Manifesto of Surrealism Influenced by Sigmund Freud’s theory of the unconscious, the manifesto defined Surrealism as “psychic automatism”, a process that encouraged a freeing of the mind from rational and utilitarian values and constraints as well as moral and aesthetic judgement.

In treating patients whose disorders had no clear physical explantation, Freud concluded that these problems reflected unacceptable thoughts and feelings, hidden away in the unconscious mind. To explore this hidden part of a patient’s mind, Freud used free association and dream analysis.

Four aspects jointly determine the very essence of psychoanalytic technique: interpretation, transference analysis, technical neutrality, and countertransference analysis.

Drawing on the psychoanalytic theories of Sigmund Freud, the Surrealists sought to overthrow what they perceived as the oppressive rationalism of modern society by accessing the sur réalisme (superior reality) of the subconscious.

The Surrealists sought to channel the unconscious as a means to unlock the power of the imagination. Disdaining rationalism and literary realism, and powerfully influenced by psychoanalysis, the Surrealists believed the rational mind repressed the power of the imagination, weighing it down with taboos.

André Breton

A key characteristic of Surrealism is that the artist relies on their unconscious, but reality and the conscious combines with this state of consciousness when the unconscious finds a way to express the reality and render it into the canvases that these artists make.

In art, automatism refers to creating art without conscious thought, accessing material from the unconscious mind as part of the creative process. Max Ernst. Forest and Dove 1927.

“An art exhibition can connect forms visually, showing contrast, difference, indifference, agreement between objects. An exhibition can gather ideas together, and point to them, within and beyond the gallery. An exhibition can be be a form of knowledge production. An exhibition can be visualized research.

Dada artists felt the war called into question every aspect of a society capable of starting and then prolonging it – including its art. Their aim was to destroy traditional values in art and to create a new art to replace the old.

Unconscious: 1. Interruption of awareness of oneself and one’s surroundings, lack of the ability to notice or respond to stimuli in the environment. A person may become unconscious due to oxygen deprivation, shock, central nervous system depressants such as alcohol and drugs, or injury.

People who become unconscious don’t respond to loud sounds or shaking. They may even stop breathing or their pulse may become faint. This calls for immediate emergency attention.

The unconscious person may still feel pain as they did when they were awake. For this reason pain medication will continue to be administered but perhaps by another method such as the subcutaneous route (through a butterfly clip in the stomach, arm or leg).

Twenty-five percent of all unconscious patients can hear, understand, and emotionally respond to what is happening in their external environment. However, because of their medical condition, they are incapable of moving or communicating their awareness.

Overview

1. Check the person’s airway, breathing, and circulation.
2. If you do not think there is a spinal injury, put the person in the recovery position: Position the person lying face up. Turn the person’s face toward you.
3. Keep the person warm until emergency medical help arrives.

If a person is unconscious or has a change in mental status, follow these first aid steps: Call or tell someone to call 911. Check the person’s airway, breathing, and pulse frequently. If necessary, begin CPR.

If an unconscious casualty is left on their back, their tongue may fall back and block the airway. An unconscious casualty is still breathing and has a pulse, but may not respond to gentle shouting and stimulation.

Unconsciousness is when a person is not aware of what is going on and is not able to respond normally to things that happen to and around him or her. Fainting is a brief form of unconsciousness. Coma is a deep, prolonged state of unconsciousness. General anesthesia is a controlled period of unconsciousness.

Sleep is a unique state of consciousness; it lacks full awareness but the brain is still active. People generally follow a “biological clock” that impacts when they naturally become drowsy, when they fall asleep, and the time they naturally awaken.