"Surrealism does not allow those who devote themselves to it to forsake it whenever they like." ~Andre Breton

Artist, Pablo Picasso and poet, Guillaume Apollinaire coined the term "surrealism" in 1917 in the program for the ballet "Parade", a collaborative work by Jean Cocteau, Pablo Picasso, Leonide Massine, and Erik Satie. Picasso's definition of the surreal is what is referred to later as "Classical Surrealism" and in this article as the original surrealism.

"Surrealism" is an often misunderstood and misrepresented art movement that grew out of the nihilist dada movement and anti-bourgeoisie sentiment post WWI. Disillusioned by the pointlessness of war, enraged by the comforts and general complacency of those who "have" in stark contrast to the poverty and suffering of those who "have not", dada proponents such as Marcel DuChampe and his fellows sought to obliterate sentiment, reason, and art leaving only pure reality (as they saw it): an antipathetic universe in which all things are equal. Incongruous to aesthetics, therefore often companion to the grotesque, Surrealism sought to unearth the inexplicable and give the intangible form. As a metaphor, Surrealism could be the rewind-mode playing of a video-tape of a non-sequitor dressed up in a sweet little blue coat, eating pudding while dancing with a raw pork chop. Juxtapose any of those elements with any other random element, the only condition of surrealism is that its imagery not attempt to impart meaning. The observer may only deconstruct if they so choose, or marvel at their unexpected reaction to it. Surreal art was, at the very least, intended to shock the rational mind from its sleepy self-assuredness.

The definition of the surreal by Andre Breton, included the phrase "pure psychic autonomy". In other words, to act unconsciously or to arrange imagery or words without purpose or without consciously attaching any meaning. No longer satisfied with the intellectual barrenness of dada, many led by Andre Breton, embraced the original idea of surrealism and utilized it as a medium for analyzing the rational mind in conflict with the irrational reactions of the sub-conscious. Here is where the original meaning of surrealism (Classical) and this utilization of surrealism (Veristic) parted ways and became different entities.

The classical surrealists (such as Picasso) believed that imagery should be drawn up from the subconscious like water from a well but the artist should not attempt to decipher at any point before, during, or afterwards. Veristic surrealists (the most famous being Dali although later he was denounced as too commercial) used a similar technique in creation of the imagery, however, this was to the purpose of furthering understanding of the subconscious processes of the mind. All Surreal art, classical or veristic, was, at the very least, intended to shock the rational mind from its sleepy self-assuredness. The very definition of the surreal includes the words "Pure psychic automatism". In other words, to act unconsciously or to arrange imagery or words without purpose or without consciously attaching any meaning. Picasso remained steadfast in his belief that such imagery should not be deciphered and this led to the movement of Cubism. Veristic surrealism, often confused with symbolism, in my opinion, became synonymous with other types of art due to the hubris of the postmodern attitude that art is what you say it is. This deconstructing of art, however, often does not do justice to the original minds that conceived of the ideal that has since, been replicated to the point where they bear little resemblance to the original, especially if there is bias towards the new as in postmodernism.

Many who had a crucial influence in the formation of the movement were not necessarily members nor did all artists influenced by the movement automatically attach themselves. Californian Post-Surrealism, was similar to Surrealism in appearance due to the usage of biomorphic forms and a staging of objects incongruous to reality, yet it utilized a much more rational arrangement of symbolic imagery in order to communicate a preconceived idea. Post-Surrealism's imagery spoke to the irrational mind which is the inverse of original surrealism.

Is the simple construction of surreal-appearing objects and vignettes enough to qualify art as "Surrealism" today? Art critics long ago declared "Surrealism The Movement" dead at the advent of WWII in 1941 when the surrealists fled Europe for American soil. Others say it limped along for a bit but only actually died with Andre' Breton in 1966. Yet many modern "Surrealist" artists insist that it has continued on without the participation of its original members and appear to have abandoned the intention of surrealism as a conduit from the sub-conscious, freed from the biased interference of the rational mind. Unadulterated, this method is like taking a biopsy and freezing it for later analysis. Contrived, it lacks sincerity to masquerade as something that it is not. I think it is more noble and liberating for the artist or critic to call it what it is, a new thing, to earn a place among the living.

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