Surrealism

The surrealism movement influenced literature, painting, and photography in the 1920s and 1930s. It has had a unique effect on graphic design. Graphic design is often on a grid setting limits on what can be done. Surrealism artwork is considered to be haphazard and unpredictable, and it developed out of Dada during World War I. It was the way people tried to escape the harshness of reality, and this artwork was meant to be dream like creating new possibilities in life. The painting below is by Giorgio De Chirico, who had a huge influence on the Surrealist movement. This is called “The Philosopher’s Conquest” and was produced in late 1913 to early 1914. It shows how he started to embrace “implausible juxtaposition.” There are many different questions about the sizes of things in this painting. One first notices the artichokes, and then the cannon, the clock, and the train. People question the size of the train versus how big the columns are behind it.

Alice in Wonderland

Surrealism is even found throughout today’s society. ‘Alice in Wonderland’, as the film and book, is a good example of modern Surrealism. It has playing cards and white rabbits, which exist in real life; however, they defy normal logic through their roles in this story (McAra). The Queen of Hearts, after Alice falls down the rabbit hole, orders Alice’s head to be chopped off.  It is interesting that a playing card assumes such power and the decision appears random (McAra).

Surreality is not a state of solid reality; it is the state between reality and fantasy. Surrealism is an art movement, while surreality is a sphere of potentiality. If anyone has ever seen The Colbert Report, a good example is Steven Colbert’s segment “The Word” (Kaletzky) He takes a single world that means one thing and flips it to mean something else with satirical commentary on the new meaning written under it. Each time he uses the words unspoken meaning, he gives the audience a broader perspective, and uses a different voice to convey.

"The Word", The Colbert Report

 Many musical artists also convey surrealist ideas including Alice Cooper, Pink Floyd, and Lady Gaga. Lady Gaga is a very famous musician who is known for having a theatrical experience as part of her interaction with the audience. Lady Gaga says in many interviews that the stage is a celebration of what is rejected in society (Gray). The stage is considered to be her wonderland. She has the courage to freely express herself, and is a nonconformist. Being a nonconformist makes the creativeness become an unconscious reality since it is everything in society with a twist. Her concerts become a representation of what people want to do with their own lives, which is to be themselves with courage (Gray).

Lady Gaga's set, Pittsburgh 2011      

   As seen above, Lady Gaga uses art created for her by artists. This is an example of what she used in her show in Pittsburgh in 2011, and is referred to as “the fame monster.” It is a twist between reality and fantasy. This is the monster that represents the hardships that result because of the influence of fame on individuals. Her sets are reality with a twist, making them something people want to relate to.

Surrealism encompasses the dreamlike state or the unconscious that was used originally to escape from the reality of World War I. Today,  people still go to these movies, concerts, and even to museums to escape. The Surrealism movement has been an influence on art throughout the times.

Citations:

Gray, Richard J. "Join Academia.edu & Share Your Research with the World."Surrealism, the Theatre of Cruelty, and Lady Gaga. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Feb. 2014. <http://www.academia.edu/1995056/Surrealism_the_Theatre_of_Cruelty_and_Lady_Gaga>.

KALETZKY, MARIANNE F. "All Eyes on Surrealism." The Harvard Crimson, n.d. Web. 23 Feb. 2014. <http://www.thecrimson.com/article/2006/11/2/all-eyes-on-surrealism-i-want/>.

McAra, Catriona. Surrealism’s Curiosity: Lewis Carroll and the Femme-Enfant. Papers of Surrealism, 2011. Issue 9. Web. 23 Feb. 2014.