surrealism

[ suh-ree-uh-liz-uhm ]

noun

, (sometimes initial capital letter)

1. a style of art and literature developed principally in the 20th century, stressing the subconscious or nonrational significance of imagery arrived at by automatism or the exploitation of chance effects, unexpected juxtapositions, etc.

surrealism

/ səˈrɪəˌlɪzəm /

noun

1. sometimes capital a movement in art and literature in the 1920s, which developed esp from dada, characterized by the evocative juxtaposition of incongruous images in order to include unconscious and dream elements

surrealism

1. A movement in art and literature that flourished in the early twentieth century. Surrealism aimed at expressing imaginative dreams and visions free from conscious rational control. Salvador Dali was an influential surrealist painter; Jean Cocteau was a master of surrealist film.

Derived Forms

• surˈrealist, nounadjective
• surˌrealˈistic, adjective
• surˌrealˈistically, adverb

Other Words From

• sur·real·ist noun adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of surrealism¹

From the French word surréalisme, dating back to 1920–25. See sur- ¹, realism

Word History and Origins

Origin of surrealism¹

C20: from French surréalisme, from sur- ¹+ réalisme realism

Example Sentences

The work of Vina Domingo, another emerging talent who grew up in the Philippines but now lives in Idaho, borders on surrealism.

From Ozy

The surrealism whisks you away, but you’re never far from the feelings and relationships that pulse through the universe you know—all while shining a radiant spotlight on a community you might not.

From The Daily Beast

They observe the move from surrealism to politically oriented work as writers and artists challenged the rise of Fascism in Europe.

From MIT Technology Review

Both genres can get away with surrealism in a way that others genres can’t.

From Time

Part of this has to do with the aforementioned surrealism that goes hand in hand with the movie’s dream-ish milieu.

From Washington Blade

I loved his blend of Native American realism with just a touch of surrealism.

From The Daily Beast

How did you develop this knack for inventing, and surrealism?

From The Daily Beast

But to sit through an entire Jodorowsky film requires an extremely high tolerance for surrealism (or maybe LSD).

From The Daily Beast

With the dekiltered surrealism Harold brought to that telling, he'd sometimes break through to what can only be called Art.

From The Daily Beast

Many say that The Great Beauty is the new Fellini, with its handsome surrealism, baroque expressions, and casual opulence.

From The Daily Beast