2019 Year 12 IB Extended Essays

express the actual function of thought. Breton provided a complete definition for Surrealism in his first Manifesto. He writes: “SURREALISM, n. Psychic automatism in its pure state, by which one proposes to express–verbally by means of the written word, or in any other matter, the actual functioning of thought, in the absence of any control exercised by reason, exempt from any aesthetic or moral concern” (Breton, 1962, p. 26). This idea of “Psychic automatism” was the driving force of Surrealism, and one of its main distinguishing elements. It involves the suppression of the conscious mind in the creative process, giving way instead to impulse and the subconscious. This method was supposed to remove outside influences from the process of creation, and intended to allow for the full expression of subconscious thought. While a number of theatrical texts were produced this way, Auslander raises the point that it was unclear how “automatic performance” could be possible. Using a piece of Surrealist writing to create a production with no association to the movement seemed to invert the intention of the movement as "Surrealism was to be an end, not a means” (Auslander, 1980, p. 367). Breton’s early emphasis on Automatism likely contributed to his hostility towards the theatre, as it was unclear whether or not the two were at all compatible. It is interesting that despite Breton’s aversion to theatre it is where the roots of the movement were irrefutably planted. The ideas of Surrealism were first suggested with the work of Alfred Jarry and became explicit with Guillaume Apollinaire, who coined the term (Breunig, 1964). Both writers heavily influenced Breton, and are both best known for their contributions to the theatrical canon of the period. Jarry’s play Ubu Roi , staged in 1942, was one of the most important works of modern French theatre, and would shape the theatrical Avant-garde for decades to come, but what fascinated Breton more was the former’s spirit of iconoclasm and merciless satire. He was also a heavy influence on Artaud who named the Alfred Jarry Theatre in his honour. As stated earlier, Apollinaire coined the term Surrealism

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