Surrealism

“Without poets, without artists... everything would fall apart into chaos. There would be no more seasons, no more civilizations, no more thought, no more humanity, no more life even; and impotent darkness would reign forever. Poets and artists together determine the features of their age, and the future meekly conforms to their edit.”

― Guillaume Apollinaire

Surrealism, an artistic philosophy that emerged in 1920s Paris and subsequently gained global prominence, was rooted in the exploration of unconscious thoughts. André Breton championed the significance of the "disinterested play of thought" and the "omnipotence of dreams" over reason and logic.

Early surrealists drew inspiration from Freudian psychoanalysis, believing that liberation of the mind and imagination could be achieved through methods such as automatic writing and hypnosis, leading to the revelation of profound truths.

The surrealist aesthetic has left a lasting impact on modern and contemporary English-language poets, with figures like Mina Loy, Dorothea Tanning, James Tate, John Ashbery, and Michael Palmer embodying its principles. Notable French poets who embraced early surrealist ideals include Charles Baudelaire, Arthur Rimbaud, Valentine Penrose, and Guillaume Apollinaire.

A subsequent wave of surrealist writers emerged worldwide, particularly in Latin America, exemplified by the works of poets such as Joyce Mansour, Alejandra Pizarnik, and Octavio Paz.

Surrealist techniques found expression in visual arts through the works of artists like Frida Kahlo, Salvador Dalí, Leonora Carrington, and René Magritte, as well as in the cinematic creations of Jean Cocteau and Germaine Dulac.

For those embarking on their poetry journey or facing a creative block, I recommend exploring the realm of surrealism, delving into your dreams and subconscious for further inspiration. It challenges you to interpret the surrealists' ideas as well as their subject matter.

There is no Life or Death

by Mina Loy 1882 – 1966

There is no Life or Death,

Only activity

And in the absolute

Is no declivity.

There is no Love or Lust

Only propensity

Who would possess

Is a nonentity.

There is no First or Last

Only equality

And who would rule

Joins the majority.

There is no Space or Time

Only intensity,

And tame things

Have no immensity.

This poem is in the public domain.

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