From: is0sls <S.Inman-AT-greenwich.ac.uk>
Date: Thu, 14 Apr 94 15:22:10 BST
Subject: Surrealism


In reply to Gordon Fitch's question "What do you mean by surrealism exactly?"
I do in fact refer to the Surrealist Movement and the body of ideas developed
in that milieu. I do not exclude figures who were dissident or marginal to the
membership of the movement such as Bataille, Artaud, Caillois. 
Imust take issue with the notion of it being a movement of the 20's and 30's
however. Surrealism is still active and has in recent years seen a resurgence 
in many countries, most particularly in Czechoslovakia, where it survived as
an underground movement until the "Velvet Revolution" allowed a more public
manifestation.
I can not agree with the label "surrealistic" in a general or a particular
sense. This usually means something like fantasy art. In any case, Surrealism
is not and has never been an art movement. I am happy to give some definitions
from the surrealists themselves, but that will have to wait until next week as 
I will not be at this terminal until then. I would also like to send a short text out giving some surrealist positions on art etc.

Stuart Inman

s.inman-AT-greenwich.ac.uk



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