Surrealism

First off I want to give a great big congradulation to Mark for being the first to take an interest in my blog. So this one is for you Marky!

I have really enjoyed lately studying the different eras of art. I have just finished my study of the Romantic period with all its realism, impressionism, and expressionism. It is without a doubt a very thought provoking school of art. Then I began to delve into the depths that is surrealism.

Surrealism is a rejection of reality as we know it. In other words, it is an attempt to alter social reality by beginning to explore the irrational. Much of the focus during this time was on the subconscious, taking your dreams, or in many cases nightmares, and putting them unto a canvas, or in music. These people were dissilusioned with art as they had seen so far and also with humanity itself. It is interesting, I read the Manifesto of Surrealism by Andre Breton. His claim was that dreams and other nonrational mental processes were the most important ways to deal with life.

One book that is very fascinating was written by Thomas de Quincey, "Confessions of an Opium Eater." Here chaos and chance are the means to life. Design and order was rejected by Quincey and many other artists during this period.

I would say that everyone should take a look at some of the art during this time. Some of the works, including many by Salvador Dali, are very good and seem to have some sense of order, but when you get into the works during the Dada stage, anything goes. It just goes to show that as a culture when you move away from God and His principles everything becomes chaos and chance. This art really illustrates that without a form or order it all comes down to man's reason which ultimatley leads to the pointless destruction of life, property and morals.

I just viewed a movie by Ingmar Bergman, "The Silence." Very fascinating as much as it is very nihilistic. It examines the emotional isolation of a world without God. Showing again that without God this life is pointless and inane.

Well I thought it all very interesting to see how art is used to portray a very deep theological thought.

Anyway, I got to go to class, probably, have a good day all. And i will catch you later!!

IDEAL MISTRESS
I was delayed that afternoon because I had brushed the teeth of a pretty animal that I'm patiently taming. It's a chameleon. This endearing animal smoked, as usual, some cigarettes, then I left.I met her on the stairs. "I'm mauving," she told me, while I myself crystal at full sky I at her look that river towards me.Then it locks and, maîtresse! You pitcherpin so that at nice vase I sit down if the paths tombs.The staircase, always the staircase that library, and the crowds down there more abyss than the sun only clocks.Lets get back up! But in vain, memories become sardine! hardly, hardly a button doodledoos. Fall, fall down! And here the verdict: "The dancer will be executed the following morning while doing a dance step with her gems sacrificed to the heat of her body: The blood of the gems, soldiers!"And what then, the mirror yet! Mistress you black square, and if the clouds all at once forgetmenot, they mills in the ever present eternity.
Robert Desnos, translated by Johannes Beilharz