, many Socialist Realism arts are filled with [[VisualEffectsOfAwesome tons of artistic details]].

If you want to create something different... you can't. No, really. The Party gives you money. The Party is responsible for promotion of your works. [[BigBrotherIsWatching The Party knows where you live.]] If you create something in different style, you're a class traitor. They will not actually imprison you or charge you in court unless you actively tackle the Soviet system or ideology in your works, but they will never publish your work, and you will possibly get a social stigma.

The third artist asked the ruler to put on a cape, to hide his hump, mount a horse, to hide the limp, and drew him from the side of his remaining eye. The ruler liked the picture, and gave the artist two sacks of gold. This was the birth and the start of evolution of Social Realism.

A style of art prevalent in the UsefulNotes/SovietUnion and Eastern Bloc roughly between UsefulNotes/TheSovietTwenties and the death of UsefulNotes/JosephStalin. It was the only official and acceptable style of poetry, architecture and essentially any other art (with the CulturePolice ready to send you to the gulag if you disagreed).