André Breton : « I believe in the future resolution of these two states – ostensibly so contradictory – of dream and reality, within a sort of absolute reality, a surreality, so to speak’; Manifestes du surréalisme [1924] (Paris: Gallimard, 1979), p. 24.


During this 'causerie' with our teacher : 

We will discuss the potential for human freedom in this movement, its representations of women (Max Ernst, Man Ray, Salvado Dalí) and will look more closely at a few key pictural and poetical masterpieces. We will conclude with a little creative writing session (15 min). After explanining what Automatic Writing is, we will try and give it a go together ! 

You will be able to write in French or in English, as you like. Every level welcome !

Le Surréalisme / Surrealism

Le surréalisme est un mouvement artistique du début du XXie siècle qui prend racine dans un autre mouvement appelé DADA, tous deux jaillissant comme une réaction saugrenue et absurde de révolte face aux horreurs de la première guerre mondiale. Ils expriment à travers la représentation d’un corps fragmenté non seulement le traumatisme de la première guerre mondiale mais aussi une volonté de libération totale de la condition humaine. Leurs quatre grands principes que nous aborderons seront les suivants : le rêve, le hasard objectif et l’écriture automatique.

Surrealism is an artistic movement from the early 20th century that has its roots in another movement called Dada, both of which emerged as a strange and absurd reaction to the horrors of World War I. They express, through the representation of a fragmented body, not only the trauma of the war but also a desire for the total liberation of the human condition. The four main principles we will discuss are as follows: dreams, objective chance, and automatic writing.

About our teacher : 

Aurélie est prof de littérature et langue française depuis 25 ans. Elle est spécialiste de poésie. Elle a enseigné 6 ans la littérature à l’université de Glasgow et deux ans la langue française à l’université de Stirling après avoir fait un doctorat aux Etats-Unis. Elle habite Glasgow depuis 10 ans où elle élève sa petite fille Joséphine (11 ans) et où elle travaille aussi comme guide touristique agréée pour l’Ecosse, ce pays dont elle est tombée éperdument amoureuse, et qui le lui rend très bien.   

Aurélie has been a French literature and language teacher for 25 years. She specializes in poetry. She taught literature for 6 years at the University of Glasgow and French language for 2 years at the University of Stirling, after completing a PhD in the United States. She has lived in Glasgow for 10 years, where she raises her daughter Joséphine (11 years old) and works as a licensed tour guide for Scotland, a country she has fallen deeply in love with, and which has returned her affection in kind.

 Thursday, 16th January
 6.00pm-7.30pm
 Alliance Française Glasgow
This conversation will be held in English
 Free for members / £3 non members

Registration is compulsory

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