surrealism
UK: səˈrɪə.lɪ.zəm | US: səˈri.ə.lɪ.zəm
n. A 20th-century avant-garde movement in art and literature that sought to release the creative potential of the unconscious mind, often through irrational juxtapositions and dreamlike imagery.
n. The style or techniques associated with this movement, characterized by fantastical or incongruous elements.
The term "surrealism" was coined by French poet Guillaume Apollinaire in 1917 and later adopted by André Breton for the artistic movement in 1924. It combines "sur-" (from French, meaning "beyond") and "realism" (root "real," from Latin "realis," meaning "actual"). The prefix "sur-" elevates the concept of realism into the realm of the extraordinary or subconscious, reflecting the movement's goal to transcend conventional reality. The suffix "-ism" standardizes it as an artistic or philosophical doctrine.
Salvador Dalí's paintings are iconic examples of surrealism.
The film's dream sequences heavily borrow from surrealism.
Surrealism challenged traditional perceptions of art and logic.
Her poetry blends surrealism with vivid personal symbolism.
The exhibition explores the influence of surrealism on modern design.