SOTSREALISM AS METHOD AND STYLE: CULTURAL AND HISTORICAL RECONSTRACTION

Abstract

The article deals with socialist realism as a cultural and historical phenomenon that was realised in the context of artistic and cultural practices of Ukraine during the Soviet historical period, which requires a detailed analysis and understanding. The main component features of socialist realism as a method and style in the context of the study of culture and art of the Soviet historical period – the 30s–80s of the twentieth century – are identified, and the way of its introduction into the circulation of culture creation is outlined. It is proved that socialist realism as a cultural and historical integrity embodies a program formed within the framework of the Marxist-Leninist ideology, and its means and results are transformed into stylistic methods of forming in the field of art and culture. Socialist realism is defined as a method (a way of achieving a goal) and a stylistic dimension, which is formulated as an expressive methodology and ideology that asserts its ambivalence. It is stated that the Soviet historical period gave a new vision and aesthetic paradigm to the visual space of culture creation starting from the 30s of the twentieth century, after the first congress of Soviet writers held in 1934, where M. Gorky made a speech. In his speech, the neologism “socialist realism” was programmed, as well as its further implementation as a style in art and a method in culture creation. The article uses genetic, comparative, historical and reconstructive methods, a systematic approach, based on the principle of historicism, cultural and historical reconstruction of strategies and mechanisms of culture creation.