Art History Marxism: Principal Ideology in Russian

Art History

Marxism: Principal Ideology in Russian Constructivism and Mexican Mural Movement

In the history or political philosophy, Karl Marx has revolutionized the social structure of the society by introducing in his discourse, The Communist Manifesto, the concept of modern Socialism, more popularly called as Socialism. In his discourse, Marx posits that in the course of human history, there is the ongoing struggle between the oppressed and the oppressor, which he termed the proletariat and bourgeois societies, respectively. Marx argues that this continued oppression of the proletariat by the bourgeois class will eventually lead to social revolution, where the proletariats will be the new dominant social class, and social order is ruled by the proletariats. A distinct characteristic of Marx's concept of socialism is that it promotes state ownership, control of means of production and distribution, and reconstruction of the capitalist and other political systems through peaceful and democratic means.

Through Marx's discourse on socialism, many artists where influenced by his proposed ideologies. Cultures in the 20th century society have taken on the Marxist characteristic of being socialist, such as the Russian Constructivism and Mexican Mural movements. Russia, one of the main proponents of Socialist Communism and adherents of Marx's political philosophy, has illustrated in its culture influences of Marxist ideologies. Established in 1913, the Russian Constructivism, which is a movement that centers on principles of abstraction, functionalism, and utilitarianism. These principles helped build the art ideology that all artworks must be easily understood and can be used by people. Evidently, Russian constructivism subsists to Socialist principles, which creates artworks that can both be appreciated and used by people. An example of a Russian constructivist artwork is Naum Gabo's Column (1923). This sculpture made up of glass, plastic, and metal an abstract and constructivist sculpture that utilized industrial design methods.

The Mexican Mural movement, similarly, subsists to works of art that can be accessed and appreciated by the public. Deviating from the perception that works of art can only be appreciated and accessed by the elite, the movement aims create artworks that are nationalistic in theme and uses techniques that are uniquely identified with Mexican culture and society. Thus, painting are no longer restricted in canvases, but can be viewed in public places and establishments, such as school buildings and other public buildings. Diego Rivera, one of the most famous Mexican painters of this movement, created La Civilizacion Tarasca, which uses as its subjects indigenous people of Mexico doing two activities that are distinctly found in Mexico's cultural heritage: painting and dyeing of fabric. Rivera's work uses bright colors and subjects that depict traditional Mexican culture, which are unique characteristics of the Mexican mural movement artworks.