Heroic Realism: Art in Communism and Socialism Regimes - Research Paper Example

Heroic Realism: Art in Communism and Socialism Regimes Introduction Art has been used in many ways as a means of passing information. This was taken to even a higher level with the introduction of graphic design in early 19th century (Seonard, 123). One way of art being used in the society is the heroic realism. Heroic Realism is a term used to refer to art as propaganda. A good example of heroic realism includes socialist realism, which is related to fascism, as well as communism regimes. The main advantage of this art is the realism, which is brought out through figures that represent the ideal types or symbols (Consiglio, Flavia Di. ,12) Further, in heroic realism, there is an explicit rejection of modern art, which is seen as degenerative and bourgeois. The following paper intends to discuss heroic realism, its origin, characteristics and impacts to the society. In addition, several examples of heroic realism have been given in the appendix. An Overview of Heroic Realism It is prudent to understand that social events especially the World War II heavily affected the usage of posters as ways of graphic communication. This was the time when there was a need to give the public, information in a clear and precise manner. In this way, graphic messaging with simplified visual language was utilized in order to send convincing messages to unintelligent and fickle public. Heroic Realism is a propagandist and systematic way of propagating official or non-official government policies by manipulative communications to the unintelligent public (Seonard, 154). This may offer true as well false information. However, the information to be sent is selectively presented in a provocative style so that it can have its maximum emotional effect on the intended people. Heroic Realism is an art motif, which is used as a propaganda tool. This means that the ones who are using heroic realism have a given agenda to portray or change in the public eye. The aim is to affect public thinking of a certain aspect in the society (Tiereh, 23). This method of spreading propaganda is mostly used by socialist and communist governments so that they can control and change the mentality of their people or others by emotional value cues. This style was widely used by Hitler in the Nazi regime. He delved from using the abstract poster work during the war and instead decided to imitate the Allies’ poster work, which was the in style and design (Tiereh, 211). His aim was to ensure that he applied to the unintelligent mas of people. Through his efforts, he succeeded to control their public mindsets and beliefs mostly through his manifestoes and speeches. More importantly was that he succeeded because of using posters and materials, which had elements of heroic realism. Using this strategy, Hitler gloriously represented Aryan figure as a German idol where all German people needed to admire. This reminded German people of the objective of the Nazi regime and its ideology. Heroic Realism figures especially those of war heroes and celebrities are often idolized and thus used to control the minds of the public. They are as well used to change the beliefs ideals of the society including controlling their actions. During the Nazi regime, posters were purposely created to demonstrate the strength, as well as the honor in a heroic and bravely manner (Seonard, 45). This was to show the public that a true hero could only be bet acknowledged if he whole-heartedly served the government and protected his country and its ideals. The public was however reminded through such posters that this called for self-sacrifice. It was believed that the use of classic figures, who promoted honor and strength, helped in forming a nationalistic unity that could not be broken by any enemy and which could be used to fight any form of enemy (Welch, David, 11). Objective of Heroic Realism Both the Nazi and Socialist art were being developed to exalt heroism and romance. At the same time, they were ideal rather than being realistic. The main objective of heroic realism design was to ensure that the revolution of Soviet Union was propagated in the Lenin’s time (Tiereh, 38). Lenin doubted that the illiterate society o rate public could not understand the abstract images or visual materials and thus unable to understand the intended message. In addition, he also thought that productivists, as well as constructivists, were having a hidden agenda, which was against the government. As a result, some movements including Cubism were being denounced bourgeois. They were as well-being criticized for failing to bring out the heritage of art while proletarian culture was drawing what was being learned in good times (Tiereh, 143). These movements were also being criticized for the rejecting the on the grounds, claiming that this was old. Consequently, artists tried their best to counter such thinking. This was however through admitting that advanced art was there to represent the advanced political ideas. It should be noted that these were bio ideas, which were being propagated by the government of the time. According to Maxim Gorky, for a person to obtain realism he was only supposed to extract basic idea from reality. He added that if one added any potential or desirable to it, he as well added romanticism to it which was accompanied with revolutionary potential. The other objective was that posters were quickly used to educate the illiterates on daily life. This was after Stalin came into power. He understood the importance of powerful message that could be sent to the illiterate population through images(Tiereh, 43). However, this was generally used to educate the illiterate peasants. These posters were offering visual instructions on every activity that involved daily lifestyle of this particular group of people. It was in early 1930s that the ‘hero of labor’ slogan was developed after the emphasis of ‘little man’ as well as due to anonymous laboring masses. Further, it was in 1934 that Socialist realism came about as a new doctrine. The new movement refused the "bourgeois influence on art" and thus it was replaced with appreciation for figurative photography, painting, as well as new typography layouts. As a result, writers were enjoined in order to develop "heroization. On the same note, in 1933, after Adolf Hitler got to power in Germany, he exalted the condemnation of modern art and considering it as degenerative (Tiereh, 78). As a result, modern art was largely prohibited. It is important to note that Nazis regime nurtured promoted a style of art based on classical models, which was intended to promote nationalism. In addition, Heroic Realism was intended to nurture values of duty, sacrifice, as well as devotion. This made many Germans admire heroic man who sacrificed himself for the sake of the nation including death (Tiereh, 48). Further, Nazi theory was not in support to "materialism", and thus although there was the realistic treatment of figures and images, "realism" was a rarely used term. As a result, a painter was expected to create a picture, which was ideal, to represent eternity. Therefore, both men and women images were heavily stereotyped, to show physical perfections which were required for the development of nude paintings. In most of the paintings, peasant’s images were involved, to illustrate a simple life that they used to live in harmony with nature. The Nazi racial theories were better expressed though sculpture monuments. A nude sculpture was later developed to express the values as well as ideals of the Aryan race. The skills portrayed by Arno Breker made him the Hitler’s best sculptor. Further, nude females were also used in artwork to exalt women strength in the society. It should also be noted that heroic realism was as well used in the Spanish Civil War and other western democracies in promoting their objectives ion times of war. Characteristics of Heroic Realism Heroic Realism showed that successful art illustrated and glorified the struggle of proletariat toward political progress of regimes (Werpierra, 27). One aspect about heroic realism is that it provides the platform through the literary work of the time. This kind of art demands of an artist the truthful representation of historical concrete of reality in the revolutionary development of the same. In addition, the truthfulness as well as the historical concreteness of the representation of art in its reality should be directly related to the task of transforming ideology as well as educating workers in the socialism spirit. The main significance of this art is the realism, which is brought out through figures that represent the ideal types or symbols. In addition, heroic realism has a subject that it is propagating. However, in most cases, the political agenda is the key in most of the heroic agendas (Wilkinson, 73). Further, heroic realism has been used to elevate common worker for instance in factory or agricultural sectors. This is through representing his life, as well as his work as an admiration of the society. As has already been mentioned earlier, the main aim of heroic realisms is to ensure that the minds of the public are changed including their ideals or belief (Consiglio, Flavia Di, 12). This was to ensure that a given community becomes stronger and more unified. This was very critical especially when the same community was faced with a common enemy. Conclusion It is evident that heroic realism was used effectively especially after the Second World War. This was in an attempt for various governments to change the thinking of other regimes as well as exalting their beliefs and values. Heroic Realism is a propagandist is the systematic way of propagating official or non-official government policies by through manipulative communications to the unintelligent public. Further, there was an explicit rejection of modern art, which is seen as degenerative, and bourgeois. However, the main aim of heroic realism is to ensure that a given subject of a regime was propagated. This was done in both truthful or falsely way. Heroic Realism was intended to nurture values of duty, sacrifice, as well as devotion. Work Cited Consiglio, Flavia Di. "Iconic Propaganda." BBC News. BBC, 11 Feb. 2013. Web. 12 Feb. 2015. Seonard, Einnerstein. Graphic art in the early 19th century. New York, N.Y: Oxford University Press, 1994. Print. Tiereh, Lauren. Heroic realism. Lanham, Md: Lexington Books, 2012. Print. Werpierra, Sauel. Art in communism and socialism regimes. Diliman, Quezon City: University of the Philippines Press, 2007. Print. Wilkinson, Saniel. Art and Nazi: Why it persisted. Bristol: Policy, 2011. Print. Welch, David. "Nazi Propaganda." BBC News. BBC, 17 Feb. 2011. Web. 11 Feb. 2015. Appendix 1. “We Can Do It”U.S. made female empowering propaganda which encourages females to work while their hus­bands are away at war. Today, Rosie serves as a feminist icon. 2. “This is the Enemy” caricature of a Japanese soldier with slanted eyes and simian arms carrying away a naked white woman while others swing from their necks in the burning back­ground. “I Want You for U.S. Army”Poster campaign­ing for young men to join the U.S Army. Uncle Sam has grown into an American icon and is internationally recognized” 3. “Ein Volk, Ein Reich, Ein Fuhrer!” Its simple message- ‘one people, one empire, one leader’ was used throughout lands con­quered by the Germans to inspire allegiance and fierce pride in the ethnic Germans who resided there.” 4. “The German Student Fights for the Führer and the People” This propa­ganda poster features a young, swastika-waving German student with the caption,” Read More