This post is related to film studies. But media studies students should also check out the cool, weird, surreal films linked below! Remember the more you watch, the better you become at the subject!
Surrealism is is an art movement that demonstrates at least some of the following qualities:
- Demonstrates the logic of dreams
- Uses the unconscious mind
- Breaks the rules of 'conscious logic'
- Breaking down the boundaries of space and time
- Reflects deep and hidden desires
- Themes of fetishism and repressed sexuality
Surrealism isn't 'weird for the sake of being weird'. In fact, early surrealists thought the movement could be used to challenge ways of thinking and to even change the world around us! Surrealism is often playful and exciting. yet it is also often genuinely nightmarish, using disturbing images that seemingly do not make sense. Surrealism originated in France, but the aesthetic became particularly popular in Eastern Europe and Japan.
The following clips, trailers, and short films are all SURREAL. They all use film language to reflect the above characteristics. There is such thing as a 'surreal aesthetic', even though these films are very different, there are many similarities in this aesthetic!
Task - watch at least four of the following clips. Please note that some clips contain disturbing images. For each clip, write notes on how these clips use micro elements (film language) to construct a surrealist aesthetic. Please use the bullet point list above to help you. In short, how do these films break the logic of waking life?
All these films and directors are some of my very favourites! I hope you enjoy them!
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