So this is the place where I will likely attempt some surreal writing exercises. I can’t vouch for their quality at this point but it should be entertaining non the less, even if it means that I am embarrassing myself.
The reason for doing this is more of a mental exercise than anything else. At some point I lost the ability to think in the absurd, and a lot of my own happiness went along with it. I am not saying that this is a cure all for depression, or that I am depressed, but it is something that i enjoyed doing. And for that reason alone I should try and pick it up again.
It is possible that a dream log will develop from this as well, but honestly don’t get your hopes up. If I can actually get into the groove of doing one or two of these exercises then I would be happy. Making it a staple here would be awesome for me.
So many of you are no doubt asking yourself why surrealism, or what the fuck is a surrealist. Well Andre Breton, the guy who created surrealism and the Surrealist Movement in the 1920s after WWI defined it as this:
Dictionary: Surrealism, n. Pure psychic automatism, by which one proposes to express, either verbally, in writing, or by any other manner, the real functioning of thought. Dictation of thought in the absence of all control exercised by reason, outside of all aesthetic and moral preoccupation.
Encyclopedia: Surrealism. Philosophy. Surrealism is based on the belief in the superior reality of certain forms of previously neglected associations, in the omnipotence of dream, in the disinterested play of thought. It tends to ruin once and for all other psychic mechanisms and to substitute itself for them in solving all the principal problems of life. [Surrealist Manifesto; Breton, Andre; 1924]
Okay so to paraphrase this into something that isn’t boring; surrealists thought that Thought, when stripped of all of the societal mores and preconceptions of right and wrong, would allow us to become closer to our true selves. The surrealists of yore sought to revolutionize human society by freeing them "from what they saw as false rationality, and restrictive customs and structures. Breton proclaimed, the true aim of Surrealism is "long live the social revolution, and it alone!" To this goal, at various times surrealists aligned with communism and anarchism." [Wikipedia - Surrealism]
I am not going to go into the split that occurred within the group between Breton and Georges Bataille the novelist-philosopher-pornographer-polymath. Just know that as far as I am concerned anything goes when it comes to surrealism, basically because it is an attempt to break down your own personal boundaries and to see the world in a different light. For me surrealist thought allows me to better explore my Absurdist side.
The Exercises
There are several forms of surreal exercises that can be done either individually, which I will focus on, or with a group. The bulk of those I will list here should be possible on the site for an individual, the group ones might be slightly more difficult but could be done in the comments.
Individual Exercises
- Automatic Writing
- Cut-Ups
- Directions
- Simulation
Group Exercises
- Definitions
- The Exquisite Corpse
- Parallel Stories
Individual Exercises |
Group Exercises |
Automatic WritingThe first most obvious of these exercises will likely be automatic writing. Basically you want to put pen to paper and write as fast as you can that which falls from your brain. The point is to keep the pen moving, or in this case the keys clicking. If you do happen to find yourself at a point where you are lost simply pick a random letter that will start the next word of the next sentence and pick up again. Things can usually get pretty interesting doing this, and it always makes for a fairly enlightening and humorous read. |
DefinitionsTo play definitions, one person writes down a term onto a piece of paper and then folds it and hands to another person who then writes down a definition without reading the word. This can also be done by writing down a question, “What is a keyboard?” and then having the next person answer it without reading the questions. |
Cut-UpsCut-Ups originally started by taking print material (newspapers, magazines, etc.) and cutting out individual lines of text and images (sometimes both) and then reassembling those cut pieces into one continuous piece. Now it is seem most commonly when people make poetry or prose from the subject lines of Spam Emails. |
The Exquisite CorpseThis will require a minimum of three people to pull off correctly. Start by writing down an article and an adjective on the top of a piece of paper, for example “the giant” or “a slight”, and fold the paper so it can’t be seen. Then pass it to the left where that person writes down a noun, then folds the paper again so neither are visible and passes to the right. This continues in this manner adding a verb, another article/adverb pair, and finally a noun. The page is then unfolded and the words and phrases can be mined for story ideas,etc. |
DirectionsThis can be a really fun exercise, but also can drain you if you do it wrong. The point of Directions is to create a set of instructions for things that usually do not, or cannot, have a set of instructions (i.e. “Using the Human Heart” or “Maintaining your Sorrow”). |
Parallel StoriesThis is best played with three of more players, involves each person choosing a word that must be integrated into a brief story. If you don’t want to leave the word choice to the players, find another random way to generate them, such as pulling them from the dictionary or having someone else generate them beforehand. |
SimulationSimulation involves writing from an active mental state that is not your own. Imagine yourself in a mental state not your own – fear, anxiety, delirium (hopefully you’re not in any of these states) — and attempt to write as though you were experiencing it. Describe your room or an outing from that point of view. |
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May 18th, 2010
I came across your blog, i think your blog is interesting, keep us posting.
MurfMan
May 19th, 2010
Thanks man I appreciate it.