Marvelous Encounters in Surrealism: The Revolutionary Project (Essay Sample)

MARVELOUS ENCOUNTERS IN SURREALISM
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Surrealism movement was formulated by the intellectual elites in the field of artistry and writing. The prevalent principle behind the formulation of the group was to channel the unconscious mental capacity as a method of realizing and unlocking an individual’s full potential and capability. In this accord, surrealism believed in the fact that the conscious mind jeopardized and subdued an individual ability to be creative and imaginative. This ideology was, however, contradictory to the principles of realism and rationalism. The core propagators of the ideology, the likes of Karl Marx, instilled the aspect of psyche having the ability to spur revolution and different in perceptions that give people a unique view of what is considered normal. Moreover, the enormous emphasis imposed on imagination as a factor that triggers revolutionary endeavors invokes the aspect of Romanticism. Surrealist believed in gaining revelations and new perceptions based on the day-to-day lives that realist would consider normal occurrences. Furthermore, the surrealist attitude and through insightfulness towards myths and primitivism is the core of most of the current artistic work, architecture, films and poetry. In light of this, this critical analysis essay seeks to establish the principles, pros, and cons of the occurrence stat transpired in the seminar of the marvelous encounter with surrealism.[Caroline, Blinder. A Self-Made Surrealist: Ideology and Aesthetics in the Work of Henry Miller. Camden House, 2000. pp. 31-33]
The international seminar on surrealism held at Louisiana Museum of Modern Art and the National Gallery of Denmark was aimed at addressing the perception and ideology employed in surrealism. Moreover, the purpose of the seminar was to reveal and address the issues culminating from new reassert surrounding the issue of surrealism. Furthermore, the theme was to foster intellectual understanding of the central themes of Surrealism.[Statens Meuseum for Kunst National Gallery of Denmark, 2015.]
Regarding fostering easy and critical understanding of the theme for the study, the seminar was divided into the different theme that eventually were converging to the central basis and principles of Surrealism. The thematic concerns for the seminar included Surrealism and painting, Desire and Eroticism, The Revolution Project, and Mass Culture and Commercial Field. Furthermore, the thematic structure of the seminar was gave room for the speakers to address the specific regional and international concern regarding perception ideology of the certain groups of people regarding surrealism.[]
Surrealism and Painting
The seminar approach toward surrealism and painting revolved around historian and current painters who came up with captivating and authentic work of art by stretching potential. Wilhelm Freddie and Max Ernst were both renowned painters who were quick to explore and maintain a critical approach that was based on experimentation of new ideologies that invoke the aspect of revolution, but using painting as a medium. However, the question of portrayal and conveying of ideologies was faced by a critical approach regarding the question of medium. Therefore, the issue of the use of painting as a medium of conveying ideas and imaginations was criticized by surrealist. In light of this, the basis for critiquing of painting emanated from the fact that surrealist perceived painting as an aspect that involve the conscious mind. Furthermore, surrealist considered painting as a faulty medium that tends to suppress one ability to imagine because it is more of an intellectual construction rather than authentic aspect based on imagination. Moreover, failure to capture the technological innovation that constitutes the modern life rendered painting null and void, according to surrealists. Instead, surrealist recommended the use of other forms of visual media such as object art and collage. The open surrealism approach towards art is now the key underlying ideology employed in artistic practices in the current age of technological innovation.[Statens Meuseum for Kunst National Gallery of Denmark, 2015]
The Revolutionary Project
Consequentially, it is fundamental to note that the innovative projects pursued by surrealism were meant to foster social and perception transformation in the society. In light of this, several Surrealist sympathesized with the political regimes and had sheer difficulty fitting into a political party. Therefore, from social transformation, the point of concern shifted to the aspect of liberating humanity from the captivity of the society that deterred innovation and imagination. The oppressive society dominated by stereotypes, political prejudices and discrimination was sought to be eliminated to pave the way for a community that foster liberal thinking and decision making. The aftermath of the World War II left people emotionally broken and morally disoriented. In this accord, dominant groups sought to limit the capability, freedom, and liberal perceptions of the inferior groups. Hence, Surrealism was aimed at eradication of human perceptions and behavior that violated individual freedom of expression and imagination..[Statens Meuseum for Kunst National Gallery of Denmark, 2015]
Mass culture and Commercial Field
Surrealism tends to be particularly critical about the aspect of commercial culture. The innovation that brought about commercial, industrial growth resulted in the sprout of new and distinct methodologies of expression. Therefore, the aspect of mass culture is highly controversial in the sense that some Surrealist perceive it as the demise of the revolutionary endeavours of the group. On the other hand, commercial culture can be regarded as a plus for the revolutionary prospects of the group since it widens opportunities for expression of imaginations in a coherent and succinct manner. However, the controversies emanating from the aspect of commercial culture has resulted in multidimensional perception regarding its implications on the revolutionary prospects perpetuated by Surrealism.
Desire and Eroticism
Bearing in mind the fact that the primary goal of surrealism was to liberate humankind from the limitation that he or she set for self, serialism is particular interested in establishing the how erotic desire jeopardize the activities of the unconscious mind. In this accord, surrealist employed the use of erotic desires as a technique for reaching an individual’s subconscious of the human psyche. Moreover, the aspect of desires as elaborated by the concepts of Surrealism shed intensive light on sexuality and gender. However, the ambition creates a society that is liberal, despite the extent of political and social consequence accrued in the cultural field in this regard.[Statens Meuseum for Kunst National Gallery of Denmark, 2015.]
The fundamental of surrealism
Surrealist were fascinated by the creative process that involves the unconscious mind. Creativity emanates from an individual’s ability to invoke the unconscious mind and indulge in limitless imagination using day-to-day events as standard. The attitudes and assumption advocate for by the concept of Surrealism apply to today’s living and survival. The marvelous of surrealism is depicted in fictitious television programs and movies dominating the entertainment scene in the world today. Moreover, the immense power of imagination facilitates the culmination of authentic and captivating work. In this accord, the use of Surrealism concepts in the advertising, comedy and the general entertainment platform is inevitable.[Caroline, Blinder. 2000. Pp. 31-34.]
The prevalent and most influential part unconscious mind that constitutes the core of Surrealism is the idea of le merveilleux also known as the marvelous. The ideal alluded during the presentation of the first Surrealism Manifesto in 1924. In this accord, the marvelous was advanced to contradict and to spurs the aspect of realism. The electrifying transformative results of the marvelous are exhibited in the captivating poems that exceed the limits set by the aspect of reality. The idea of the marvelous spurred a rejuvenating and disorientating force among the surrealist that spurred them into action.
However, determination of a clear-cut distinction between fantastic and marvelous has always been a hard task to accomplish. Surrealist, however, found a way around this two aspect thus presenting a viable and clear-cut distinction between the two aspects. Fantastic is defined as the though, idea, object, or merely anything that is considered captivating but conforms to the conventional perceptions, or the concept of realism. In contrary, the marvelous defies the concept of realism that demand verisimilitude. In light of this. The aspect of the marvelous presents a definite difference between reality and imagination. The fundamental concept of the marvelous drove Melies never to believe in the solidity of an object that is physically solid, neither did he believe in the humidity of water, nor in sadness and boredom. Therefore, surrealist watching Melies’ spontaneous film fall in love with it because Melies bring diverse concepts with different principles to the disposal of the audience. In this accord, Mielies is seen as an emblem of the conceptualization of the point of view regarding cinema. The fact that surrealism implores the idea of digging deeper than the normal, and going beyond the aspects of realism that seem so obvious, spearheaded the popularity of cinemas as a popular medium of communication.[Michael, Richardson. Surrealism and Cinema. Oxford: Berg, 2006. Pp.23]
According to Walter Benjamin in his work "The Last Snapshot of the European Intelligentsia" the concept of Surrealism as a marker that designates the end o...