This course explores the principal artistic manifestations of surrealism in art, literature and cinematography, focusing on the most influential figures in the surrealism movement in Spain: Salvador Dalí, Pablo Picasso, Joan Miró, and Oscar Domínguez (painting and sculpture), Federico García Lorca (literature), and Luis Buñuel (film). The context of these artists’ works is established first with the origins of surrealism in Paris, then its rapid diffusion to other European countries.
Prerequisites:
None
Learning outcomes:
By the end of the course, students will:
• Have a strong understanding of the origins of Surrealism in Paris, its characteristics, its diffusion to other countries and its important role in the cultural context of Art History.
• Identify the main focuses of Surrealism in Europe and Spain.
• Differentiate and compare surrealist techniques as well as their importance in the present and the future of World Art History.
• Broaden their knowledge on the most frequently used surrealist iconography.
• Understand Surrealism in Spain analyzing the works of prominent Spanish artists such as Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dalí, Joan Miró, Óscar Domínguez, Federico García Lorca or Luis Buñuel, among others.
• Deepen their knowledge of Spanish art and culture beyond superficialities and clichés, acquiring proven and scientific information on surrealist art, literature and cinematography.
Method of presentation:
Lectures, readings, individual and group tasks, class discussions, and field study activity.
Required work and form of assessment:
• Mid-term exam (20%): Written exam (units I-V), it will consist of 5 questions related to topics studied in class.
• Final exam (20%): Written exam (units VI-XI), it will consist of 5 questions related to topics studied in class.
• Written paper (20%): Paper on one of the topics studied in class, length: 8 pages. The chosen topic must be approved by the instructor.
• Field study activity (20%): Visit “Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía” in Madrid. Students will be accompanied by the instructor. During the visit, students will have to participate in a series of activities which will be assessed.
• Participation (20%): (including class activities and homework assignments such as individual exercises, group tasks, summaries, commentaries, reports, Internet searching, etc.) The instructor will also value students’ positive and participatory attitude.
content:
Session 1: Introduction to course contents, instructor and students. Required reading: Surrealismo.
Session 2: Unit 1 – Origins and characteristics of Surrealism. Required reading: Surrealismo.
Session 3: Unit 1 – Characteristics and diffusion of Surrealism. Surrealism today. Text commentary. Required reading: Surrealismo.
Session 4: Unit 2 – Techniques of Surrealism. Activity: automatic writing and “exquisite corpse”. Required reading: Surrealismo.
Session 5: Unit 3 – Surrealist iconography. Unit 4 – Surrealism in Spain. Required reading: Surrealismo.
Session 6: Unit 5 – Joan Miró. Required reading: Surrealismo.
Session 7: Unit 5 – Joan Miró. Required reading: Surrealismo.
Session 8: Unit 5 – Joan Miró. Required reading: Surrealismo.
Session 9: Field study activity: visit “Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía” (Madrid). Required reading: Miró.
Session 10: Preparation for class discussion: “Cinema and Surrealism” (group activity). Required reading: Miró.
Session 11: Unit 6 – Salvador Dalí. Required reading: Miró.
Session 12: Review and questions for the mid-term exam. Required reading: Miró.
Session 14: Unit 6 – Salvador Dalí. Required reading: Miró.
Session 15: Unit 6 – Salvador Dalí. Required reading: Miró.
Session 16: Class discussion: “Cinema and Surrealism”. Required reading: Miró.
Session 17: Unit 6 – Salvador Dalí. Required reading: Miró.
Session 18: Unit 7 – Pablo Picasso. Required reading: Dalí.
Session 19: Unit 7 – Pablo Picasso. Required reading: Dalí.
Session 20: Unit 7 – Pablo Picasso. Unit 8 – Óscar Domínguez. Required reading: Dalí.
Session 21: Unit 9 – Surrealism in sculpture. Unit 10 – Surrealism in literature: Federico García Lorca. Text commentary: “Romancero Gitano”. Required reading: Dalí.
Session 22: Unit 10 – Surrealism in literature: Federico García Lorca. Text commentary: “Poeta en Nueva
York”. Required reading: Dalí.
Session 23: Unit 11 – Surrealism in cinematography: Luis Buñuel. Movie showing: “Un perro andaluz”.
Required reading: Dalí.
Session 24: Unit 11 – Surrealism in cinematography: Luis Buñuel. Movie showing: “La edad de oro”.
Required reading: Dalí.
Required readings:
Klingsöhr-Leroy, Cathrin. Surrealismo. Colonia: Editorial Taschen, 2004. Students will have to write a critical review of at least two chapters.
Mink, Janis. Miró. Colonia: Editorial Taschen, 2000. Students will have to write a critical review of at least two chapters.
Néret, Gilles. Dalí. Colonia: Editorial Taschen, 2004. Students will have to write a critical review of at least two chapters.
A set of texts provided by the instructor and commented in class.
Recommended readings:
BOONE, Daniele. Picasso. Madrid: Debate, 1993.
Buñuel, Lorca, Dalí: El enigma sin fin. Barcelona: Planeta, 1996.
Dalí: cultura de masas. Madrid: MNCARS, 2004.
DESCHARNES, Robert, and Gilles NÉRET. Salvador Dalí (1904-1989). Colonia: Benedikt Taschen, 1992.
El surrealismo en España. Madrid: Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía, 1995.
Federico García Lorca (1898-1936). Madrid: TF Editores, 1998.
GARCÍA DE CARPI, Lucía. La pintura surrealista española (1924-1936). Madrid: Ediciones Istmo, 1986.
GARCÍA DE CARPI, Lucía. Las claves del arte surrealista. Barcelona: Editorial Planeta, 1990.
Surrealism In Spain
This course explores the principal artistic manifestations of surrealism in art, literature and cinematography, focusing on the most influential figures in the surrealism movement in Spain: Salvador Dalí, Pablo Picasso, Joan Miró, and Oscar Domínguez (painting and sculpture), Federico García Lorca (literature), and Luis Buñuel (film). The context of these artists’ works is established first with the origins of surrealism in Paris, then its rapid diffusion to other European countries.
None
By the end of the course, students will:
• Have a strong understanding of the origins of Surrealism in Paris, its characteristics, its diffusion to other countries and its important role in the cultural context of Art History.
• Identify the main focuses of Surrealism in Europe and Spain.
• Differentiate and compare surrealist techniques as well as their importance in the present and the future of World Art History.
• Broaden their knowledge on the most frequently used surrealist iconography.
• Understand Surrealism in Spain analyzing the works of prominent Spanish artists such as Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dalí, Joan Miró, Óscar Domínguez, Federico García Lorca or Luis Buñuel, among others.
• Deepen their knowledge of Spanish art and culture beyond superficialities and clichés, acquiring proven and scientific information on surrealist art, literature and cinematography.
Lectures, readings, individual and group tasks, class discussions, and field study activity.
• Mid-term exam (20%): Written exam (units I-V), it will consist of 5 questions related to topics studied in class.
• Final exam (20%): Written exam (units VI-XI), it will consist of 5 questions related to topics studied in class.
• Written paper (20%): Paper on one of the topics studied in class, length: 8 pages. The chosen topic must be approved by the instructor.
• Field study activity (20%): Visit “Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía” in Madrid. Students will be accompanied by the instructor. During the visit, students will have to participate in a series of activities which will be assessed.
• Participation (20%): (including class activities and homework assignments such as individual exercises, group tasks, summaries, commentaries, reports, Internet searching, etc.) The instructor will also value students’ positive and participatory attitude.
Session 1: Introduction to course contents, instructor and students. Required reading: Surrealismo.
Session 2: Unit 1 – Origins and characteristics of Surrealism. Required reading: Surrealismo.
Session 3: Unit 1 – Characteristics and diffusion of Surrealism. Surrealism today. Text commentary. Required reading: Surrealismo.
Session 4: Unit 2 – Techniques of Surrealism. Activity: automatic writing and “exquisite corpse”. Required reading: Surrealismo.
Session 5: Unit 3 – Surrealist iconography. Unit 4 – Surrealism in Spain. Required reading: Surrealismo.
Session 6: Unit 5 – Joan Miró. Required reading: Surrealismo.
Session 7: Unit 5 – Joan Miró. Required reading: Surrealismo.
Session 8: Unit 5 – Joan Miró. Required reading: Surrealismo.
Session 9: Field study activity: visit “Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía” (Madrid). Required reading: Miró.
Session 10: Preparation for class discussion: “Cinema and Surrealism” (group activity). Required reading: Miró.
Session 11: Unit 6 – Salvador Dalí. Required reading: Miró.
Session 12: Review and questions for the mid-term exam. Required reading: Miró.
Session 13: Mid-term exam. Required reading: Miró.
Session 14: Unit 6 – Salvador Dalí. Required reading: Miró.
Session 15: Unit 6 – Salvador Dalí. Required reading: Miró.
Session 16: Class discussion: “Cinema and Surrealism”. Required reading: Miró.
Session 17: Unit 6 – Salvador Dalí. Required reading: Miró.
Session 18: Unit 7 – Pablo Picasso. Required reading: Dalí.
Session 19: Unit 7 – Pablo Picasso. Required reading: Dalí.
Session 20: Unit 7 – Pablo Picasso. Unit 8 – Óscar Domínguez. Required reading: Dalí.
Session 21: Unit 9 – Surrealism in sculpture. Unit 10 – Surrealism in literature: Federico García Lorca. Text commentary: “Romancero Gitano”. Required reading: Dalí.
Session 22: Unit 10 – Surrealism in literature: Federico García Lorca. Text commentary: “Poeta en Nueva
York”. Required reading: Dalí.
Session 23: Unit 11 – Surrealism in cinematography: Luis Buñuel. Movie showing: “Un perro andaluz”.
Required reading: Dalí.
Session 24: Unit 11 – Surrealism in cinematography: Luis Buñuel. Movie showing: “La edad de oro”.
Required reading: Dalí.
Klingsöhr-Leroy, Cathrin. Surrealismo. Colonia: Editorial Taschen, 2004. Students will have to write a critical review of at least two chapters.
Mink, Janis. Miró. Colonia: Editorial Taschen, 2000. Students will have to write a critical review of at least two chapters.
Néret, Gilles. Dalí. Colonia: Editorial Taschen, 2004. Students will have to write a critical review of at least two chapters.
A set of texts provided by the instructor and commented in class.
BOONE, Daniele. Picasso. Madrid: Debate, 1993.
Buñuel, Lorca, Dalí: El enigma sin fin. Barcelona: Planeta, 1996.
Dalí: cultura de masas. Madrid: MNCARS, 2004.
DESCHARNES, Robert, and Gilles NÉRET. Salvador Dalí (1904-1989). Colonia: Benedikt Taschen, 1992.
El surrealismo en España. Madrid: Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofía, 1995.
Federico García Lorca (1898-1936). Madrid: TF Editores, 1998.
GARCÍA DE CARPI, Lucía. La pintura surrealista española (1924-1936). Madrid: Ediciones Istmo, 1986.
GARCÍA DE CARPI, Lucía. Las claves del arte surrealista. Barcelona: Editorial Planeta, 1990.
PENROSE, Roland. Miró. Barcelona: Ediciones Destino, 1991.
PÉREZ ANDUJAR, Javier. Salvador Dalí. Madrid: Algaba Ediciones, 2003.
Poesía surrealista en España. Madrid: Ediciones del Centro, 1974.
SANTIAGO SILGUERO, Enrique. El surrealismo y el cine. Salamanca: Universidad Pontificia de Salamanca, 1999.
VVAA. Buñuel, la mirada de un siglo. Madrid: MNCARS, 1996.
VVAA. Miró. Madrid: Sarpe, 1990.
VVAA. Óscar Domínguez. Madrid: Tabapress, 1995.
WARNCKE, Carsten-Peter. Picasso. Colonia: Taschen, 1997.