북한의 주체문예론은 김정일의 『영화예술론』(1973)에서 이론적 단초를 보였다. 그가 주도한 ‘문학예술혁명’을 통해 특유의 이론체계를 갖추었다. 즉 ‘문예리론총서 주체적문예사상,’ ‘김정일의 문예리론총서,’ ‘주체적문예리론연구총서,’ ‘주체음악총서, 주체미술총서, 주체영화리론총서, 주체문학전서’ 등이 100여 권 간행되어 ‘주체문예리론체계’로 정립되었다. 동시에 김정일의 문학예술부문 이론과 실무지도를 정리, 연구한 총서도 간행되었다. 그의 문예론은, (1)‘영화예술론’등 8대 장르론(8권, 1973~92), (2)‘문학예술의 영재’(20권, 1985~2005), (3)‘김정일의 문예리론총서’(40권, 1982~87), (4)‘주체문학예술에 대하여’(5권, 1989~1990), (5)‘김정일의 문학예술 지도업적’(12권, 1990~95), (6)‘20세기문예부흥과 김정일’(13권, 2002), (7)‘선군혁명문학예술과 김정일’(5권, 2005) 등이 나와 방대한 ‘유일이론체계’가 확립되었다.
김정일의 문예론‘체계’는, 개념과 본성, 역사적 전통, 장르별 이론, 사업과 조직론 등 4개 패러다임으로 구성되어 있다. 즉, ‘혁명적/김일성주의/주체적/주체’라는 새로운 문학예술의 개념과 건설원칙, ‘항일혁명문학예술’의 전통, ‘문학, 영화, 가극, 연극, 음악, 미술, 무용, 교예’ 순서의 장르별 이론, ‘종자론, 속도전’ 등 문예 창작방법과 조직사업 지침 등의 논리구조로 되어 있다. 그의 문예론과 실무지도는 주체문학예술의 이론과 창작을 전일적으로 지배하였다. 유일 이념인 주체사상체계로 북한 문학예술 전체를 꿰뚫는 일관된 논리와 수령의 절대적 영도력을 관철시켰다. 김정일이 이론과 실무를 주도한 ‘주체문예리론체계’는 문학예술을 전일적으로 지배하는 사상, 이론, 방법의 백과전서 집대성이다. 동시에 최고지도자의 명령이 예술적 상상을 규율하는 절대 규범이자 지침서로 작동된다. ‘혁명, 주체, 수령’이라는 마법의 레토릭으로 최고의 문학예술을 창조할 수 있다고 자화자찬하지만, 타자의 시선에서 볼 때 자기완결적 주장만 무한반복하는 폐쇄적 논리에 갇혀 있다.
North Korea’s Juche Literary and Artistic Theory showed the theoretical foundation in Kim Jong-il’s Theory of Film Art(1973). Through the ‘Revolution of Literature and Art’, which he led, a unique theoretical system was established. In other words, “A series of theories on Juche’s literary and artistic thought,” “A series of Kim Jong-il’s Theory Book of Literature and Art,” “Juche Music Series, Juche Film Theory Series, and Juche Literature Series” were published and established as ‘Juche Litratary and Artistic theory system’. At the same time, a a series of book was published that summarized Kim Jong-il’s theory and practical guidance on literature and art. (1) Eight kinds of genres, including Theory of Film Art(1973-92), (2) ‘Genius of Literature and Art’(20 volumes, 1985~2005), (3) ‘A series of Kim Jong-il’s Theory Book of Literature and Art’(40 volumes, 1982~87), (4)‘On the Juche Literature and Art’(5 volumes, 1989~1990), (5)‘Kim Jong-il’s guiding achievements on literature and art’(12 vols, 1990~95), (6)‘20th Century Literary Revival and Kim Jong-il’ (13 vols, 2002), (7)‘Military-first literary Art and Kim Jong-il’ (5 vols, 2005) and so on, a vast amount of ‘unique theoretical system’ was established.
Kim Jong-il’s Literatary and Artistic theory ‘system’ consists of four paradigms: concept and essence, historical tradition, genre theory, and creative business and organization theory. In other words, (1) the concept and construction principles of new literature and art called ‘Revolutionary/Kim Il-sungism/Juche’s/Juche’, (2) the tradition of ‘Anti-Japanese Revolutionary Literary & Art’, (3) ‘Literature, film, opera, theater, music, fine art, dance and circus’ genre theory, (4)the “Seed Theory, Speed Battle Campaign”, such as creative method and organization theory, etc. are 4 paradigms. His literary theory and practical guidance dominated Juche Literature and Art’s theory and creation entirely. In other words, with North Korea’s only idea, the Juche Ideology, it carried out a consistent logic that penetrated the entire literature and art and the absolute leadership of Suryong(supreme leader). ‘Juche Litratary and Artistic theory system’ led by Kim Jong-il in theory and practice is an encyclopedic compilation of ideas, theories, and methods that dominate literature and art. At the same time, the orders of Suryong(supreme leader) act as absolute norms and guidelines that govern artistic imagination. The ideologues of the Juche literary theories claim to themselves that the best literature and art can be created with the magical rhetoric of ‘Revolution, Juche, Suryong’. However, from the other’s point of view, he is trapped in a closed logic that repeats only self-completed arguments.