" Trends and Movement"

 " Trends and Movement in Literature"

Welcome to my blog, where I will talk about what I think and try to answer the questions given in this task.this blog is written as response to the given by Megha ma'am.

Introduction:

English literature marked a shift towards innovative thinking, inventions, imaginative works, and novel ideas in English literature. Writers began to form groups and adopt distinctive styles, referred to as trends or movements, fostering a dynamic and evolving literary landscape. Creative expression flourished, liberated from traditional constraints, while art and paintings played significant roles, adding further intrigue to the cultural milieu of the time.

Surrealism:

Surrealism, as an art movement in English literature, is defined by its exploration of the irrational and imaginative facets of the human mind. Artists and writers affiliated with surrealism strive to delve into the subconscious, producing works that defy conventional norms and beckon audiences to venture into the fantastical landscapes of imagination.

Defination:

Sur + Realism = Super Realism

The Surrealist movement emerged between World War 1 and World War 2, emphasizing positive expression and heavily influenced by Sigmund Freud's philosophy. Led by prominent figure André Breton, the movement manifested in visual art and literature, with the "Surrealist Manifesto" serving as its foundational work.

What is in this movement? 

This movement discusses the realm of the unconscious mind, where ideas exist only in imagination and not in reality. It highlights how painters and writers draw inspiration from this realm to create works of art, emphasizing the concept of "Free Form" expression. It suggests that through their work, they strive to capture elements of absolute reality that transcend the tangible world.

Surrealists craft both art and literature reminiscent of dreams. Their creations depict bizarre landscapes, employ unconventional hues, and narrate tales akin to fantastical journeys. Surrealism thrives on unpredictability, frequently juxtaposing incongruous elements like winged fish or clocks liquefying like cheese, showcasing their penchant for unexpected creativity.

Surrealism serves as a means to articulate emotions and concepts beyond conventional reality. Figures such as Salvador Dali, Rene Magritte, and writers like Andre Breton played pivotal roles in this movement. Their creations often transport audiences to ethereal and dreamlike worlds, as they sought to uncover the concealed facets of the human psyche.

Characteristics:

1.Dream-like imagery: Surrealist works often depict dreamlike scenes, with illogical juxtapositions of objects and figures. This can create a sense of mystery, disorientation, and wonder.

2.Unconscious exploration: Inspired by the theories of Sigmund Freud, surrealists aimed to bypass conscious control and access the unconscious mind. They believed that the unconscious held the key to unlocking creativity and understanding the human psyche.

3.Symbolism: Surrealists often used symbols to represent complex ideas, emotions, and desires. These symbols could be personal or universal, and their interpretation was often open to the viewer.

4.Juxtaposition: Surrealists frequently placed objects and figures together in unexpected and illogical ways. This technique helped to create a sense of surprise and challenge conventional thinking.

5.Automatism: This technique involved creating art without conscious control, allowing the artist's subconscious to take over. This could be done through techniques such as automatic drawing, where the artist drew spontaneously without planning or forethought.

6.Biomorphic shapes: Surrealists often used biomorphic shapes, which are organic shapes that resemble living things. These shapes could be seen as representations of the unconscious mind or the natural world.

Dada Movement :

What is Dada Movement? 

Dadaism, an artistic and literary movement characterized by deliberate irrationality and rejection of traditional values, is often deemed senseless by many. It emerged amidst World War I, with artists relocating to Switzerland around 1915-16.

Dadaism, a cultural movement that emerged in the early 20th century, sought to challenge conventional artistic and literary norms through the embrace of absurdity, irrationality, and the rejection of traditional values. Originating during World War I, particularly around 1916, Dadaists aimed to express their disillusionment with the prevailing social and political conditions of the time. Zurich, Switzerland, became a significant hub for Dadaist activities, attracting artists, writers, and intellectuals who sought to disrupt established artistic conventions. Dadaism encompassed various forms of expression, including visual arts, literature, poetry, performance, and manifestos. 

The art movement known as Dada is often associated with nihilism. Tristan Tzara, a key figure in Dadaism, proposed a method for creating Dadaist poems: by randomly selecting words from a newspaper, placing them in a bag, shaking it, and then assembling the words into a poem. Marcel Duchamp, influenced by Dadaism, famously created a masterpiece by submitting a urinal as art and signing it with the pseudonym R. Mutt.

Characteristics:

1.Iconoclastic and playful: Dada artists were fiercely anti-establishment and used humor, often dark and irreverent, to challenge prevailing cultural norms and values. They often employed satire and parody to critique the hypocrisy and absurdity they saw in society. A famous example is Marcel Duchamp's "L.H.O.O.Q." (1919), a readymade consisting of a reproduction of Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa with a mustache and goatee drawn on it. 

2.Irrational and absurd: Dada artists embraced the illogical and nonsensical in their work. They rejected traditional forms and techniques, instead favoring chance, collage, and assemblage to create works that challenged the very definition of art. Man Ray's "Gift" (1921), an iron with spikes glued to its base, is a prime example of this characteristic.

 

3.Artistic freedom: Dada artists championed artistic freedom and experimentation. They believed that anything could be art, regardless of its traditional value or aesthetics. This emphasis on freedom and individuality led to a wide variety of styles and techniques being employed within the movement.

4.Emotional reaction: Dada art was often intended to evoke a strong emotional reaction from the viewer, whether it be outrage, amusement, or confusion. Artists sought to disrupt the passive consumption of art and to force viewers to confront the challenges they presented to the established order.

5.Use of everyday objects: Dada artists often incorporated found objects and everyday materials into their work. This challenged the traditional notion of what constituted art materials and helped to blur the lines between high art and low art. One can see this in Hannah Höch's collage "Cut with a Kitchen Knife Dada Through the Last Weimar Beer Belly Cultural Epoch of Germany" (1919-1920), which is made up of clippings from newspapers and magazines

Avant garde movement:

The avant-garde, meaning "advance guard" in French, refers to artistic movements that challenge the status quo and push boundaries in various cultural fields like art, literature, music, and even architecture. Often experimental and unconventional, these movements aim to provoke thought, critique societal norms, and explore new forms of expression.

Emerging in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the avant-garde played a crucial role in shaping modern art. Some prominent examples include Cubism, which broke down objects into geometric shapes, and Surrealism, which explored the subconscious mind through dreamlike imagery. While initially met with controversy, many avant-garde works eventually gain mainstream acceptance and influence future artistic generations.

Characteristics:

1. Experimentation: They embrace experimentation with new forms, techniques, and materials to challenge established artistic conventions. This can involve unconventional use of existing materials, exploration of new media, or pushing the boundaries of traditional forms.

2. Innovation: Innovation is central to the avant-garde, as they constantly strive to break new ground and create something unique. This often involves exploring new ways of representing reality, expressing ideas, or engaging viewers.

3. Challenge to the status quo: Avant-garde movements are inherently critical of the established order, both in art and society. They aim to challenge existing norms, values, and power structures through their art, often reflecting and commenting on social or political issues.

4. Provocation: Their works are often intended to provoke thought, discussion, and even controversy. This can be achieved through shocking content, unconventional styles, or challenging messages.

5. Anti-establishment: They often have an anti-establishment stance, rejecting the traditional art world and its institutions, such as galleries and museums. They may create their own platforms or alternative spaces to showcase their work.

6. Evolving nature: The avant-garde is not a single movement but an ongoing phenomenon characterized by constant evolution and the emergence of new movements that build upon or challenge the previous ones.

Conclusion:

Surrealism embodies an adventurous journey through the imagination, where the bizarre becomes ordinary. Modernism is a whirlwind of creativity, disrupting tradition, celebrating uniqueness, and embracing boundless imagination. Post-Modernism celebrates limitless creativity, challenging established truths. Dadaism was a movement advocating self-expression, asserting that if everything could be art, then nothing could be art.

Thank you...