Surrealism & The Fun We’ll Have with Nick Reading

Instructor: Nick Reading

Andre Breton defines surrealism in Le Manifesto du Surrealisme (1924) as: “Pure psychic automatism by which it is intended to express, either verbally or in writing, the true function of thought. Thought dictated in the absence of all control exerted by reason, and outside all aesthetic or moral preoccupations.”

Poetry and writing has long served as a conduit for surrealist thought and expression. This workshop will begin by tracing the roots and history of surrealist writing, leading to a discussion of the American surrealist tradition, and ending with sharing our own work. Both poetry and fiction and anything are welcome.

Lastly, we should remember that the experience should be fun. Breton goes on to explain that, “Surrealism is based on the belief in the superior reality of certain forms of association heretofore neglected, in the omnipotence of the dream, and in the disinterested play of thought.”

In a nutshell we will plan on the following:

• consider examples of surreal work (both visual & written)
• generate ideas and material for writing projects
• share our own writing with a focus on “the omnipotence of the dream”

Play we shall.