Socialist Realism, the official and only art form allowed in DPRK

All North Korean creative works must adhere to Socialist Realist principles. Socialist Realism is a teleological-oriented style of realistic art aimed to further the goals of Socialism and Communism. The purpose is to depict and glorify the proletariat’s struggle toward socialist progress, thus elevating the common worker by presenting his or her work, life, and recreation as admirable and heroic. Socialist Realism’s ultimate goal is to educate the people in Socialist ways and beliefs. Moreover, the Juche Idea, which asserts North Korea’s cultural distinctiveness and creativity, is to be applied to all creative works. Socialist Realism also serves an added task of entrenching Kim Il Sung’s and Kim Jong Il’s powerful cult of personality.

The realism of Socialist Realism depicts the people as they ‘truly’ are, such as in everyday scenes. Since the worker is the centre of Communist ideals, his or her life is the only subject permissible for any creation of art. Images of the common worker (whether factory, agricultural, or intellectual), military, or of either Kim are popular subjects. North Korean Socialist Realist elevates North Koreans achievements in their respective fields, turns the Kims into gods, and glorifies the nation and people. All art forms – whether paintings, television shows or movies, ballets, operas, music, or propaganda – lionize North Korean life.





I actually love Socialist Realism. It is done in bright and bold technicolour, with simple lines, lovely scenes (yes, even the scenes of nuclear missiles and DPRK soldiers are beautiful in their special way), and life-like human images. The best way to describe Socialist Realism is like a decadent birthday cake. It looks like thick colourful icing on birthday cakes. It looks sweet and gooey enough to eat.

The country is festooned with Socialist Realist propaganda. Gigantic wall-size murals, billboards, and posters decorate Pyongyang. There are countless North Korean flags hanging throughout the city, either individually or style in groups of tens. The propaganda (and flags) is seen on every street, every building, and even the subway system. You cannot escape the propaganda. In fact, the propaganda takes the place of advertising. In most major cities across the world you will encounter a barrage of advertisements. In North Korea, imagine propaganda pictures and slogans rather than these advertisements. The propaganda is undoubtedly beautiful, even if some of its messages may be troubling to non-North Koreans.



I think Socialist Realist art and propaganda is gorgeous. Even if the message is chilling, the art itself is lovely. For example, the following is a poster that was hanging all over Pyongyang. It is quite pretty, but the message is ugly. It is a portrait of North Korea's nuclear weapons.



Kim Jong Il and I inspecting the DPRK army during the winter.



The Kims and I. Can you see my Socialist Realist image right beside them. Perfect for when I become the next Dear Leader of DPRK.




Propaganda decorating Pyongyang.














Socialist Realist propaganda also decorates all other cities, towns, and villages. Even the countryside has these huge murals and billboards. Even the collective farms have these propaganda items decorating the outside of their living quarters. In fact, the murals and billboards can be big enough to spot from the rice fields.

As aforementioned, every art form is in the Socialist Realist design. The North Korean television we watched was filmed and styled in this design; the Mass Games performance was choreographed in this design; all music is written with this design; and so on. I wonder if the North Koreans get sick of it or if, since that is all they know, they simply take it for granted and really enjoy it? I have a feeling they associate it with their national pride and dignity, and therefore regard it as integral to their identity.

It’s interesting to highlight some popular North Korean songs. They have wild titles and themes. They include:
“Song of General Kim Il Sung”
“Song of General Kim Jong Il”
“Song of Dear Comrade Kim Jong Il”
“Good Health to Comrade Kim Jong Il”
“Let’s Support Our Supreme Commander with Arms”
“My Youngest Daughter, Pok Sun, became an AA-Machine Gunner” (my favourite!)
“Our Socialism is Best in the World”
“Let Us Defend Socialism”
“The Army-centered Politics Brings About Happiness”
“Thank you, Marshall Kim Il Sung”
“The General is the Invincible Brilliant Commander”
“Led by the Party, We Won”
“You Know this is a Time of Emergency”
“While Performing the Revolutionary Task I Have to Do”
“Your Revolutionary Faith Must Be Firm”
“Unyielding in our Revolutionary Faith”
“How to send the Guerrillas the Needed Supplies?”
“Returning to the Bosom of the Leader”
“I’ll Dedicate my Life to my Grateful Motherland”
“I’ll Dedicate my Youth to the Country”
“Will it be Impossible to Save Comrade’s Life?”
“Let Girl Soldier Slumber Gently and Deep”
“Grateful to the Party’s Embrace”
“We’ll Defend You, the Fatherland”
“The Party is My Mother”
“Mother Party Protected Me”
“Identical to the Leader’s Image”
“Motherland Will Remember Forever”
“No Motherland without You”

I love these titles. Real Top10 hits, you know? Haha.

As for movies, North Korea is still in the midst of a hysteria over "Diary of a Schoolgirl". This movie's popularity is North Korea's equivalent of "Gone With The Wind", "Titanic", "Spiderman", and "Star Wars" all rolled into one. This movie was a blockbuster hit in the country that people today still talk about and love.

"Diary of a Schoolgirl", released in 2006, can be considered a Socialist Realism version of "Bridget Jones's Diary". "Diary of a Schoolgirl" is based around the personal journal writings of a young woman. The young woman has just experienced heartache in her life as her father has had to go far from home to do some special work for the motherland and Party. The father had no other choice, he had to fulfill his duty and responsibilites to DPRK. The young woman becomes angry with her father's leaving her and the family. She is mad, disappointed, and depressed. She blames her father of abandoning the family.

But the young woman soon comes to realize that her father did not abandon her or the family. She realizes that her father was a loyal North Korean committed to his country, the Party, and the Juche Idea. He was a noble man on a noble mission for the glory of North Korea. The young woman becomes proud of her father and his loyalty to their wonderful nation.