Socialist Realism: Proletarian Aesthetics

In its most basic form, socialist realism represents a philosophical approach to art that glorifies the political objectives of the proletariat towards the achievement of socialism, depicts a realistic representation of everyday life, teleological in its format towards producing certain sentiments in the viewer, and is inextricably linked to the political aims of advancing socialism.

The most prominent examples of socialist realism come from the former Soviet Union. Other examples (though differing due to respective cultural trends, histories, and traditions/values) include Cuba, German Democratic Republic (East Germany), People's Republic of China, and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (North Korea). The basic elements of this aesthetic philosophy were made famous by the Zhdanov Doctrine as it was enveloped into the official line of the state after the 1934 Congress of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union.

The historical development of socialist realism took place in many different forms: literature, poetry, painting, sculpture, architecture, music, and theatre. One of the major overseers of the development of socialist realism was Andrei Zhdanov (1896-1948), one of Stalin's protégés and Politburo Members, who executed a strict adherence to socialist principles in Soviet culture. Soviet art was transformed from its more liberal attitudes during the early years after the Revolution until socialist realism became the official doctrinaire for all artists. Outside the political realm, the major justification for creating such guidelines for artists was that art, and the means for producing art, belonged to the community as a whole - not just the respective creator.

The basic elements of socialist realism laid out a guideline for all artists to adhere to, but which most prominently and effectively showed itself through paintings, prose, and poetry. The works of Maxim Gorky exemplified this aesthetic philosophy and represented the earliest transition from traditional Russian realism into the advanced form of socialist realism.