4.1 Surrealism and automatic writing in urban contexts
5 min read•august 15, 2024
Surrealism and automatic writing shake up how we see cities. By tapping into our unconscious minds, these techniques reveal hidden aspects of urban life and our emotional connections to spaces.
Psychogeographers use Surrealist methods to explore cities in new ways. Random walks, stream-of-consciousness writing, and chance-based decision-making uncover surprising insights about our relationship with urban environments.
Surrealism and Psychogeography
Origins and Principles of Surrealism
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Surrealism emerged as an avant-garde movement in the early 20th century emphasized importance of unconscious mind and rejected rational thought
's (1924) established foundational principles of Surrealism included automatic writing and exploration of dreams
Surrealist techniques aimed to disrupt conventional perceptions of reality and reveal hidden aspects of psyche
Juxtaposition combined unrelated elements to create new meanings
Defamiliarization made familiar objects or scenes appear strange or unfamiliar
Concept of "" in Surrealism aligned with psychogeographic practices of random urban exploration and discovery of unexpected connections
Surrealist Influence on Psychogeography
Surrealist maps demonstrated early attempts to reimagine geographic space based on subjective experience
"Map of the World in the Time of the Surrealists" (1929) distorted global geography to reflect cultural biases and imaginative associations
Surrealist practice of influenced development of psychogeography
Emphasized unplanned journeys and emotional responses to urban environments
Encouraged wandering without predetermined destinations or routes
Surrealist artists and writers contributed to early psychogeographic literature
Louis Aragon's "Paris Peasant" explored hidden aspects of Parisian urban life
André Breton's "Nadja" combined autobiography and urban exploration to create a psychogeographic narrative
Automatic Writing in Urban Spaces
Techniques for Urban Automatic Writing
Automatic writing involves writing without conscious thought or editing to access unconscious mind
Urban automatic writing adapts technique to create stream-of-consciousness narratives of city experiences
Reveals hidden perceptions and associations related to urban environment
Practices for urban automatic writing include:
Walking through city spaces while simultaneously recording thoughts, observations, and sensations without self-censorship
Timed writing exercises in specific urban locations
Sensory deprivation methods to heighten awareness of urban stimuli
Use of prompts based on encountered urban elements (architecture, signage, sounds)
Integration of visual elements with automatic writing creates multimedia psychogeographic documents
Incorporation of found objects from urban environment
Combination of photographs with written text
Applications and Analysis of Urban Automatic Writing
Collaborative automatic writing exercises in urban spaces reveal shared and divergent perceptions of city among participants
Group walks followed by collective writing sessions
Comparison of individual automatic texts generated in same urban location
Analysis of urban automatic writing texts provides insights into psychological impact of specific urban environments
Identification of recurring themes or imagery related to particular spaces
Examination of emotional responses to architectural features
Urban automatic writing used to:
Document personal experiences of gentrification or urban change
Explore psychological effects of different urban transportation modes
Investigate relationship between urban soundscapes and mental states
Unconscious Mind and Urban Experience
Urban Unconscious and Psychological Responses
Unconscious mind plays crucial role in shaping perceptions and experiences of urban environments
Freudian concept of unconscious as repository of repressed thoughts and desires
Jungian idea of collective unconscious applied to shared urban experiences
Urban spaces trigger unconscious associations, memories, and emotions
Influence behavior and psychological states in ways not immediately apparent
Concept of "" suggests cities possess collective psyche shaped by historical, cultural, and social forces
Manifests in urban legends, collective memories, and shared emotional responses to city spaces
Architectural forms and urban design elements evoke unconscious responses
Skyscrapers may induce feelings of awe or insignificance
Narrow alleyways potentially trigger claustrophobia or curiosity
Historic buildings often evoke nostalgia or sense of continuity
Psychogeographic Exploration of Urban Unconscious
Phenomenon of "" describes experience of familiar city spaces becoming strange or unsettling
Reveals repressed aspects of urban unconscious
Examples include abandoned buildings, empty streets at night, or sudden changes in neighborhood character
Psychogeographic practices aim to access and explore unconscious dimensions of urban experience
Dérive technique encourages wandering to uncover hidden aspects of city
Mental mapping exercises reveal subjective perceptions of urban space
Analysis of dreams and free associations related to urban spaces provides insights into unconscious relationship between individuals and city environments
Dream journals focused on urban settings
Free association exercises triggered by urban photographs or sounds
Chance and Randomness in Psychogeography
Incorporating Chance in Urban Exploration
Surrealist concept of "objective chance" emphasizes significance of seemingly random encounters and coincidences
Reveals deeper truths about urban environment and personal psyche
Psychogeographic practices incorporate elements of chance through:
Unplanned routes determined by coin flips or dice rolls
Random selection of destinations from city maps or guidebooks
Use of chance-based decision-making tools (random number generators, card draws)
and other divinatory systems adapted by psychogeographers as methods for introducing randomness
Hexagrams used to determine walking directions or points of focus
Tarot cards employed to guide urban explorations or interpret encountered spaces
, developed by John Cage and others, applied to psychogeographic practices
Use of randomized instructions or scores for urban performances
Creation of chance-based collages or maps from found urban materials
Analysis and Implications of Chance-Based Psychogeography
Analysis of patterns emerging from chance-based explorations reveals hidden structures in urban environments
Identification of recurring themes or locations despite random selection
Discovery of unexpected connections between disparate urban spaces
Tension between intentionality and randomness in Surrealist-inspired works reflects broader questions about urban experience
Explores boundaries between planned and spontaneous urban interactions
Challenges notion of free will in navigating predetermined city structures
Role of technology in introducing elements of chance into contemporary psychogeographic practices
Augmented reality games (Pokémon Go) introduce chance encounters in urban space
Social media algorithms suggest unexpected urban destinations or events
Key Terms to Review (23)
André Breton: André Breton was a French writer and poet, best known as the founder of Surrealism, a movement that sought to unlock the creative potential of the unconscious mind. His work emphasized the importance of dreams, free association, and automatic writing, all of which were intended to reveal deeper psychological truths. Breton's influence extended beyond literature into visual arts and urban exploration, particularly through the lens of Surrealism in urban contexts.
Automatism: Automatism refers to a technique used primarily in art and literature, where the creator allows their subconscious mind to guide the creation process without conscious control or rational thought. This approach is often associated with the Surrealist movement, aiming to unlock the deeper layers of the psyche and tap into raw emotion, spontaneity, and creativity. In urban contexts, automatism can manifest through spontaneous writings or actions influenced by the surroundings, reflecting the fluid relationship between individuals and their environment.
Chance operations: Chance operations refer to artistic methods that embrace randomness and unpredictability in the creative process. By allowing elements of chance to influence outcomes, artists can produce works that reflect spontaneity and serendipity. This approach aligns with broader themes of automatism, where subconscious impulses guide creation, and challenges traditional notions of authorship and intention in art.
Collage: Collage is an artistic technique that involves assembling various materials such as photographs, paper, fabric, and other objects onto a single surface to create a new, unified artwork. This method allows artists to blend different elements and perspectives, reflecting complex emotional and subjective experiences related to space and environment.
Dadaism: Dadaism was an avant-garde art movement that emerged in the early 20th century as a reaction to the horrors of World War I. It challenged conventional aesthetics and cultural norms by embracing absurdity, spontaneity, and anti-art sentiments, often utilizing collage, ready-made objects, and performance. This movement's influence can be seen in various forms of artistic expression, including surrealism, performance art, and urban narratives.
Dérive: Dérive is a concept that refers to a spontaneous and unplanned journey through an urban environment, where individuals let themselves be guided by their surroundings, emotions, and experiences rather than following a specific destination. This practice emphasizes the exploration of the psychological and emotional dimensions of space, connecting deeply to ideas of urban experience, art, and human interaction with environments.
Dislocation: Dislocation refers to the sense of being out of place or disconnected from one's surroundings, often leading to feelings of alienation or displacement. In the context of urban environments, dislocation can manifest through physical, emotional, or social experiences that disrupt a person's connection to their environment, influencing how they perceive and interact with the cityscape. This concept is crucial for understanding how individuals navigate and relate to the spaces they inhabit, especially within the framework of artistic expression and surrealism.
Exposition internationale du surréalisme: The exposition internationale du surréalisme was an art exhibition held in Paris in 1938 that showcased the works of surrealist artists, emphasizing the movement's commitment to exploring the unconscious mind, dreams, and the bizarre. This event highlighted the significance of surrealism in the cultural landscape of the time and its connection to urban life, where everyday experiences were transformed into extraordinary narratives through automatic writing and other surrealist techniques.
Flâneur: A flâneur is an urban explorer or a detached observer of city life, often seen strolling through the streets, taking in the sights and sounds of the environment without a specific purpose. This concept highlights the relationship between individuals and their urban surroundings, capturing the essence of wandering and experiencing the city in a leisurely manner.
Frottage: Frottage is a technique that involves creating textures and patterns by rubbing a surface, typically using paper and a drawing medium, over an uneven surface. This method embraces the idea of automatic creation, where the resulting images are often spontaneous and abstract, linking to the broader surrealist practice of tapping into the unconscious mind. Frottage allows artists to interact with their urban environment in unique ways, capturing the essence of places through tactile impressions.
I Ching: The I Ching, or Book of Changes, is an ancient Chinese divination text that provides guidance on decision-making and understanding the natural flow of life. It consists of a collection of hexagrams, which are symbols made up of six broken or unbroken lines, each representing different states of change and circumstances. The I Ching's principles have influenced various fields including philosophy, art, and psychology, making it a rich resource for interpreting the complexities of existence.
Marcel Duchamp: Marcel Duchamp was a French-American artist known for his influential role in the development of modern art, particularly through his involvement with Dada and Surrealism. His work challenged traditional notions of art by introducing concepts like readymades and the use of chance in artistic creation, which connected deeply to themes of automatic writing and urban experiences that define surrealism.
Modernism: Modernism is a cultural movement that emerged in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, characterized by a deliberate break from traditional forms of art, literature, and architecture. It emphasizes new ideas, experimentation, and a focus on modern life, often reflecting the complexities and anxieties of urban existence. This movement connects closely to various artistic expressions that challenge conventions and explore the psychological landscape of individuals navigating rapidly changing environments.
Non-place: Non-place refers to spaces that are transitory and lack a specific identity or emotional connection, often characterized by their functional nature rather than a sense of belonging. These spaces, such as airports, shopping malls, and highways, serve a purpose but do not foster personal or communal attachment. Understanding non-places helps to highlight the emotional and subjective experiences individuals have in urban environments.
Objective chance: Objective chance refers to the probability of an event occurring based on the principles of randomness and statistical laws, independent of personal beliefs or subjective experiences. It is a key concept in understanding how elements of chance operate within creative processes, especially in urban settings where randomness can influence artistic expression and automatic writing.
Paris in the 1920s: Paris in the 1920s was a vibrant cultural and artistic hub, known for its blossoming avant-garde movements, particularly Surrealism. This period saw artists, writers, and intellectuals congregating in the city, exploring new ideas and forms of expression that challenged traditional norms. The city's cafes, galleries, and streets served as crucial backdrops for the development of innovative artistic practices like automatic writing, which sought to tap into the subconscious and reflect the chaotic urban experience.
Psychic Automatism: Psychic automatism is a concept that refers to the automatic and spontaneous expression of the subconscious mind, often through techniques such as free association or automatic writing. This idea is central to Surrealism, as it emphasizes the importance of tapping into the unconscious to create art that reflects deeper psychological truths. In urban contexts, psychic automatism serves as a means to explore the relationships between individuals and their environments, revealing hidden emotions and thoughts influenced by urban life.
Psychogeographic mapping: Psychogeographic mapping is a method that combines psychological and geographic elements to illustrate how emotional experiences, memories, and perceptions interact with urban spaces. This mapping technique allows individuals to represent their personal feelings and subjective experiences of places, making the invisible aspects of space more visible.
Surrealist Manifesto: The Surrealist Manifesto is a foundational text written by André Breton in 1924 that articulates the principles and goals of the Surrealist movement, aiming to unleash the unconscious mind and explore the realms of dreams and irrationality. It emphasizes the importance of automatic writing and the role of spontaneity in artistic expression, encouraging artists to break free from the constraints of rational thought and societal norms, particularly in urban environments.
Surrealist movement: The surrealist movement was an artistic and literary movement that emerged in the early 20th century, aiming to unleash the unconscious mind and challenge conventional perceptions of reality. This movement sought to combine elements of surprise, unexpected juxtapositions, and dreamlike scenes to create a new way of understanding the world. Surrealism often utilized techniques such as automatic writing, allowing artists and writers to bypass rational thought and tap into deeper psychological layers.
Urban Landscape: Urban landscape refers to the physical environment and spaces within a city or town, encompassing the built structures, natural elements, and the social dynamics that characterize urban life. It shapes how individuals experience and interact with their surroundings, influencing everything from artistic expression to the perception of place.
Urban uncanny: The urban uncanny refers to a sense of disorientation, eeriness, or strangeness that can arise within the city landscape, evoking feelings of the familiar becoming unfamiliar. This phenomenon often emerges in urban environments where unexpected elements disrupt our perception of normalcy, creating an unsettling yet intriguing atmosphere. The urban uncanny can challenge our understanding of space and reality, inviting deeper reflections on how we interact with our surroundings.
Urban Unconscious: The urban unconscious refers to the hidden layers of social, psychological, and cultural meanings that inform the experiences of individuals in urban environments. This concept suggests that cities are not just physical spaces but also contain a collective consciousness shaped by historical events, personal memories, and the interactions between people and their surroundings. The urban unconscious influences how individuals navigate and interpret their urban landscape, revealing deeper insights into their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors within city life.