Historical Dictionary of Surrealism

The Surrealist Movement is an international intellectual movement that has questioned the basis of human experience under twentieth- and twenty-first century modernity since its founding in the early 1920s. It has sought to re-evaluate the foundations of modern society and reassert the primacy of the imagination, offering focused introductions to numerous writers, poets, artists, filmmakers, precursors, groups, movements, events, concepts, cultures, nations, and publications connected to surrealism. The Historical Dictionary of Surrealism, Second Edition contains a chronology, an introduction, and an extensive bibliography, with over 200 cross-referenced entries on the Surrealist Movements engagement with politics, philosophy, science, poetry, art, and cinema.

Format: Hardback
Length: 446 pages
Publication date: 10 February 2022
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield

The Surrealist Movement, a global intellectual phenomenon that has persistently challenged the foundations of human experience within twentieth- and twenty-first-century modernity since its inception in the early 1920s, has been significantly influenced by the psychoanalytical teachings of Sigmund Freud. Emerging amidst the generation that bore witness to the madness and horrors of the First World War, Surrealism was conceived as a framework for exploring the enigmatic realms of dreams and the unconscious. Within these domains, the surrealists recognized an alternative axis of human experience that deviated from the rational, mundane rhythms of modern life, revealing the extent to which individual subjectivity had been constrained by post-Enlightenment rationalism and the economic forces shaping the post-industrial world. Against these prevailing trends, the Surrealist Movement has endeavored to re-evaluate the foundations of modern society and reaffirm the primacy of the imagination for nearly a century to date. This book offers focused introductions to numerous writers, poets, artists, filmmakers, precursors, groups, movements, events, concepts, cultures, nations, and publications associated with Surrealism, providing orientation for students and casual readers alike. Historical Dictionary of Surrealism, Second Edition, includes a chronology, an introduction, and an extensive bibliography. The dictionary section features over 200 cross-referenced entries on the Surrealist Movement's engagement with politics, philosophy, science, poetry, art, and cinema, tracing the international surrealist community's diverse explorations of specific thematic territories such as magic, occultism, mythology, eroticism, and gothicism. This book serves as an invaluable resource for students and enthusiasts alike, offering a comprehensive and insightful exploration of the Surrealist Movement and its enduring impact on contemporary culture.

Weight: 1002g
Dimension: 227 x 161 x 37 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781538133422
Edition number: Second Edition