What is Surrealism?

[Palmares]

I may have been indirectly pushing this question elsewhere, but what does it truly mean to be surreal?

Originally I saw it just in art, but it infact originated in literature.

Do you think there is anything that actually dictates what constitutes surrealism? Are there forms and structures that are indicative of it?

I have some thoughts, but I am interested in hearing others' first.

One hint: one of my quotes is thought to be the quote that exemplifies surrealism (just a matter of understanding the quote however).

[Free Spirit]

It's an esthetic way that seeks to tell the dream's free running of association.
One example is expressing it in modern art with the artist's own reflection from the reality, It’s the way of seeing it and as in modern art with stranger shapes compare to reality.

[thorgar]

Etymology: French surréalisme, from sur- + réalisme realism
: the principles, ideals, or practice of producing fantastic or incongruous imagery or effects in art, literature, film, or theater by means of unnatural juxtapositions and combinations

[Rasta Sapian]

a dead head definatley would know that Jerry Garcia can sing some surreal jammin tunes!

Surrealism is usually a artistic definition, I recnently painted a visually unique and vivid peice of art that I could easily describe as surreal, it can't be defined as realism or abstractism therefore surrealism may be a good classification indeed. :P

The word Surreal can be used when you are describing anything that stands out from ordinary reality, something that defies the normal perspective, I believe I have seen many surreal visions in nature especially!

Sur dans francais means above; Real = above real

[Thomas]

Personally I view surrealism as anything outside the normal standards. So like your quote "Elephants are Contagious" obviously elephants can't be contagious, but still the quote gets you thinking, and while having no basis in reality, it forms a new form of thinking a Surrealist way of thinking, in which anything is possible, and nothing is real.

Did that make any sense?

[Palmares]

Some good answers here. Especially thorgar, since he used the very etymology.

Some people incorrectly view surrealism through the stereotype of painting (and if they know about it, literature) created by dreams. This may well be Dali's fault, with his obsession with Freud (yet, he ignored Freud's view on God, and was a born-again Catholic).

To prove this wrong, here is what I said in another thread:


I believe controlled dreams care referred to as lucid dreams. It is not where you suddenly create a dream out of nothing, but rather you have a dream and you are then able to manipulate it according to your wishes. Think of the film Being John Malkovich.

But this point proves that surrealism does not equate to dreams as many foolish artists I know (like my ex) think it does. Surrealism is about freedom of expression, but a controlled environment like a lucid dream contradicts this.

Well, I said it right there. Surrealism is about freedom of expression, and that can amount to numerous things.

You were fairly close there Thomas with your analysis of the Eluard quote. It is often viewed as a "Stupid quote", when infact it simply exemplifies the freedom of expression of surrealism, not contrainsted by such things as grammar or coherence. That's what makes some surrealist poetry have so much more to them.

So in the world of arts, surrealism holds much importance in our movement.

[UtopicImperium]

In the words of Andre Breton himself, leader of the surrealist movement in the 20's...

"Pure phychic automatism, by which it is intented the express, verbally, in writing, or by other means, the real process of thought. Thought's dictation, in the absence of all control exercised by the reason and outside all aesthetic or moral preoccupations."

[Xvall]

Surrealism is just a made up word, and can really mean whatever people want. Usually it means that it is in some warped version of reality; something unreal and unnatural. I personally think surrealism works best when it surpasses comprehension by human linguistics.

I like this:

http://www.bancodedadosvisual.hpg.ig.com.br/robert_venosa005.jpg