History of Social Realism in the Visual Arts

 To explore further my research and exploration into social realism it is important that I explore how it is portrayed throughout various mediums. 

Because I am most interested by how social realism conveys the every-day lives of the working-class I will be researching more about other directors who deal with this subject matter such as the comedic sitcom The Royle Family and the more serious works of Shane Meadows and Mike Leigh. 

In terms of photography I know of some social realist artists such as Shirley Baker but I am excited to explore and find more which can influence my response to Loach's work and how I explore the topic on a whole in the future. 

Within literature, there are lots of social realists I can explore. The playwrights and writers of the 1950's who I wrote my essay on have helped form my view, opinion and interest in this subject massively, because of this I will carry on reading and exploring their works. 

Along with the kitchen sink writers I have also been researching more into the genre of proletariat literature, which is often more fact than narrative and brings in a more political side to the documentation of working-class lives which I feel is important to consider as much as the artistic side of the movement.

Because I don't know of many illustrators or artists that explore social realism I am going to be finding and researching these to help further how I respond to Loach's work.