Surrealism in Art and Society - Research Paper Example

Surrealism Surrealism in the 20th century played a key role in the artistic and literal world by molding the past perception of the world and the future. The theme of surrealism manifests itself manifests itself in visually oriented arts, literature and musical pieces. In, this case, it is crucial to examine the manifestation of surrealism, in the 20th century, and how various artists exude surrealism in their art. Surrealism carries a wide variety of definitions based on who defines it. The most widely accepted definition of surrealism is that given by Breton; automatic writing, accounts of dreams, trance, narration, poems and paintings created because of random influences (Singh 21). It also includes art that pictured images of paradox and dream devised to change human perception of the world and the world, moreover, the goals of surrealism include revision of the human definition of reality by allowing the free flow of thought with the violation of literal convention in art. Surrealism has its roots from the movement founded by Andre Breton as an artistic and literal movement. However, it borrows plenty of its beliefs and practices from other fields that are not directly related t art. These include politics and psychological fields of society. Politically, surrealism professes communist beliefs following the First World War, its causes and its effects. On the other hand, practices and ideologies are borrowed from the works of Freud due to his assertions on the crucial role of sexuality in human issues (Singh 21). In the case of Freudian influence on surrealism, sexuality is embedded in the subconscious, which surrealists attempt to utilize to create their works of art; moreover, surrealism is defined as a form of automatism through which it intends to express verbally, in writing and by any other means. As a result, the use of the subconscious in artistic expression must not be limited by sociological and psychological reality, which allows surrealism to violate most conventions. Andre Breton Andre Breton is considered the father of surrealism in the entire world following is experimentation in the artistic field. This was through experiments in writing using unconventional methods and skills that were known to the world at the time of its invention, this period was during and after the First World War. He was a French writer who founded the entire concept of surrealism following the coining of the word surreal by prior artists of his time. The writing of the manifesto of surrealism in 1924 followed his experimental works, which carried the definition of the term surreal and the concept behind it. In this regard, Breton defined surrealism as a technique of pure psychic automatism with the intention of expressing the real process of thought (Britannica Academic Edition). The entire definition and concept of creating the term came from the idea from of not wishing to think and base art on pure thought and reason. In this regard, Breton’s manifesto of surrealism aims at ridding the artistic world of the clear distinction between dream and reality as well as reason and madness by removing inhibitions to expression in the artistic world (“Andre Breton”). In addition, in the manifesto, he included the appropriate guidelines, for which surrealism stood. By authoring such a work, he became the founder of surrealism by even including the political affiliations of surrealists. This was by inclusion of communism views in the surrealist manifesto of 1924 and calling to other artists in the early 1930s to include their views on the surrealist culture of artistry. It was by this guide that some artists such as Salvador Dali lost their status as surrealists due to alternative political affiliations other than pronounced communist views (SimplyCharly). Breton called for the application of surrealism in appropriate terms to avoid misuse by applying imagination. This was in terms of reducing the slave level of imagination that denies happiness in artistic expression due to fear of making mistakes (Breton 3). To Breton, the application of surrealism was meant to be a clear means of communication for ease of expression and improve the stability of the mind. Breton’s world of surrealism aimed at eliminating the application of rational thought in art. This is because in the age of rational thought, there had been wars, meaning that rational thought in the art would lead to chaos (Breton 2). One of the ways, that Breton expresses surrealism in his works is in the covers of his book where the image is used explicitly to express the contents of the book. This is as seen in the cover of young cherry trees secure against hare’s surrealism in which the cover is shown with the statue of liberty, and the face of woman liberty replaced with that of Breton (Jackaman 145). This is as a form of expression and defiance of reason. In addition, Breton utilizes vivid imagery in his writings to bring out the ideas to be expressed. The other form of application of surrealism in his artistic works is that of attempting to put in writing that which goes beyond logic and ethics, as well as order (Brahman 7). Concerning violation of conventional art, Breton applies Freudian theories by working from the unconscious mind and application of dream imagery to bring out the intended meaning and message to the audience of the given work of art. In the writing of his book, Nadja, in 1928, Breton focuses into that which is considered unethical including the application of insensitive language. Salvador Dali Salvador Dali achieved his surrealistic style of painting following the maturation of his artistic and technical styles. Dalis’ potential for surrealism was unlocked by exposure to Freud’s writings on the erotic vitality of the subconscious (“Salvador Dali”). This was in terms of the imagery it provided to an artist. To achieve this level of surrealism, Dali induced a state of hallucination to bring out his subconscious through paranoiac critical. It is through this method that he managed to put in place common objects and items in a state of realistic detail in a bizarre form and irrational fashion. The piece in focus” the persistence of memory” depicts a number of watches, pocket watches, detached from their chains and placed on rocks. In the painting, the watches melt slowly on rocks and a tree branch; in which it depicts a fantasy scene with a backdrop of a lifelike setting, an ocean that gave it the desired defiance required in surrealism. The intended meaning in the painting is that objects that appear strong and purposeful in life have a tendency to fade away and lose the sense of value, which is the essence of surrealism in the use of the subconscious for Dali. Through this form of imagery, his works are inspired by hallucinations where his works of art have drugs and dreams as the driving force (SimplyCharly). In addition, the same painting bears a depiction of a creature looking on to the melting object. The creature, albeit lifeless, appears to a depiction of himself lost with no concept of time. It also brings out the image of a monster tired of the burden that time brings upon it, as well as time. Overall, Dali’s works of art bring out surrealism through a clash of reality and imagination. This is in both concept and shape by having reality, ocean background, and imagination, melting watches. Harmonization of the image occurs following the presence of the monster-like creature that acts as a bridge for the two. Salvador also includes ants in his painting “The persistence of time”, which are drawn by the melting watches. It through this that he manages to bring out the mood in the picture through imagination that the ants hover around the melting objects somberly. In all his works, Dali states that he does not take any drugs to bring out his subconscious, as he is the drug or rather hallucinogenic. Instead, he simply evokes the hallucinations (Dali 1). In addition, Dali applies, from his subconscious, the images from his past in Catalonia, where he grew up evoked by his hallucinogenic state, to depict his surrealistic style of artistry in painting. This is as seen in the persistence of memory where the beach in ocean backdrop is meant to bring reality in the painting. Kurt Weill Kurt Weill was a composer of German-American descent and well known for his surrealistic style of composing his works of art. His works are the only to be recognized as musical art with a surrealistic touch similar to that of other artists such as Salvador Dali and Andre Breton. In is musical compositions, Kurt reconciled fact alienation within aesthetic images with the use of skill and refinement (Dave). His skills avoided overloading his compositional narratives with social consciousness themes. It is his works that he created music conducive to a sense of the community but in an aesthetic manner. In the Three-Penny opera, Kurt creates a harmonization between reality and imagination following the events between Mack, Jenny and Peachum. This is as seen when Peachum pays Jenny to turn Mack in to the police at the brothel, while, at the same time, Lucy and Polly show up. This illustrates the level of imagination covering multiple angles to put Mack in a dilemma moment as he has relationships with all the three women. The aspect of surrealism in the form of imagination goes on ahead to appear to follow a dramatic turn of events when reality dawns on Mack. This is in that he cannot be saved from gallows as none of his resources can raise the required funds meant to bribe his way of jail. The final fantasy arises shown a rider on horseback comes in to declare that Mack has been pardoned by the queen. This is only a dream as it would be logically impossible for a death row prisoner to be pardoned and to receive the accompanying goodies. These are in the form of a castle and pension, which beats all form of reasoning depicting the use of surrealism in the composition. In addition, the cast sings the finale, which contains pleas that goes against social logic and reasoning. This is concerning begging the society not to punish wrongdoing so harshly (ThreePennyOpera). Overall, the Weill brings out contradictions that form a vision through criticism of individualism and the correction of the said contradictions. The surrealistic movement was more than art in that it influenced numerous spheres of life in its artistic expression. This is as seen with then political stance taken by most of the surrealists in terms of communism view. This makes the movement more of a culture influencing schools of thought, perception and application of thought in life. This is as seen in the use of the subconscious thought to influence thought patterns and the world as a whole. It has also influenced modernity in music especially through the works of Kurt Weill. Surrealism in the 20th century played a key role in the artistic and literal world by molding the past perception of the world and the future. Works Cited Jackaman, Rob. The Course of English Surrealist Poetry Since The 1930s. Lewiston, New York: Edwin Mellen Press, 1989. Print. Dave. Surreal Illuumination of Moments. 2009. Web. 4 Sep. 2012. “Threepennyopera”. n.d. Web. 5 Sep. 2012. Simplycharly. Analysis of The Persistence of Memory by Salvador Dali. 2007. Web. 5 Sep. 2012. Brahman, Diana. Surrealist Art in NOMA’s Collection. 2004. Web. 5 Sep. 2012. http://www.noma.org/educationguides/Surreal.pdf Singh, S.K. Surreal Movement. Greener Journal of Art and Humanities, Vol. 1 (1), 2011: pp. 021-022. Print. Breton, Andre. Manifesto of Surrealism. 1924. Web. 5 Sep 2012. http://www.mccoyspace.com/nyu/12_s/anarchy/texts/02-Andre_Breton-Manifesto_Of_Surrealism.pdf Dali, Salvador 1993. American Archives. American Art, Vol. 7, No. 4 (1993): p. 110. Print "André Breton." Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Online Academic Edition. Encyclopædia Britannica Inc., 2012. Web. 5 Sep. 2012. < http://0-www.britannica.com.alice.dvc.edu/EBchecked/topic/78959/Andre-Breton> "Kurt Weill." Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Online Academic Edition. Encyclopædia Britannica Inc. 2012. Web. 5 Sep. 2012 < http://0 www.britannica.com.alice.dvc.edu/EBchecked/topic/639002/Kurt-Weill> "Salvador Dalí." Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Online Academic Edition. Encyclopædia Britannica Inc. 2012. Web. 05 Sep. 2012. < http://0-www.britannica.com.alice.dvc.edu/EBchecked/topic/150173/Salvador-Dali> Read More