p A qualitatively new, socialist art has arisen on the basis of the revolutionary struggle of the working class and its advance to communism. Socialist art assimilates the best from progressive art of the past and constitutes a higher stage in the development of art corresponding to the new historical conditions.

p Socialist realism is a creative method of this art. The main content of our age, the movement of society to communism must be reflected truthfully, in a historically concrete and highly artistic way. The art of socialist realism does not stand still but is constantly developed and enriched.

p The basic principles of the art of socialist realism are truthfulness and profundity in the reflection of reality, close bonds with the people, partisanship and bold pioneering in the artistic portrayal of life, combined with the use and development of all the progressive traditions of world culture. Socialist realism is conspicuous for its profound socialist content and diversity of vivid national forms. The method of socialist realism affords writers, painters and other artists vast scope to display their creative initiative and high mastery, and to develop numerous creative forms, styles and genres.

p Truly realistic art has always been linked with the people, rooted in them, but the organic ties of socialist art with the people, with their life and work are unprecedented. Pointing out the popular character of socialist art, Lenin once said: “Art belongs to the people. Its roots should be deeply implanted in the very thick of the labouring masses. It should be understood and loved by these masses. It must unite and elevate their feelings, thoughts and will. It must stir to activity and develop the art instincts within them.”  [388•* 

p The popular character of socialist art is organically combined with its partisanship. Soviet art openly and directly serves the working class and all the working people. It has linked its destiny with the Communist Party, with the 389 Marxist-Leninist world outlook.

p Revisionists attack the Marxist-Leninist principle of partisanship in art, they oppose {he guidance of art by the Communist Party, claiming that this suppresses the creative freedom of the artist, his artistic individuality, and so on and so forth. In reality, however, the principle of partisanship ensures the lofty ideas, content and high artistry of socialist art, and orients it at the solution of the most pressing social problems. It is an indispensable requisite for genuine freedom of artistic endeavour.

p The Communist Party expends great effort on developing socialist art, it promotes the creation of truthful works of lofty ideas, content and high artistry. It constantly promotes among the artists the spirit of devotion to the people, to the cause of communism and an irreconcilable attitude to shortcomings, lack of political awareness and lack of ideas and content in art. The CPSU has set itself the task of steadfastly promoting the burgeoning of literature and art, the aesthetic education of the people and the cultivation of high artistic tastes and traits.

p The mission of Soviet art in the period of full-scale communist construction is to foster in people lofty political, moral and aesthetic traits; to help eradicate survivals of the past from their minds; to deeply and truthfully portray the heroic labour and struggle of the people; to reveal the rich spiritual world of our contemporary, his thoughts, feelings and aspirations; to flay implacably everything that hinders the onward movement of Soviet society; to inspire the Soviet people to fresh exploits in the construction of communism. Art plays ’a particularly great role in the aesthetic education of the people and is an important component of communist education. Art must, develop appreciation of beauty, aesthetic emotions in all Soviet people, and awaken and develop their artistic abilities and tastes.

p “The high road of literature and art lies through the strengthening of their bond with the life of the people, thiough faithful and highly artistic depiction of the richness and versatility of socialist reality, inspired and vivid portrayal of all that is new and genuinely communist, and exposure of all that hinders the progress of society,”  [389•*  states 390 the CPSU Programme. The lofty social mission of literature and art is to inspire the people to ever new successes in communist construction.

The development and enrichment of the art are based on a combination of mass amateur art endeavour and professional art.