Date: Mon, 1 Jul 1996 14:59:19 -0700
From: biomorph-AT-ix.netcom.com (Wm. Dubin)
Subject: Re: exhibition, further thoughts


You wrote: 
>
>As part of the exhibition itself it might be appropriate to
>clarify the way Surrealism differs from various of its
>"sibling-movements", such as abstract expressionism, pop,
>Cobra, situationism, and other movements such as dada and
>post-modernism (plus all the versions of "neo-dada"). We all
>know, that many people have rather strange ideas about
>what Surrealism really is, and this might be one way of finally
>getting things right. It could be used as a kind of introduction
>to the exhibition.
>What do you think?
>
>Frank
>
Well, Frank, I have to side with Michael's answer here... it would not 
be a good idea to go to deeply into this snake pit. Now, I happen to be 
one of those "people (that) have rather strange ideas about what 
Surrealism really is".   And, while I'de LOVE to have my opinions "be 
one way of finally getting things right", I am afraid all it would end 
up doing is break things further apart.

Barrett, I and Celine were in near daily conversation reguarding this 
question, for at least a year. We each had all the best will in the 
world to make it work, and while we eventually put a tiny dent in its 
surface, we never reached anything satisfactory as a conclusion. 
Perhaps it is impossible.

Remember, EACH COUNTRY had their own ways of expressing what it was 
they thought Breton was saying, and the various things that emerged 
were all quite different, and still Breton included these under his 
umbrella.

Wm.