Recensies

Review: Surreal Lives

Redactionele recensie - Kirkus Reviews

Brandon (The Life and Many Deaths of Harry Houdini, 1994, etc.), a prominent biographer and fiction writer, explores the aesthetics, politics, and psychology of Surrealism by unraveling the complex personal histories of the movement's key players. Among multiple sources of Surrealism, Brandon highlights two: Marxism and Freudianism. Born of the turmoil of WWI and christened by Apollinaire, this revolutionary artistic trend advocated anarchy, sided with the political left during the interwar period, and aspired to produce an iconoclastic "anti-art." A creative use of dreams, delving into the subconscious, and a preoccupation with sex, death, and excrement complemented the Surrealists' political radicalism. Although nowadays we associate Surrealism primarily with visual art, literary figures like the autocratic AndrÇ Breton headed the movement at its inception. Transgression of boundaries between different artistic media was quite common, and many artists also wrote poetry or prose. After the shock induced by Bu§uel's films, cinematography advanced as the most immediate Surrealist format. Brandon systematically points out the eccentricities that shaped Surrealists' lives and, consequently, their creative process. Despising conventional moral and family values and considering procreation "sloppy" at best, many Surrealists were involved in mÇnages Ö trois, bisexual relations, and unscrupulous leeching off rich American lovers. On the other hand, Elsa Triolet and Gala Eluard successfully exploited their husbands' talents to attain the lifestyle they desired. Elsa made Louis Aragon a national icon and had him endorse her writing; the "nymphomaniacal harpy" Gala achieved fame and wealth by transforming (her second husband) Dal°'s originally subversive art into expensive commercial entertainment, compliant with the Fascist regimes in Spain and Germany. Scattering its principles by the wayside, the Surrealist movement stumbled toward its zenith, torn by internal contradictions. Rooted to a large extent in neurotic obsessions, pathological tendencies, and introspective observation, Surrealism is a rare case where insights into artists' lives facilitate interpretation of their creations. A marvelous job of using biographical material to demystify esoteric art.

Gebruikersrecensies

Review: Surreal Lives: The Surrealists 1917-1945

Gebruikersrecensie - Aaron C. Thomas - Goodreads

This is lovely. The writing can be confusing at times - numerous times I thought "who is HE in this sentence"? - but the narrative is a fascinating one. Brandon follows the trajectory of SURREALISM as ... Volledige recensie lezen

Review: Surreal Lives: The Surrealists 1917-1945

Gebruikersrecensie - Fluffy Singler - Goodreads

This is a good basic book for understanding the major players in the Surrealist movement. It is also a lively read, as any book on Surrealism should be! Volledige recensie lezen

Review: Surreal Lives: The Surrealists 1917-1945

Gebruikersrecensie - Erin - Goodreads

Good bibliography. Volledige recensie lezen

Review: Surreal Lives: The Surrealists 1917-1945

Gebruikersrecensie - Brandon - Goodreads

A book that felt like it could have easily been half the length and contained the same amount of information. Since Surrealism began as Dada the first 1/3 of the book is dedicated to that. Pages and ... Volledige recensie lezen

Review: Surreal Lives: The Surrealists 1917-1945

Gebruikersrecensie - Mark - Goodreads

Shallow, charmless recycling of familiar material. Volledige recensie lezen

Review: Surreal Lives: The Surrealists 1917-1945

Gebruikersrecensie - Gillian - Goodreads

a good gossipy read, with some solid insights and good historical context. Volledige recensie lezen

Review: Surreal Lives: The Surrealists 1917-1945

Gebruikersrecensie - Eric - Goodreads

A good overview of surrealism's beginning, its schisms, and development in Paris, Zurich and New York. No theory here, all historical, personal, with a bit of gossip thrown in. Volledige recensie lezen

Review: Surreal Lives: The Surrealists 1917-1945

Gebruikersrecensie - Matthew Conroy - Goodreads

A good historical book, describing the lives of a number of prominent Dadaists and Surrealists. Reading about their personal lives and foibles really filled them out in my mind, as well as clarifying ... Volledige recensie lezen