6.1 Automatic writing
7 min read•august 21, 2024
emerged as a revolutionary technique in early 20th-century Surrealism. It aimed to tap into the mind, challenging traditional literary conventions and exploring the irrational and dream-like aspects of human thought.
Rooted in spiritualism and influenced by Freudian psychology, automatic writing became a tool for artistic liberation. Surrealists like and pioneered its use, emphasizing and speed to bypass conscious interference and reveal hidden truths.
Origins of automatic writing
- Emerged as a revolutionary technique in the early 20th century, challenging traditional literary conventions
- Sought to tap into the unconscious mind, aligning with Surrealist goals of exploring the irrational and dream-like
- Represented a radical departure from structured, deliberate writing processes
Precursors in spiritualism
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- Rooted in 19th-century spiritualist practices, used to communicate with the dead
- Mediums claimed to channel spirits through writing, often in
- Influenced by the planchette, a heart-shaped board used in séances
- Spiritualist automatic writing often produced cryptic or nonsensical messages, later reinterpreted by Surrealists
Influence of Freudian psychology
- Drew heavily from Freud's theories of the unconscious mind
- Utilized techniques to bypass conscious thought
- Aimed to reveal hidden desires, fears, and repressed memories
- Surrealists saw automatic writing as a way to access the "true thought" beneath social conditioning
Surrealist adoption and adaptation
- André Breton and Philippe Soupault pioneered surrealist automatic writing in 1919
- Viewed as a tool for artistic and personal liberation from societal constraints
- Emphasized speed and spontaneity to prevent conscious interference
- Resulted in unexpected juxtapositions and dream-like imagery in texts
Techniques and methods
- Automatic writing challenged traditional notions of authorship and creative control
- Surrealists developed various approaches to achieve a state of ""
- These methods aimed to bypass rational thought and tap directly into the subconscious
Stream of consciousness
- Involves writing continuously without stopping to edit or censor thoughts
- Practitioners aim to capture the natural flow of ideas and associations
- Often results in non-linear, fragmented texts that mirror the mind's workings
- James Joyce's "Ulysses" incorporates elements of this technique, though not strictly automatic
Trance-like states
- Writers induce altered states of consciousness to facilitate automatic writing
- Methods include meditation, sleep deprivation, or use of mind-altering substances
- Robert Desnos famously entered trance states during Surrealist séances
- Trance writing often produced more abstract and disconnected texts than other methods
Collaborative automatic writing
- Multiple writers contribute to a single text without prior planning
- Each participant adds to the work without seeing previous contributions
- Creates unexpected narrative shifts and surreal juxtapositions
- "" by Breton and Soupault exemplifies this approach
Key practitioners
- Surrealist automatic writing was pioneered and developed by several influential figures
- Each practitioner brought unique approaches and interpretations to the technique
- Their work significantly shaped the development of Surrealism and modern literature
André Breton's experiments
- Considered the founder of Surrealism and a key proponent of automatic writing
- Co-authored "The Magnetic Fields" with Philippe Soupault in 1919
- Developed the concept of "pure psychic automatism" in the
- Breton's automatic texts often explored themes of love, revolution, and the marvelous
Philippe Soupault's contributions
- Collaborated with Breton on early automatic writing experiments
- Focused on the poetic potential of automatic writing
- Produced solo works like "The Wesleyan Grove" using automatic techniques
- Soupault's style tended to be more lyrical and less overtly political than Breton's
Robert Desnos vs Louis Aragon
- Desnos known for entering deep trance states during Surrealist séances
- Produced rapid-fire automatic poetry and drawings
- His work often featured dark, erotic imagery
- Aragon initially embraced automatic writing but later rejected it
- Moved towards more politically engaged, conscious writing
- Criticized automatic writing as potentially trivial or self-indulgent
Literary applications
- Automatic writing profoundly influenced various forms of literature
- Surrealists applied the technique to challenge conventional literary structures
- The method's impact extended beyond Surrealism, influencing later literary movements
Surrealist poetry
- Automatic writing produced poems with unexpected imagery and associations
- Often lacked traditional rhyme schemes or metrical structures
- Emphasized sound and rhythm over literal meaning
- Paul Éluard's "The Earth is Blue Like an Orange" exemplifies surrealist automatic poetry
Prose experiments
- Resulted in stream-of-consciousness narratives and fragmented storylines
- Challenged linear plot structures and character development
- André Breton's "Nadja" incorporates elements of automatic writing in its narrative
- Often blurred the lines between fiction, autobiography, and dream accounts
Automatic writing in manifestos
- Used to articulate Surrealist principles and goals
- The first Surrealist Manifesto (1924) includes passages of automatic writing
- Manifestos often combined theoretical statements with poetic, automatic sections
- Demonstrated the revolutionary potential of automatic writing in political discourse
Visual arts connection
- Automatic writing techniques inspired and influenced visual artists
- Surrealists sought to apply similar principles of spontaneity to visual mediums
- These practices led to new forms of artistic expression and collaboration
Automatic drawing
- Artists created images without conscious control or planning
- André Masson pioneered techniques in the 1920s
- Often resulted in abstract, biomorphic forms and tangled lines
- Salvador Dalí's "paranoiac-critical method" incorporated elements of automatism
Exquisite corpse technique
- Collaborative drawing game based on automatic writing principles
- Each artist contributes to a section of a drawing without seeing others' work
- Results in surreal, composite figures with unexpected juxtapositions
- Popularized by André Breton, Yves Tanguy, and Jacques Prévert
Influence on abstract expressionism
- Automatic techniques inspired post-war American artists
- Jackson Pollock's "action painting" drew from surrealist automatism
- Emphasized spontaneous gesture and subconscious expression
- Led to the development of new painting techniques (drip painting)
Philosophical implications
- Automatic writing challenged fundamental assumptions about creativity and consciousness
- Raised questions about the nature of authorship and artistic intention
- Influenced philosophical debates on free will, determinism, and the self
Unconscious vs conscious mind
- Posited the unconscious as a source of creativity and truth
- Challenged the primacy of rational thought in artistic creation
- Explored the tension between conscious control and unconscious expression
- Raised questions about the reliability of conscious perception and memory
Rejection of rational thought
- Automatic writing sought to bypass logical thinking and social conditioning
- Valued and nonsense as paths to deeper truths
- Challenged Western philosophical traditions emphasizing reason and logic
- Aligned with Dadaist rejection of bourgeois values and conventional wisdom
Exploration of chance and spontaneity
- Embraced randomness as a creative force
- Questioned the role of intention in art and literature
- Anticipated later philosophical interest in chaos theory and emergent systems
- Influenced the development of aleatory music and chance-based art (John Cage)
Critical reception
- Automatic writing elicited diverse reactions from critics, artists, and the public
- Opinions varied widely, from enthusiastic embrace to skepticism and dismissal
- The technique's reception evolved over time, reflecting changing cultural attitudes
Contemporary reactions
- Initially met with shock and controversy in literary circles
- Some critics dismissed automatic texts as nonsensical or meaningless
- artists and writers embraced the technique as revolutionary
- Public reactions ranged from fascination to ridicule
Later scholarly analysis
- Academic interest in automatic writing grew in the mid-20th century
- Psychoanalytic critics explored its relationship to
- Literary scholars debated its impact on narrative structure and poetics
- Cultural historians examined its role in avant-garde movements
Influence on postmodern literature
- Automatic writing techniques informed postmodern approaches to text
- Influenced the development of cut-up technique (William S. Burroughs)
- Contributed to the breakdown of traditional narrative structures
- Inspired experimental forms like hypertext and interactive fiction
Legacy and modern applications
- Automatic writing's influence extends beyond its Surrealist origins
- The technique has been adapted and reinterpreted in various contexts
- Contemporary applications range from artistic practices to therapeutic tools
Beat generation influence
- Beat writers like Jack Kerouac adopted elements of automatic writing
- Kerouac's "spontaneous prose" method drew from surrealist automatism
- Allen Ginsberg's "first thought, best thought" approach echoed automatic principles
- Beat poetry often incorporated stream-of-consciousness and spontaneous elements
Digital age adaptations
- Computer programs simulate automatic writing processes
- Online collaborative writing platforms enable digital exquisite corpse experiments
- Social media platforms (Twitter) encourage rapid, unfiltered text production
- AI language models (GPT-3) raise new questions about authorship and automatism
Therapeutic uses
- Automatic writing adapted for psychological and spiritual practices
- Used in art therapy to access subconscious thoughts and emotions
- Some New Age practices employ automatic writing for self-discovery
- Mindfulness and meditation techniques incorporate elements of automatism
Limitations and criticisms
- Despite its influence, automatic writing faced significant challenges and critiques
- Debates about its validity and value continue in artistic and academic circles
- Critics raised concerns about the technique's limitations and potential drawbacks
Authenticity debates
- Questions arose about the truly "automatic" nature of the writing
- Critics argued that conscious control always plays some role in the process
- Some practitioners admitted to editing or selecting from automatic texts
- Debates over the role of skill and intention in producing meaningful automatic writing
Artistic merit controversies
- Some critics dismissed automatic texts as lacking coherence or depth
- Questions about the value of texts produced without conscious craft or intention
- Debates over whether automatic writing could produce "true" art or literature
- Concerns that the technique might lead to self-indulgence or artistic stagnation
Scientific skepticism
- Lack of empirical evidence for claims about accessing the unconscious
- Psychological studies questioned the reliability of automatic writing
- Neuroscientific research challenges some assumptions about consciousness and creativity
- Debates over the relationship between automatic writing and genuine insight or self-knowledge
Key Terms to Review (26)
André Breton: André Breton was a French poet and writer, best known as the founder of Surrealism and a key figure in the Dada movement. He sought to explore the unconscious mind and promote new artistic expressions that defied traditional aesthetics, ultimately transitioning from the Dada anti-art approach to a more structured Surrealist ideology.
Anti-art: Anti-art is a movement that challenges and subverts traditional definitions and conventions of art, promoting the idea that anything can be considered art, particularly if it provokes thought or reaction. This concept emerged prominently in the early 20th century, especially during World War I, as artists sought to reject established norms and critique societal values through absurdity, irrationality, and playful disobedience.
Automatic Drawing: Automatic drawing is a technique used by artists to create images without conscious thought or control, allowing the subconscious mind to express itself freely on the canvas. This method was intended to bypass traditional artistic skills and logic, tapping into deeper emotions and the irrational aspects of human experience, often reflecting Surrealist principles and practices.
Automatic writing: Automatic writing is a technique in which a person writes without conscious thought, allowing their subconscious mind to express itself freely. This practice was crucial for Surrealist artists and writers who sought to bypass rationality and access deeper layers of creativity, connecting to the realms of the unconscious and dreams.
Avant-garde: Avant-garde refers to innovative, experimental, and radical ideas and works in art, culture, and society that challenge the norms and conventions of the time. This term is often associated with movements that seek to push boundaries and explore new forms of expression, reflecting a desire for change and progress.
Collaborative automatic writing: Collaborative automatic writing is a technique where multiple individuals participate in a spontaneous and unfiltered writing process, allowing their subconscious thoughts to flow freely onto the page. This practice encourages a collective exploration of creativity, breaking down individual barriers and tapping into a shared imaginative space. It often reflects the principles of Surrealism, aiming to uncover hidden emotions and thoughts through a group effort.
Cultural Revolution: The Cultural Revolution was a sociopolitical movement in China from 1966 to 1976 initiated by Mao Zedong, aiming to preserve communist ideology by purging remnants of capitalist and traditional elements from Chinese society. It sought to enforce socialism by removing perceived bourgeois influences and fostering a culture aligned with revolutionary values, resulting in significant social, political, and economic upheaval.
Dada Manifesto: The Dada Manifesto is a foundational text that outlines the principles and beliefs of the Dada movement, which emerged in the early 20th century as a response to the horrors of World War I. It served as a rallying cry for artists and intellectuals who sought to challenge conventional art, embrace absurdity, and reject the rationalism that led to war.
Dream imagery: Dream imagery refers to the vivid, often surreal mental images and scenes experienced during dreams, which evoke emotional responses and challenge the boundaries of reality. This concept is central to the Surrealist movement, influencing artists and writers to explore the unconscious mind and embrace the irrational as a way to access deeper truths.
Exquisite corpse technique: The exquisite corpse technique is a collaborative art method that involves multiple participants contributing to a single artwork, often without knowledge of each other's contributions. This method was popularized by Surrealists as a way to tap into the subconscious and create unexpected juxtapositions. It reflects the spontaneity and randomness central to Surrealism and Automatic Writing, allowing artists to explore the intersection of collective creativity and individual expression.
First International Dada Fair: The First International Dada Fair was held in Berlin in 1920 and is regarded as one of the most significant events in the Dada movement, showcasing various works from prominent Dada artists. This fair represented a collective effort to challenge conventional art standards and highlighted the diverse expressions within the Dada movement across different cities like Zurich and Berlin.
Free association: Free association is a psychological technique where individuals are encouraged to express their thoughts and feelings without censorship or restraint. This method aims to uncover the deeper layers of the mind, revealing hidden connections and unconscious material, which can relate to various aspects of human experience, such as creativity, dreams, and therapeutic processes.
Freudian Theory: Freudian theory is a foundational psychological framework developed by Sigmund Freud, focusing on the influence of the unconscious mind on human behavior. This theory emphasizes concepts such as repressed desires, childhood experiences, and dream analysis, which are crucial to understanding the motivations behind artistic expression and creativity, particularly in movements like Surrealism and Dada.
Irrationality: Irrationality refers to the state of being illogical or lacking reason, often embraced in art and literature to express the subconscious mind's chaotic nature. It became a central theme in various movements that sought to challenge traditional norms and conventions, highlighting the absurd and the illogical aspects of human experience.
Philippe Soupault: Philippe Soupault was a French poet, novelist, and a key figure in the Surrealist movement, known for his role in developing automatic writing techniques alongside André Breton. His contributions to surrealism emphasized the exploration of the subconscious mind and the intersection of dreams and reality, making him integral to the formation of surrealist literature and philosophy.
Prose experiments: Prose experiments refer to innovative and unconventional approaches to writing that challenge traditional narrative structures and forms. These experiments often play with language, structure, and meaning, blurring the lines between fiction and reality. In this context, they are crucial for expressing surrealist ideas and Dadaist principles, allowing writers to explore the subconscious and critique societal norms.
Pure psychic automatism: Pure psychic automatism is a technique in art and literature that aims to express the unconscious mind by allowing thoughts and images to flow freely without rational control or censorship. This practice is intended to tap into deeper emotions and surreal experiences, breaking away from conventional forms and styles. It is closely related to automatic writing, literary works that embody this principle, and the psychological method of free association.
Spontaneity: Spontaneity refers to the concept of acting or creating without premeditation, relying on instinct and intuition rather than conscious thought. This idea emphasizes the importance of immediate and impulsive expression, which resonates deeply within various artistic movements, encouraging artists to tap into their subconscious mind and raw emotions. It challenges traditional artistic norms and conventions, pushing for a more genuine and unfiltered form of creativity.
Stream of consciousness: Stream of consciousness is a narrative technique that attempts to capture the continuous flow of thoughts, feelings, and sensory experiences within a character's mind. This style reflects the inner workings of the psyche, revealing how thoughts are often fragmented and non-linear, resembling a natural thought process rather than a structured narrative. It connects closely to concepts like automatism, which emphasizes spontaneity, as well as the unconscious mind and free association, exploring how these elements influence both literature and film today.
Surrealist exhibition of 1938: The surrealist exhibition of 1938 was a significant event in the history of Surrealism, showcasing a diverse array of artworks that explored the subconscious mind and dream imagery. This exhibition highlighted the movement's emphasis on automatic writing and free association, allowing artists to express their innermost thoughts without the constraints of rational thought. It also featured innovative photography that captured the essence of surrealism and served as a platform for political expression amidst a turbulent historical context.
Surrealist Manifesto: The Surrealist Manifesto is a foundational text for the Surrealist movement, written by André Breton in 1924, which outlines the principles and goals of Surrealism as a means to unlock the unconscious mind and explore dreams. This manifesto serves as a reaction to the rationalism that dominated art and culture after World War I, advocating for a new artistic expression that embraced irrationality and the unexpected.
Surrealist poetry: Surrealist poetry is a literary form that seeks to unleash the imagination by transcending the constraints of rational thought and exploring the realms of dreams, the unconscious, and unexpected juxtapositions. This type of poetry often incorporates techniques such as automatic writing, allowing poets to tap into their subconscious without censorship, leading to vivid and often illogical imagery. The aim is to break free from traditional narrative structures, enabling a deeper exploration of the human psyche.
The magnetic fields: The magnetic fields refer to the invisible forces that influence the creative process by drawing together disparate ideas and images in a unique way. This concept aligns with various artistic techniques that aim to tap into the unconscious mind, allowing for spontaneous expression and the exploration of deeper psychological states.
Trance-like states: Trance-like states refer to altered states of consciousness where individuals experience a shift in awareness, often characterized by diminished sensory perception and heightened suggestibility. These states can be induced through various techniques such as meditation, hypnosis, or automatic writing, allowing individuals to access deeper layers of creativity and subconscious thought.
Unconscious: The unconscious refers to the part of the mind that houses thoughts, memories, and desires that are not currently in conscious awareness but can influence behavior and emotions. It plays a crucial role in creative expression, allowing artists and writers to tap into deeper layers of their psyche to convey complex ideas and feelings.
World War I: World War I was a global conflict that lasted from 1914 to 1918, involving many of the world's great powers and resulting in significant political, cultural, and social changes. The war set the stage for radical movements like Dada and Surrealism, as artists and intellectuals reacted to the trauma and disillusionment brought about by the unprecedented violence and destruction.