The present invention relates to a photoalignable material comprising a photoactive stilbazolium-containing polymer of formula I: ##STR00001## wherein, M.sub.a, M.sub.b, M.sub.c are monomer units making up the polymer; x, y, z, are mole fractions of the monomer units M.sub.a, M.sub.b, M.sub.c, wherein in each case 0