reality not in its individuality
Does "art should picture reality not in its individuality but only as it reveals larger social significance" mean "art should not represent reality as a single concept but as a larger social concept"?

Context:
In addition to simplifying and typifying in a way that communicates effectively with the masses, Socialist Realism proposed that art should:
picture life, but not as it is so much as life as it should become, life worth emulating… that art should picture reality not in its individuality but only as it reveals larger social significance… that art should picture reality as progress toward the future and so represent social struggles positively. It should carry an air of optimism… art should focus on contemporary life, creating pleasing images of new social phenomena, revealing and endorsing new features of society and thus aiding the masses in assimilating them.

Question

reality not in its individuality
Does "art should picture reality not in its individuality but only as it reveals larger social significance" mean "art should not represent reality as a single concept but as a larger social concept"?

Context:
In addition to simplifying and typifying in a way that communicates effectively with the masses, Socialist Realism proposed that art should:
picture life, but not as it is so much as life as it should become, life worth emulating… that art should picture reality not in its individuality but only as it reveals larger social significance… that art should picture reality as progress toward the future and so represent social struggles positively. It should carry an air of optimism… art should focus on contemporary life, creating pleasing images of new social phenomena, revealing and endorsing new features of society and thus aiding the masses in assimilating them.

Answer

In my opinion this is really bad writing, so don't feel bad for not understanding it.  I read "Socialist Realism" on Wikipedia, and it was much, much clearer :).

I think it means that art should not portray subjects important to the individual but instead should only portray subjects important to society as a whole.  That's my guess anyway!

Answer

Does "art should picture reality not in its individuality but only as it reveals larger social significance" mean "art should not represent reality as a single concept but as a larger social concept"?

I think it is more specific than that.
It says show the current situation not as a destination but as a journey to something to aspire to (from a socialistic point of view).
.
So it is limiting art to show only things that are ideal, or that can become ideal: things of socxial significance in that they suggest which way to go.

Answers · 2

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