ManifestoofSurrealism

by AndrBreton 1924 [ItisinterestingtonotethesimilaritiesthisworkshareswithTheArtofNoise,a manifestoproposinganentirelynewapproachtomusic.LMC] Sostrongisthebeliefinlife,inwhatismostfragileinlifereallife,Imeanthatinthe endthisbeliefislost.Man,thatinveteratedreamer,dailymorediscontentwithhis destiny,hastroubleassessingtheobjectshehasbeenledtouse,objectsthathis nonchalancehasbroughthisway,orthathehasearnedthroughhisownefforts,almost alwaysthroughhisownefforts,forhehasagreedtowork,atleasthehasnotrefusedto tryhisluck(orwhathecallshisluck!).Atthispointhefeelsextremelymodest:he knowswhatwomenhehashad,whatsillyaffairshehasbeeninvolvedinheis unimpressedbyhiswealthorhispoverty,inthisrespectheisstillanewbornbabeand, asfortheapprovalofhisconscience,Iconfessthathedoesverynicelywithoutit.Ifhe stillretainsacertainlucidity,allhecandoisturnbacktowardhischildhoodwhich, howeverhisguidesandmentorsmayhavebotchedit,stillstrikeshimassomehow charming.There,theabsenceofanyknownrestrictionsallowshim theperspectiveof severalliveslivedatoncethisillusionbecomesfirmlyrootedwithinhimnowheisonly interestedinthefleeting,theextremefacilityofeverything.Childrensetoffeachday withoutaworryintheworld.Everythingisnearathand,theworstmaterialconditions arefine.Thewoodsarewhiteorblack,onewillneversleep. Butitistruethatwewouldnotdareventuresofar,itisnotmerelyaquestionof distance.Threatispileduponthreat,oneyields,abandonsaportionoftheterraintobe conquered.Thisimaginationwhichknowsnoboundsishenceforthallowedtobe exercisedonlyinstrictaccordancewiththelawsofanarbitraryutilityitisincapableof assumingthisinferiorroleforverylongand,inthevicinityofthetwentiethyear, generallypreferstoabandonmantohislusterlessfate. Thoughhemaylatertrytopullhimselftogetheronoccasion,havingfeltthatheislosing byslowdegreesallreasonforliving,incapableashehasbecomeofbeingabletorise tosomeexceptionalsituationsuchaslove,hewillhardlysucceed.Thisisbecausehe henceforthbelongsbodyandsoultoanimperativepracticalnecessitywhichdemands hisconstantattention.Noneofhisgestureswillbeexpansive,noneofhisideas generousorfarreaching.Inhismindseye,eventsrealorimaginedwillbeseenonlyas theyrelatetoawelterofsimilarevents,eventsinwhichhehasnotparticipated,abortive events.WhatamIsaying:hewilljudgetheminrelationshiptooneoftheseevents whoseconsequencesaremorereassuringthantheothers.Onnoaccountwillheview themashissalvation.

Belovedimagination,whatImostlikeinyouisyourunsparingquality. Thereremainsmadness,"themadnessthatonelocksup,"asithasaptlybeen described.Thatmadnessoranother....Weallknow,infact,thattheinsaneowetheir incarcerationtoatinynumberoflegallyreprehensibleactsandthat,wereitnotfor theseactstheirfreedom(orwhatweseeastheirfreedom)wouldnotbethreatened.I amwillingtoadmitthattheyare,tosomedegree,victimsoftheirimagination,inthatit inducesthemnottopayattentiontocertainrulesoutsideofwhichthespeciesfeels threatenedwhichweareallsupposedtoknowandrespect.Buttheirprofound indifferencetothewayinwhichwejudgethem,andeventothevariouspunishments metedouttothem,allowsustosupposethattheyderiveagreatdealofcomfortand consolationfromtheirimagination,thattheyenjoytheirmadnesssufficientlytoendure thethoughtthatitsvaliditydoesnotextendbeyondthemselves.And,indeed, hallucinations,illusions,etc.,arenotasourceoftriflingpleasure.Thebestcontrolled sensualitypartakesofit,andIknowthattherearemanyeveningswhenIwouldgladly thatprettyhandwhich,duringthelastpagesofTainesLIntelligence,indulgesinsome curiousmisdeeds.Icouldspendmywholelifepryingloosethesecretsoftheinsane. Thesepeoplearehonesttoafault,andtheirnaivethasnopeerbutmyown. ChristopherColumbusshouldhavesetouttodiscoverAmericawithaboatloadof madmen.Andnotehowthismadnesshastakenshape,andendured.

Itisnotthefearofmadnesswhichwillobligeustoleavetheflagofimaginationfurled. Thecaseagainsttherealisticattitudedemandstobeexamined,followingthecase againstthematerialisticattitude.Thelatter,morepoeticinfactthantheformer, admittedlyimpliesonthepartofmanakindofmonstrouspridewhich,admittedly,is monstrous,butnotanewandmorecompletedecay.Itshouldaboveallbeviewedasa welcomereactionagainstcertainridiculoustendenciesofspiritualism.Finally,itisnot incompatiblewithacertainnobilityofthought. Bycontrast,therealisticattitude,inspiredbypositivism,fromSaintThomasAquinasto AnatoleFrance,clearlyseemstometobehostiletoanyintellectualormoral advancement.Iloatheit,foritismadeupofmediocrity,hate,anddullconceit.Itisthis attitudewhichtodaygivesbirthtotheseridiculousbooks,theseinsultingplays.It constantlyfeedsonandderivesstrengthfromthenewspapersandstultifiesboth scienceandartbyassiduouslyflatteringthelowestoftastesclarityborderingon stupidity,adogslife.Theactivityofthebestmindsfeelstheeffectsofitthelawofthe lowestcommondenominatorfinallyprevailsuponthemasitdoesupontheothers.An amusingresultofthisstateofaffairs,inliteratureforexample,isthegeneroussupplyof novels.Eachpersonaddshispersonallittle"observation"tothewhole.Asacleansing antidotetoallthis,M.PaulValryrecentlysuggestedthatananthologybecompiledin whichthelargestpossiblenumberofopeningpassagesfromnovelsbeofferedthe resultinginsanity,hepredicted,wouldbeasourceofconsiderableedification.Themost famousauthorswouldbeincluded.SuchathoughreflectsgreatcreditonPaulValry who,sometimeago,speakingofnovels,assuredmethat,sofarashewasconcerned,

hewouldcontinuetorefrainfromwriting:"TheMarquisewentoutatfive."Buthashe kepthisword? Ifthepurelyinformativestyle,ofwhichthesentencejustquotedisaprimeexample,is virtuallytheruleratherthantheexceptioninthenovelform,itisbecause,inallfairness, theauthorsambitionisseverelycircumscribed.Thecircumstantial,needlesslyspecific natureofeachoftheirnotationsleadsmetobelievethattheyareperpetratingajokeat myexpense.Iamsparednotevenoneofthecharactersslightestvacillations:willhe befairhaired?whatwillhisnamebe?willwefirstmeethimduringthesummer?So manyquestionsresolvedonceandforall,aschancedirectstheonlydiscretionary powerleftmeistoclosethebook,whichIamcarefultodosomewhereinthevicinityof thefirstpage.Andthedescriptions!Thereisnothingtowhichtheirvacuitycanbe comparedtheyarenothingbutsomanysuperimposedimagestakenfromsomestock catalogue,whichtheauthorutilizesmoreandmorewheneverhechoosesheseizes theopportunitytoslipmehispostcards,hetriestomakemeagreewithhimaboutthe clichs: Thesmallroomintowhichtheyoungmanwasshownwascoveredwithyellow wallpaper:thereweregeraniumsinthewindows,whichwerecoveredwithmuslin curtainsthesettingsuncastaharshlightovertheentiresetting....Therewasnothing specialabouttheroom.Thefurniture,ofyellowwood,wasallveryold.Asofawithatall backturneddown,anovaltableoppositethesofa,adressingtableandamirrorset againstthepierglass,somechairsalongthewalls,twoorthreeetchingsofnovalue portrayingsomeGermangirlswithbirdsintheirhandssuchwerethefurnishings. (Dostoevski,CrimeandPunishment)

Iaminnomoodtoadmitthatthemindisinterestedinoccupyingitselfwithsuch matters,evenfleetingly.Itmaybearguedthatthisschoolboydescriptionhasitsplace, andthatatthisjunctureofthebooktheauthorhashisreasonsforburdeningme. Neverthelessheiswastinghistime,forIrefusetogointohisroom.Otherslazinessor fatiguedoesnotinterestme.Ihavetoounstableanotionofthecontinuityoflifeto equateorcomparemymomentsofdepressionorweaknesswithmybestmoments. Whenoneceasestofeel,Iamoftheopiniononeshouldkeepquiet.AndIwouldlikeit understoodthatIamnotaccusingorcondemninglackoforiginalityassuch.Iamonly sayingthatIdonottakeparticularnoteoftheemptymomentsofmylife,thatitmaybe unworthyforanymantocrystallizethosewhichseemtohimtobeso.Ishall,withyour permission,ignorethedescriptionofthatroom,andmanymorelikeit. Notsofast,thereImgettingintotheareaofpsychology,asubjectaboutwhichIshall becarefulnottojoke. Theauthorattacksacharacterand,thisbeingsettledupon,paradeshisherotoandfro acrosstheworld.Nomatterwhathappens,thishero,whoseactionsandreactionsare admirablypredictable,iscompellednottothwartorupseteventhoughhelooksas thoughheisthecalculationsofwhichheistheobject.Thecurrentsoflifecanappear

tolifthimup,rollhimover,casthimdown,hewillstillbelongtothisreadymadehuman type.Asimplegameofchesswhichdoesn'tinterestmeintheleastman,whoeverhe maybe,beingformeamediocreopponent.WhatIcannotbeararethosewretched discussionsrelativetosuchandsuchamove,sincewinningorlosingisnotinquestion. Andifthegameisnotworththecandle,ifobjectivereasondoesafrightfuljobas indeeditdoesofservinghimwhocallsuponit,isitnotfittingandpropertoavoidall contactwiththesecategories?"Diversityissovastthateverydifferenttoneofvoice, everystep,cough,everywipeofthenose,everysneeze...."*(Pascal.)Ifinaclusterof grapestherearenotwoalike,whydoyouwantmetodescribethisgrapebytheother, byalltheothers,whydoyouwantmetomakeapalatablegrape?Ourbrainsaredulled bytheincurablemaniaofwantingtomaketheunknownknown,classifiable.Thedesire foranalysiswinsoutoverthesentiments.**(Barrs,Proust.)Theresultisstatementsof unduelengthwhosepersuasivepowerisattributablesolelytotheirstrangenessand whichimpressthereaderonlybytheabstractqualityoftheirvocabulary,which moreoverisilldefined.Ifthegeneralideasthatphilosophyhasthusfarcomeupwithas topicsofdiscussionrevealedbytheirverynaturetheirdefinitiveincursionintoabroader ormoregeneralarea.Iwouldbethefirsttogreetthenewswithjoy.Butuptillnowit hasbeennothingbutidlereparteetheflashesofwitandothernicetiesviein concealingfromusthetruethoughtinsearchofitself,insteadofconcentratingon obtainingsuccesses.Itseemstomethateveryactisitsownjustification,atleastforthe personwhohasbeencapableofcommittingit,thatitisendowedwitharadiantpower whichtheslightestglossiscertaintodiminish.Becauseofthisgloss,iteveninasense ceasestohappen.Itgainsnothingtobethusdistinguished.Stendhal'sheroesare subjecttothecommentsandappraisalsappraisalswhicharemoreorlesssuccessful madebythatauthor,whichaddnotonewhittotheirglory.Wherewereallyfindthem againisatthepointatwhichStendahlhaslostthem.

Wearestilllivingunderthereignoflogic:this,ofcourse,iswhatIhavebeendrivingat. Butinthisdayandagelogicalmethodsareapplicableonlytosolvingproblemsof secondaryinterest.Theabsoluterationalismthatisstillinvogueallowsustoconsider onlyfactsrelatingdirectlytoourexperience.Logicalends,onthecontrary,escapeus.It ispointlesstoaddthatexperienceitselfhasfounditselfincreasinglycircumscribed.It pacesbackandforthinacagefromwhichitismoreandmoredifficulttomakeit emerge.Ittooleansforsupportonwhatismostimmediatelyexpedient,anditis protectedbythesentinelsofcommonsense.Underthepretenseofcivilizationand progress,wehavemanagedtobanishfromthemindeverythingthatmayrightlyor wronglybetermedsuperstition,orfancyforbiddenisanykindofsearchfortruthwhich isnotinconformancewithacceptedpractices.Itwas,apparently,bypurechancethata partofourmentalworldwhichwepretendednottobeconcernedwithanylongerand, inmyopinionbyfarthemostimportantparthasbeenbroughtbacktolight.Forthiswe mustgivethankstothediscoveriesofSigmundFreud.Onthebasisofthese discoveriesacurrentofopinionisfinallyformingbymeansofwhichthehumanexplorer willbeabletocarryhisinvestigationmuchfurther,authorizedashewillhenceforthbe nottoconfinehimselfsolelytothemostsummaryrealities.Theimaginationisperhaps onthepointofreassertingitself,ofreclaimingitsrights.Ifthedepthsofourmindcontain

withinitstrangeforcescapableofaugmentingthoseonthesurface,orofwaginga victoriousbattleagainstthem,thereiseveryreasontoseizethemfirsttoseizethem, then,ifneedbe,tosubmitthemtothecontrolofourreason.Theanalyststhemselves haveeverythingtogainbyit.Butitisworthnotingthatnomeanshasbeendesignated aprioriforcarryingoutthisundertaking,thatuntilfurthernoticeitcanbeconstruedto betheprovinceofpoetsaswellasscholars,andthatitssuccessisnotdependentupon themoreorlesscapriciouspathsthatwillbefollowed.

Freudveryrightlybroughthiscriticalfacultiestobearuponthedream.Itis,infact, inadmissiblethatthisconsiderableportionofpsychicactivity(since,atleastfromman's birthuntilhisdeath,thoughtoffersnosolutionofcontinuity,thesumofthemomentsof thedream,fromthepointofviewoftime,andtakingintoconsiderationonlythetimeof puredreaming,thatisthedreamsofsleep,isnotinferiortothesumofthemomentsof reality,or,tobemorepreciselylimiting,themomentsofwaking)hasstilltodaybeenso grosslyneglected.Ihavealwaysbeenamazedatthewayanordinaryobserverlends somuchmorecredenceandattachessomuchmoreimportancetowakingeventsthan tothoseoccurringindreams.Itisbecauseman,whenheceasestosleep,isaboveall theplaythingofhismemory,andinitsnormalstatememorytakespleasureinweakly retracingforhimthecircumstancesofthedream,instrippingitofanyrealimportance, andindismissingtheonlydeterminantfromthepointwherehethinkshehasleftita fewhoursbefore:thisfirmhope,thisconcern.Heisundertheimpressionofcontinuing somethingthatisworthwhile.Thusthedreamfindsitselfreducedtoamereparenthesis, asisthenight.And,likethenight,dreamsgenerallycontributelittletofurtheringour understanding.Thiscuriousstateofaffairsseemstometocallforcertainreflections: 1)Withinthelimitswheretheyoperate(orarethoughttooperate)dreamsgiveevery evidenceofbeingcontinuousandshowsignsoforganization.Memoryalonearrogates toitselftherighttoexcerptfromdreams,toignorethetransitions,andtodepictforus ratheraseriesofdreamsthanthedreamitself.Bythesametoken,atanygiven momentwehaveonlyadistinctnotionofrealities,thecoordinationofwhichisa questionofwill.*(Accountmustbetakenofthedepthofthedream.ForthemostpartI retainonlywhatIcangleanfromitsmostsuperficiallayers.WhatImostenjoy contemplatingaboutadreamiseverythingthatsinksbackbelowthesurfaceina wakingstate,everythingIhaveforgottenaboutmyactivitiesinthecourseofthe precedingday,darkfoliage,stupidbranches.In"reality,"likewise,Iprefertofall.)What isworthnotingisthatnothingallowsustopresupposeagreaterdissipationofthe elementsofwhichthedreamisconstituted.Iamsorrytohavetospeakaboutit accordingtoaformulawhichinprincipleexcludesthedream.Whenwillwehave sleepinglogicians,sleepingphilosophers?Iwouldliketosleep,inordertosurrender myselftothedreamers,thewayIsurrendermyselftothosewhoreadmewitheyes wideopeninordertostopimposing,inthisrealm,theconsciousrhythmofmythought. Perhapsmydreamlastnightfollowsthatofthenightbefore,andwillbecontinuedthe nextnight,withanexemplarystrictness.It'squitepossible,asthesayinggoes.And sinceithasnotbeenprovedintheslightestthat,indoingso,the"reality"withwhichI amkeptbusycontinuestoexistinthestateofdream,thatitdoesnotsinkbackdown

intotheimmemorial,whyshouldInotgranttodreamswhatIoccasionallyrefusereality, thatis,thisvalueofcertaintyinitselfwhich,initsowntime,isnotopentomy repudiation?WhyshouldInotexpectfromthesignofthedreammorethanIexpect fromadegreeofconsciousnesswhichisdailymoreacute?Can'tthedreamalsobe usedinsolvingthefundamentalquestionsoflife?Arethesequestionsthesameinone caseasintheotherand,inthedream,dothesequestionsalreadyexist?Isthedream anylessrestrictiveorpunitivethantherest?Iamgrowingoldand,morethanthat realitytowhichIbelieveIsubjectmyself,itisperhapsthedream,thedifferencewith whichItreatthedream,whichmakesmegrowold. 2)Letmecomebackagaintothewakingstate.Ihavenochoicebuttoconsiderita phenomenonofinterference.Notonlydoestheminddisplay,inthisstate,astrange tendencytoloseitsbearings(asevidencedbytheslipsandmistakesthesecretsof whicharejustbeginningtoberevealedtous),but,whatismore,itdoesnotappear that,whenthemindisfunctioningnormally,itreallyrespondstoanythingbutthe suggestionswhichcometoitfromthedepthsofthatdarknighttowhichIcommendit. Howeverconditioneditmaybe,itsbalanceisrelative.Itscarcelydaresexpressitself and,ifitdoes,itconfinesitselftoverifyingthatsuchandsuchanidea,orsuchandsuch awoman,hasmadeanimpressiononit.Whatimpressionitwouldbehardpressedto say,bywhichitrevealsthedegreeofitssubjectivity,andnothingmore.Thisidea,this woman,disturbit,theytendtomakeitlesssevere.Whattheydoisisolatethemindfor asecondfromitssolventandspiritittoheaven,asthebeautifulprecipitateitcanbe, thatitis.Whenallelsefails,itthencallsuponchance,adivinityevenmoreobscure thantheotherstowhomitascribesallitsaberrations.Whocansaytomethattheangle bywhichthatideawhichaffectsitisoffered,thatwhatitlikesintheeyeofthatwoman isnotpreciselywhatlinksittoitsdream,bindsittothosefundamentalfactswhich, throughitsownfault,ithaslost?Andifthingsweredifferent,whatmightitbecapable of?Iwouldliketoprovideitwiththekeytothiscorridor. 3)Themindofthemanwhodreamsisfullysatisfiedbywhathappenstohim.The agonizingquestionofpossibilityisnolongerpertinent.Kill,flyfaster,lovetoyourheart's content.Andifyoushoulddie,areyounotcertainofreawakingamongthedead?Let yourselfbecarriedalong,eventswillnottolerateyourinterference.Youarenameless. Theeaseofeverythingispriceless. Whatreason,Iask,areasonsomuchvasterthantheother,makesdreamsseemso naturalandallowsmetowelcomeunreservedlyawelterofepisodessostrangethat theycouldconfoundmenowasIwrite?AndyetIcanbelievemyeyes,myearsthis greatdayhasarrived,thisbeasthasspoken. Ifman'sawakingisharder,ifitbreaksthespelltooabruptly,itisbecausehehasbeen ledtomakeforhimselftooimpoverishedanotionofatonement. 4)Fromthemomentwhenitissubjectedtoamethodicalexamination,when,bymeans yettobedetermined,wesucceedinrecordingthecontentsofdreamsintheirentirety (andthatpresupposesadisciplineofmemoryspanninggenerationsbutletus nonethelessbeginbynotingthemostsalientfacts),whenitsgraphwillexpandwith

unparalleledvolumeandregularity,wemayhopethatthemysterieswhichreallyarenot willgivewaytothegreatMystery.Ibelieveinthefutureresolutionofthesetwostates, dreamandreality,whichareseeminglysocontradictory,intoakindofabsolutereality, asurreality,ifonemaysospeak.ItisinquestofthissurrealitythatIamgoing,certain nottofinditbuttoounmindfulofmydeathnottocalculatetosomeslightdegreethe joysofitspossession. AstoryistoldaccordingtowhichSaintPolRoux,intimesgoneby,usedtohavea noticepostedonthedoorofhismanorhouseinCamaret,everyeveningbeforehewent tosleep,whichread:THEPOETISWORKING. Agreatdealmorecouldbesaid,butinpassingImerelywantedtotouchuponasubject whichinitselfwouldrequireaverylongandmuchmoredetaileddiscussionIshall comebacktoit.Atthisjuncture,myintentionwasmerelytomarkapointbynotingthe hateofthemarvelouswhichragesincertainmen,thisabsurditybeneathwhichtheytry toburyit.Letusnotmincewords:themarvelousisalwaysbeautiful,anything marvelousisbeautiful,infactonlythemarvelousisbeautiful.

Intherealmofliterature,onlythemarvelousiscapableoffecundatingworkswhich belongtoaninferiorcategorysuchasthenovel,andgenerallyspeaking,anythingthat involvesstorytelling.Lewis'TheMonkisanadmirableproofofthis.Itisinfused throughoutwiththepresenceofthemarvelous.Longbeforetheauthorhasfreedhis maincharactersfromalltemporalconstraints,onefeelsthemreadytoactwithan unprecedentedpride.Thispassionforeternitywithwhichtheyareconstantlystirred lendsanunforgettableintensitytotheirtorments,andtomine.Imeanthatthisbook, frombeginningtoend,andinthepurestwayimaginable,exercisesanexaltingeffect onlyuponthatpartofthemindwhichaspirestoleavetheearthandthat,strippedofan insignificantpartofitsplot,whichbelongstotheperiodinwhichitwaswritten,it constitutesaparagonofprecisionandinnocentgrandeur.*(Whatisadmirableaboutthe fantasticisthatthereisnolongeranythingfantastic:thereisonlythereal.)Itseemsto menonebetterhasbeendone,andthatthecharacterofMathildainparticularisthe mostmovingcreationthatonecancredittothisfigurativefashioninliterature.Sheis lessacharacterthanacontinualtemptation.Andifacharacterisnotatemptation,what ishe?Anextremetemptation,she.InTheMonkthe"nothingisimpossibleforhimwho darestry"givesititsfull,convincingmeasure.Ghostsplayalogicalroleinthebook, sincethecriticalminddoesnotseizetheminordertodisputethem.Ambrosio's punishmentislikewisetreatedinalegitimatemanner,sinceitisfinallyacceptedbythe criticalfacultyasanaturaldenouement. Itmayseemarbitraryonmypart,whendiscussingthemarvelous,tochoosethismodel, fromwhichboththeNordicliteraturesandOrientalliteratureshaveborrowedtimeand timeagain,nottomentionthereligiousliteraturesofeverycountry.Thisisbecause mostoftheexampleswhichtheseliteraturescouldhavefurnishedmewitharetainted

bypuerility,forthesimplereasonthattheyareaddressedtochildren.Atanearlyage childrenareweanedonthemarvelous,andlaterontheyfailtoretainasufficient virginityofmindtothoroughlyenjoyfairytales.Nomatterhowcharmingtheymaybe,a grownmanwouldthinkhewererevertingtochildhoodbynourishinghimselfonfairy tales,andIamthefirsttoadmitthatallsuchtalesarenotsuitableforhim.Thefabricof adorableimprobabilitiesmustbemadeatriflemoresubtletheolderwegrow,andwe arestillattheageofwaitingforthiskindofspider....Butthefacultiesdonotchange radically.Fear,theattractionoftheunusual,chance,thetasteforthingsextravagantare alldeviceswhichwecanalwayscalluponwithoutfearofdeception.Therearefairy talestobewrittenforadults,fairytalesstillalmostblue. Themarvelousisnotthesameineveryperiodofhistory:itpartakesinsomeobscure wayofasortofgeneralrevelationonlythefragmentsofwhichcomedowntous:they aretheromanticruins,themodernmannequin,oranyothersymbolcapableofaffecting thehumansensibilityforaperiodoftime.Intheseareaswhichmakeussmile,thereis stillportrayedtheincurablehumanrestlessness,andthisiswhyItaketheminto considerationandwhyIjudgetheminseparablefromcertainproductionsofgenius whichare,morethantheothers,painfullyafflictedbythem.TheyareVillon'sgibbets, Racine'sGreeks,Baudelaire'scouches.TheycoincidewithaneclipseofthetasteIam madetoendure,Iwhosenotionoftasteistheimageofabigspot.Amidthebadtasteof mytimeIstrivetogofurtherthananyoneelse.ItwouldhavebeenI,hadIlivedin1820, I"thebleedingnun,"Iwhowouldnothavesparedthiscunningandbanal"letus conceal"whereoftheparodicalCuisinspeaks,itwouldhavebeenI,Iwhowouldhave reveledintheenormousmetaphors,ashesays,allphasesofthe"silverdisk."For todayIthinkofacastle,halfofwhichisnotnecessarilyinruinsthiscastlebelongsto me,Ipictureitinarusticsetting,notfarfromParis.Theoutbuildingsaretoonumerous tomention,and,asfortheinterior,ithasbeenfrightfullyrestored,insuchmannerasto leavenothingtobedesiredfromtheviewpointofcomfort.Automobilesareparked beforethedoor,concealedbytheshadeoftrees.Afewofmyfriendsarelivinghereas permanentguests:thereisLouisAragonleavingheonlyhastimeenoughtosayhello PhilippeSoupaultgetsupwiththestars,andPaulEluard,ourgreatEluard,hasnotyet comehome.ThereareRobertDesnosandRogerVitracoutonthegroundsporingover anancientedictonduellingGeorgesAuric,JeanPaulhanMaxMorise,whorowsso well,andBenjaminPret,busywithhisequationswithbirdsandJosephDelteiland JeanCarriveandGeorgesLimbour,andGeorgesLimbours(thereisawholehedgeof GeorgesLimbours)andMarcelNollthereisT.Fraenkelwavingtousfromhiscaptive balloon,GeorgesMalkine,AntoninArtaud,FrancisGrard,PierreNaville,J.A.Boiffard, andafterthemJacquesBaronandhisbrother,handsomeandcordial,andsomany othersbesides,andgorgeouswomen,Imightadd.Nothingistoogoodfortheseyoung men,theirwishesare,astowealth,somanycommands.FrancisPicabiacomestopay usacall,andlastweek,inthehallofmirrors,wereceivedacertainMarcelDuchamp whomwehadnothithertoknown.Picassogoeshuntingintheneighborhood.Thespirit ofdemoralizationhaselecteddomicileinthecastle,anditiswithitwehavetodeal everytimeitisaquestionofcontactwithourfellowmen,butthedoorsarealwaysopen, andonedoesnotbeginby"thanking"everyone,youknow.Moreover,thesolitudeis vast,wedon'toftenrunintooneanother.Andanyway,isn'twhatmattersthatwebethe mastersofourselves,themastersofwomen,andoflovetoo?

Ishallbeprovedguiltyofpoeticdishonesty:everyonewillgoparadingaboutsayingthat IliveontherueFontaineandthathewillhavenoneofthewaterthatflowstherefrom. Tobesure!ButishecertainthatthiscastleintowhichIcordiallyinvitehimisanimage? Whatifthiscastlereallyexisted!Myguestsaretheretoproveitdoestheirwhimisthe luminousroadthatleadstoit.Wereallylivebyourfantasieswhenwegivefreereignto them.Andhowcouldwhatonemightdobothertheother,there,safelyshelteredfrom thesentimentalpursuitandatthetrystingplaceofopportunities?

Manproposesanddisposes.Heandhealonecandeterminewhetherheiscompletely masterofhimself,thatis,whetherhemaintainsthebodyofhisdesires,dailymore formidable,inastateofanarchy.Poetryteacheshimto.Itbearswithinitselftheperfect compensationforthemiseriesweendure.Itcanalsobeanorganizer,ifever,asthe resultofalessintimatedisappointment,wecontemplatetakingitseriously.Thetimeis comingwhenitdecreestheendofmoneyandbyitselfwillbreakthebreadofheaven fortheearth!Therewillstillbegatheringsonthepublicsquares,andmovementsyou neverdaredhopeparticipatein.Farewelltoabsurdchoices,thedreamsofdarkabyss, rivalries,theprolongedpatience,theflightoftheseasons,theartificialorderofideas, therampofdanger,timeforeverything!Mayyouonlytakethetroubletopractice poetry.Isitnotincumbentuponus,whoarealreadylivingoffit,totryandimposewhat weholdtobeourcaseforfurtherinquiry? Itmattersnotwhetherthereisacertaindisproportionbetweenthisdefenseandthe illustrationthatwillfollowit.Itwasaquestionofgoingbacktothesourcesofpoetic imaginationand,whatismore,ofremainingthere.NotthatIpretendtohavedoneso.It requiresagreatdealoffortitudetotrytosetupone'sabodeinthesedistantregions whereeverythingseemsatfirsttobesoawkwardanddifficult,allthemoresoifone wantstotrytotakesomeonethere.Besides,oneisneversureofreallybeingthere.If oneisgoingtoallthattrouble,onemightaswellstopoffsomewhereelse.Bethatasit may,thefactisthatthewaytotheseregionsisclearlymarked,andthattoattainthe truegoalisnowmerelyamatterofthetravelers'abilitytoendure.

Weareallmoreorlessawareoftheroadtraveled.Iwascarefultorelate,inthecourse ofastudyofthecaseofRobertDesnosentitledENTREDESMDIUMS,*(SeeLes Pasperdus,publishedbyN.R.F.)thatIhadbeenledto"concentratemyattentionon themoreorlesspartialsentenceswhich,whenoneisquitealoneandonthevergeof fallingasleep,becomeperceptibleforthemindwithoutitsbeingpossibletodiscover whatprovokedthem."Ihadthenjustattemptedthepoeticadventurewiththeminimum ofrisks,thatis,myaspirationswerethesameastheyaretodaybutItrustedinthe slownessofformulationtokeepmefromuselesscontacts,contactsofwhichI

completelydisapproved.Thisattitudeinvolvedamodestyofthoughtcertainvestigesof whichIstillretain.Attheendofmylife,Ishalldoubtlessmanagetospeakwithgreat effortthewaypeoplespeak,toapologizeformyvoiceandmyfewremaininggestures. Thevirtueofthespokenword(andthewrittenwordallthemoreso)seemedtometo derivefromthefacultyofforeshorteninginastrikingmannertheexposition(sincethere wasexposition)ofasmallnumberoffacts,poeticorother,ofwhichImademyselfthe substance.IhadcometotheconclusionthatRimbaudhadnotproceededany differently.Iwascomposing,withaconcernforvarietythatdeservedbetter,thefinal poemsofMontdepit,thatis,Imanagedtoextractfromtheblanklinesofthisbook anincredibleadvantage.Theselinesweretheclosedeyetotheoperationsofthought thatIbelievedIwasobligedtokeephiddenfromthereader.Itwasnotdeceitonmy part,butmyloveofshockingthereader.Ihadtheillusionofapossiblecomplicity, whichIhadmoreandmoredifficultygivingup.Ihadbeguntocherishwords excessivelyforthespacetheyallowaroundthem,fortheirtangencieswithcountless otherwordswhichIdidnotutter.ThepoemBLACKFORESTderivespreciselyfromthis stateofmind.Ittookmesixmonthstowriteit,andyoumaytakemywordforitthatIdid notrestasingleday.ButthisstemmedfromtheopinionIhadofmyselfinthosedays, whichwashigh,pleasedon'tjudgemetooharshly.Ienjoythesestupidconfessions.At thatpointcubistpseudopoetrywastryingtogetafoothold,butithademerged defenselessfromPicasso'sbrain,andIwasthoughttobeasdullasdishwater(andstill am).Ihadasneakingsuspicion,moreover,thatfromtheviewpointofpoetryIwasoff onthewrongroad,butIhedgedmybetasbestIcould,defyinglyricismwithsalvosof definitionsandformulas(theDadaphenomenawerewaitinginthewings,readyto comeonstage)andpretendingtosearchforanapplicationofpoetrytoadvertising(I wentsofarastoclaimthattheworldwouldend,notwithagoodbookbutwitha beautifuladvertisementforheavenorforhell). Inthosedays,amanatleastasboringasI,PierreReverdy,waswriting: Theimageisapurecreationofthemind. Itcannotbebornfromacomparisonbutfromajuxtapositionoftwomoreorlessdistant realities. Themoretherelationshipbetweenthetwojuxtaposedrealitiesisdistantandtrue,the strongertheimagewillbethegreateritsemotionalpowerandpoeticreality...*(Nord Sud,March1918) Thesewords,howeversibyllinefortheuninitiated,wereextremelyrevealing,andI ponderedthemforalongtime.Buttheimageeludedme.Reverdy'saesthetic,a completelyaposterioriaesthetic,ledmetomistaketheeffectsforthecauses.Itwasin themidstofallthisthatIrenouncedirrevocablymypointofview.

Oneevening,therefore,beforeIfellasleep,Iperceived,soclearlyarticulatedthatitwas impossibletochangeaword,butnonethelessremovedfromthesoundofanyvoice,a ratherstrangephrasewhichcametomewithoutanyapparentrelationshiptotheevents inwhich,myconsciousnessagrees,Iwastheninvolved,aphrasewhichseemedtome insistent,aphrase,ifImaybesobold,whichwasknockingatthewindow.Itook cursorynoteofitandpreparedtomoveonwhenitsorganiccharactercaughtmy attention.Actually,thisphraseastonishedme:unfortunatelyIcannotrememberit exactly,butitwassomethinglike:"Thereisamancutintwobythewindow,"butthere couldbenoquestionofambiguity,accompaniedasitwasbythefaintvisualimage* (WereIapainter,thisvisualdepictionwoulddoubtlesshavebecomemoreimportantfor methantheother.Itwasmostcertainlymypreviouspredispositionswhichdecidedthe matter.Sincethatday,Ihavehadoccasiontoconcentratemyattentionvoluntarilyon similarapparitions,andIknowtheyarefullyasclearasauditoryphenomena.Witha pencilandwhitesheetofpapertohand,Icouldeasilytracetheiroutlines.Hereagainit isnotamatterofdrawing,butsimplyoftracing.Icouldthusdepictatree,awave,a musicalinstrument,allmannerofthingsofwhichIampresentlyincapableofproviding eventheroughestsketch.Iwouldplungeintoit,convincedthatIwouldfindmyway again,inamazeoflineswhichatfirstglancewouldseemtobegoingnowhere.And, uponopeningmyeyes,Iwouldgettheverystrongimpressionofsomething"never seen."TheproofofwhatIamsayinghasbeenprovidedmanytimesbyRobertDesnos: tobeconvinced,onehasonlytoleafthroughthepagesofissuenumber36ofFeuilles libreswhichcontainsseveralofhisdrawings(RomeoandJuliet,AManDiedThis Morning,etc.)whichweretakenbythismagazineasthedrawingsofamadmanand publishedassuch.)ofamanwalkingcuthalfwayupbyawindowperpendiculartothe axisofhisbody.Beyondtheslightestshadowofadoubt,whatIsawwasthesimple reconstructioninspaceofamanleaningoutawindow.Butthiswindowhavingshifted withtheman,IrealizedthatIwasdealingwithanimageofafairlyraresort,andallI couldthinkofwastoincorporateitintomymaterialforpoeticconstruction.Nosooner hadIgranteditthiscapacitythanitwasinfactsucceededbyawholeseriesofphrases, withonlybriefpausesbetweenthem,whichsurprisedmeonlyslightlylessandleftme withtheimpressionoftheirbeingsogratuitousthatthecontrolIhadthenexercised uponmyselfseemedtomeillusoryandallIcouldthinkofwasputtinganendtothe interminablequarrelragingwithinme.*(KnutHamsumascribesthissortofrevelationto whichIhadbeensubjectedasderivingfrom hunger,andhemaynotbewrong.(The factisIdidnoteateverydayduringthatperiodofmylife).Mostcertainlythe manifestationsthathedescribesinthesetermsareclearlythesame: "ThefollowingdayIawokeatanearlyhour.Itwasstilldark.Myeyeshadbeenopenfor alongtimewhenIheardtheclockintheapartmentabovestrikefive.Iwantedtogo backtosleep,butIcouldn'tIwaswideawakeandathousandthoughtswerecrowding throughmymind. "Suddenlyafewgoodfragmentscametomind,quitesuitabletobeusedinarough draft,orserializedallofasuddenIfound,quitebychance,beautifulphrases,phrases suchasIhadneverwritten.Irepeatedthemtomyselfslowly,wordbywordtheywere excellent.Andtherewerestillmorecoming.Igotupandpickedupapencilandsome paperthatwereonatablebehindmybed.Itwasasthoughsomeveinhadburstwithin

me,onewordfollowedanother,founditsproperplace,adapteditselftothesituation, scenepileduponscene,theactionunfolded,oneretortafteranotherwelledupinmy mind,Iwasenjoyingmyselfimmensely.Thoughtscametomesorapidlyandcontinued toflowsoabundantlythatIlostawholehostofdelicatedetails,becausemypencil couldnotkeepupwiththem,andyetIwentasfastasIcould,myhandinconstant motion,Ididnotloseaminute.Thesentencescontinuedtowellupwithinme,Iwas pregnantwithmysubject." ApollinaireassertedthatChirico'sfirstpaintingsweredoneundertheinfluenceof cenesthesicdisorders(migraines,colics,etc.).)

CompletelyoccupiedasIstillwaswithFreudatthattime,andfamiliarasIwaswithhis methodsofexaminationwhichIhadsomeslightoccasiontouseonsomepatients duringthewar,Iresolvedtoobtainfrommyselfwhatweweretryingtoobtainfrom them,namely,amonologuespokenasrapidlyaspossiblewithoutanyinterventionon thepartofthecriticalfaculties,amonologueconsequentlyunencumberedbythe slightestinhibitionandwhichwas,ascloselyaspossible,akintospokenthought.Ithad seemedtome,andstilldoesthewayinwhichthephraseaboutthemancutintwohad cometomeisanindicationofitthatthespeedofthoughtisnogreaterthanthespeed ofspeech,andthatthoughtdoesnotnecessarilydefylanguage,noreventhefast movingpen.ItwasinthisframeofmindthatPhilippeSoupaulttowhomIhadconfided theseinitialconclusionsandIdecidedtoblackensomepaper,withapraiseworthy disdainforwhatmightresultfromaliterarypointofview.Theeaseofexecutiondidthe rest.Bytheendofthefirstdaywewereabletoreadtoourselvessomefiftyorsopages obtainedinthismanner,andbegintocompareourresults.Allinall,Soupault'spages andmineprovedtoberemarkablysimilar:thesameoverconstruction,shortcomingsof asimilarnature,butalso,onbothourparts,theillusionofanextraordinaryverve,a greatdealofemotion,aconsiderablechoiceofimagesofaqualitysuchthatwewould nothavebeencapableofpreparingasingleoneinlonghand,averyspecialpicturesque qualityand,hereandthere,astrongcomicaleffect.Theonlydifferencebetweenour twotextsseemedtometoderiveessentiallyfromourrespectivetempers.Soupault's beinglessstaticthanmine,and,ifhedoesnotmindmyofferingthisoneslightcriticism, fromthefactthathehadmadetheerrorofputtingafewwordsbywayoftitlesatthetop ofcertainpages,Isupposeinaspiritofmystification.Ontheotherhand,Imustgive creditwherecreditisdueandsaythatheconstantlyandvigorouslyopposedanyeffort toretouchorcorrect,howeverslightly,anypassageofthiskindwhichseemedtome unfortunate.Inthishewas,tobesure,absolutelyright.*(Ibelievemoreandmoreinthe infallibilityofmythoughtwithrespecttomyself,andthisistoofair.Nonetheless,with thisthoughtwriting,whereoneisatthemercyofthefirstoutsidedistraction, "ebullutions"canoccur.Itwouldbeinexcusableforustopretendotherwise.By definition,thoughtisstrong,andincapableofcatchingitselfinerror.Theblamefor theseobviousweaknessesmustbeplacedonsuggestionsthatcometoitfromwithout.) Itis,infact,difficulttoappreciatefairlythevariouselementspresent:onemayevengo sofarastosaythatitisimpossibletoappreciatethematafirstreading.Toyouwho write,theseelementsare,onthesurface,asstrangetoyouastheyaretoanyoneelse,

andnaturallyyouarewaryofthem.Poeticallyspeaking,whatstrikesyouaboutthem aboveallistheirextremedegreeofimmediateabsurdity,thequalityofthisabsurdity, uponcloserscrutiny,beingtogivewaytoeverythingadmissible,everythinglegitimatein theworld:thedisclosureofacertainnumberofpropertiesandoffactsnolessobjective, inthefinalanalysis,thantheothers. InhomagetoGuillaumeApollinaire,whohadjustdiedandwho,onseveraloccasions, seemedtoustohavefollowedadisciplineofthiskind,withouthoweverhaving sacrificedtoitanymediocreliterarymeans,SoupaultandIbaptizedthenewmodeof pureexpressionwhichwehadatourdisposalandwhichwewishedtopassontoour friends,bythenameofSURREALISM.Ibelievethatthereisnopointtodayindwelling anyfurtheronthiswordandthatthemeaningwegaveitinitiallyhasgenerallyprevailed overitsApollinariansense.Tobeevenfairer,wecouldprobablyhavetakenoverthe wordSUPERNATURALISMemployedbyGrarddeNervalinhisdedicationtothe Fillesdefeu.*(AndalsobyThomasCarlyleinSartorResartus([BookIII]ChapterVIII, "NaturalSupernaturalism"),183334.)Itappears,infact,thatNervalpossessedtoatee thespiritwithwhichweclaimakinship,Apollinairehavingpossessed,onthecontrary, naughtbuttheletter,stillimperfect,ofSurrealism,havingshownhimselfpowerlessto giveavalidtheoreticalideaofit.HerearetwopassagesbyNervalwhichseem tometo beextremelysignificantinthisrespect: Iamgoingtoexplaintoyou,mydearDumas,thephenomenonofwhichyouhave spokenashortwhileago.Thereare,asyouknow,certainstorytellerswhocannot inventwithoutidentifyingwiththecharacterstheirimaginationhasdreamtup.Youmay recallhowconvincinglyouroldfriendNodierusedtotellhowithadbeenhismisfortune duringtheRevolutiontobeguillotinedonebecamesocompletelyconvincedofwhathe wassayingthatonebegantowonderhowhehadmanagedtohavehisheadglued backon. ...Andsinceyouhavebeenindiscreetenoughtoquoteoneofthesonnetscomposedin thisSUPERNATURALISTICdreamstate,astheGermanswouldcallit,youwillhaveto hearthemall.Youwillfindthemattheendofthevolume.Theyarehardlyanymore obscurethanHegel'smetaphysicsorSwedenborg'sMEMORABILIA,andwouldlose theircharmiftheywereexplained,ifsuchwerepossibleatleastadmittheworthofthe expression....**(SeealsoL'IdoralismebySaintPolRoux.) ThosewhomightdisputeourrighttoemploythetermSURREALISMintheveryspecial sensethatweunderstanditarebeingextremelydishonest,fortherecanbenodoubt thatthiswordhadnocurrencybeforewecamealong.Therefore,Iamdefiningitonce andforall: SURREALISM,n.Psychicautomatisminitspurestate,bywhichoneproposesto expressverbally,bymeansofthewrittenword,orinanyothermannertheactual functioningofthought.Dictatedbythethought,intheabsenceofanycontrolexercised byreason,exemptfromanyaestheticormoralconcern.

ENCYCLOPEDIA.Philosophy.Surrealismisbasedonthebeliefinthesuperiorreality ofcertainformsofpreviouslyneglectedassociations,intheomnipotenceofdream,in thedisinterestedplayofthought.Ittendstoruinonceandforallallotherpsychic mechanismsandtosubstituteitselffortheminsolvingalltheprincipalproblemsoflife. ThefollowinghaveperformedactsofABSOLUTESURREALISM:Messrs.Aragon, Baron,Boiffard,Breton,Carrive,Crevel,Delteil,Desnos,Eluard,Grard,Limbour, Malkine,Morise,Naville,Noll,Pret,Picon,Soupault,Vitrac. Theyseemtobe,uptothepresenttime,theonlyones,andtherewouldbeno ambiguityaboutitwereitnotforthecaseofIsidoreDucasse,aboutwhomIlack information.And,ofcourse,ifoneistojudgethemonlysuperficiallybytheirresults,a goodnumberofpoetscouldpassforSurrealists,beginningwithDanteand,inhisfiner moments,Shakespeare.InthecourseofthevariousattemptsIhavemadetoreduce whatis,bybreachoftrust,calledgenius,Ihavefoundnothingwhichinthefinalanalysis canbeattributedtoanyothermethodthanthat. Young'sNightsareSurrealistfromoneendtotheotherunfortunatelyitisapriestwho isspeaking,abadpriestnodoubt,butapriestnonetheless. SwiftisSurrealistinmalice, SadeisSurrealistinsadism. ChateaubriandisSurrealistinexoticism. ConstantisSurrealistinpolitics. HugoisSurrealistwhenheisn'tstupid. DesbordesValmoreisSurrealistinlove. BertrandisSurrealistinthepast. RabbeisSurrealistindeath. PoeisSurrealistinadventure. BaudelaireisSurrealistinmorality. RimbaudisSurrealistinthewayhelived,andelsewhere. MallarmisSurrealistwhenheisconfiding. JarryisSurrealistinabsinthe. NouveauisSurrealistinthekiss. SaintPolRouxisSurrealistinhisuseofsymbols.

FargueisSurrealistintheatmosphere. VachisSurrealistinme. ReverdyisSurrealistathome. SaintJeanPerseisSurrealistatadistance. RousselisSurrealistasastoryteller. Etc. Iwouldliketostressthepoint:theyarenotalwaysSurrealists,inthatIdiscernineach ofthemacertainnumberofpreconceivedideastowhichverynaively!theyhold.They holdtothembecausetheyhadnotheardtheSurrealistvoice,theonethatcontinuesto preachontheeveofdeathandabovethestorms,becausetheydidnotwanttoserve simplytoorchestratethemarvelousscore.Theywereinstrumentstoofullofpride,and thisiswhytheyhavenotalwaysproducedaharmonioussound.*(Icouldsaythesame ofanumberofphilosophersandpainters,including,amongthelatter,Uccello,from paintersofthepast,and,inthemodernera,Seurat,GustaveMoreau,Matisse(in"La Musique,"forexample),Derain,Picasso,(byfarthemostpure),Braque,Duchamp, Picabia,Chirico(soadmirableforsolong),Klee,ManRay,MaxErnst,and,oneso closetous,AndrMasson.) Butwe,whohavemadenoeffortwhatsoevertofilter,whoinourworkshave madeourselvesintosimplereceptaclesofsomanyechoes,modestrecording instrumentswhoarenotmesmerizedbythedrawingswearemaking,perhapswe serveanevennoblercause.Thusdowerenderwithintegritythe"talent"whichhas beenlenttous.Youmightaswellspeakofthetalentofthisplatinumruler,thismirror, thisdoor,andofthesky,ifyoulike. WedonothaveanytalentaskPhilippeSoupault: "Anatomicalproductsofmanufactureandlowincomedwellingswilldestroythetallest cities." AskRogerVitrac: "NosoonerhadIcalledforththemarbleadmiralthanheturnedonhisheellikeahorse whichrearsatthesightoftheNorthstarandshowedme,intheplaneofhistwopointed cockedhat,aregionwhereIwastospendmylife." AskPaulEluard: "ThisisanofttoldtalethatItell,afamouspoemthatIreread:Iamleaningagainsta wall,withmyverdantearsandmylipsburnedtoacrisp." AskMaxMorise:

"Thebearofthecavesandhisfriendthebittern,thevolauventandhisvaletthewind, theLordChancellorwithhisLady,thescarecrowforsparrowsandhisaccomplicethe sparrow,thetesttubeandhisdaughtertheneedle,thiscarnivoreandhisbrotherthe carnival,thesweeperandhismonocle,theMississippianditslittledog,thecoralandits jugofmilk,theMiracleanditsGoodLord,mightjustaswellgoanddisappearfromthe surfaceofthesea." AskJosephDelteil: "Alas!Ibelieveinthevirtueofbirds.Andafeatherisallittakestomakemedie laughing." AskLouisAragon: "Duringashortbreakintheparty,astheplayersweregatheringaroundabowlof flamingpunch,Iaskedatreeifitstillhaditsredribbon." Andaskme,whowasunabletokeepmyselffromwritingtheserpentine,distracting linesofthispreface. AskRobertDesnos,hewho,morethananyofus,hasperhapsgotclosesttothe Surrealisttruth,hewho,inhisstillunpublishedworks*(NOUVELLESHBRIDES, DSORDREFORMEL,DEUILPOURDEUIL.)andinthecourseofthenumerous experimentshehasbeenapartyto,hasfullyjustifiedthehopeIplacedinSurrealism andleadsmetobelievethatagreatdealmorewillstillcomeofit.Desnosspeaks Surrealistatwill.Hisextraordinaryagilityinorallyfollowinghisthoughtisworthasmuch tousasanynumberofsplendidspeecheswhicharelost,Desnoshavingbetterthings todothanrecordthem.Hereadshimselflikeanopenbook,anddoesnothingtoretain thepages,whichflyawayinthewindywakeofhislife.

SECRETSOFTHEMAGICAL SURREALISTART WrittenSurrealistcomposition or firstandlastdraft Afteryouhavesettledyourselfinaplaceasfavorableaspossibletotheconcentration ofyourminduponitself,havewritingmaterialsbroughttoyou.Putyourselfinas passive,orreceptive,astateofmindasyoucan.Forgetaboutyourgenius,your talents,andthetalentsofeveryoneelse.Keepremindingyourselfthatliteratureisone ofthesaddestroadsthatleadstoeverything.Writequickly,withoutanypreconceived subject,fastenoughsothatyouwillnotrememberwhatyou'rewritingandbetempted

torereadwhatyouhavewritten.Thefirstsentencewillcomespontaneously,so compellingisthetruththatwitheverypassingsecondthereisasentenceunknownto ourconsciousnesswhichisonlycryingouttobeheard.Itissomewhatofaproblemto formanopinionaboutthenextsentenceitdoubtlesspartakesbothofourconscious activityandoftheother,ifoneagreesthatthefactofhavingwrittenthefirstentailsa minimumofperception.Thisshouldbeofnoimportancetoyou,howevertoalarge extent,thisiswhatismostinterestingandintriguingabouttheSurrealistgame.Thefact stillremainsthatpunctuationnodoubtresiststheabsolutecontinuityoftheflowwith whichweareconcerned,althoughitmayseemasnecessaryasthearrangementof knotsinavibratingcord.Goonaslongasyoulike.Putyourtrustintheinexhaustible natureofthemurmur.Ifsilencethreatenstosettleinifyoushouldeverhappentomake amistakeamistake,perhapsduetocarelessnessbreakoffwithouthesitationwithan overlyclearline.Followingawordtheoriginofwhichseemssuspicioustoyou,place anyletterwhatsoever,theletter"l"forexample,alwaystheletter"l,"andbringthe arbitrarybackbymakingthisletterthefirstofthefollowingword. Hownottobeboredanylongerwhenwithothers Thisisverydifficult.Don'tbeathomeforanyone,andoccasionally,whennoonehas forcedhiswayin,interruptingyouinthemidstofyourSurrealistactivity,andyou, crossingyourarms,say:"Itdoesn'tmatter,therearedoubtlessbetterthingstodoornot do.InterestinlifeisindefensibleSimplicity,whatisgoingoninsideme,isstilltiresome tome!"oranotherrevoltingbanality. Tomakespeeches Justpriortotheelections,inthefirstcountrywhichdeemsitworthwhiletoproceedin thiskindofpublicexpressionofopinion,haveyourselfputontheballot.Eachofushas withinhimselfthepotentialofanorator:multicoloredloincloths,glasstrinketsofwords. ThroughSurrealismhewilltakedespairunawaresinitspoverty.Onenight,onastage, hewill,byhimself,carveuptheeternalheaven,thatPeaudel'ours.Hewillpromiseso muchthatanypromiseshekeepswillbeasourceofwonderanddismay.Inanswerto theclaimsofanentirepeoplehewillgiveapartialandludicrousvote.Hewillmakethe bitterestenemiespartakeofasecretdesirewhichwillblowupthecountries.Andinthis hewillsucceedsimplybyallowinghimselftobemovedbytheimmensewordwhich dissolvesintopityandrevolvesinhate.Incapableoffailure,hewillplayonthevelvetof allfailures.Hewillbetrulyelected,andwomenwilllovehimwithanallconsuming passion. Towritefalsenovels Whoeveryoumaybe,ifthespiritmovesyouburnafewlaurelleavesand,without wishingtotendthismeagerfire,youwillbegintowriteanovel.Surrealismwillallowyou to:allyouhavetodoissettheneedlemarked"fair"at"action,"andtherestwillfollow naturally.Herearesomecharactersratherdifferentinappearancetheirnamesinyour handwritingareaquestionofcapitalletters,andtheywillconductthemselveswiththe sameeasewithrespecttoactiveverbsasdoestheimpersonalpronoun"it"withrespect

towordssuchas"israining,""is,""must,"etc.Theywillcommandthem,sotospeak, andwhereverobservation,reflection,andthefacultyofgeneralizationprovetobeofno helptoyou,youmayrestassuredthattheywillcredityouwithathousandintentions youneverhad.Thusendowedwithatinynumberofphysicalandmoralcharacteristics, thesebeingswhointruthoweyousolittlewillthereafterdeviatenotoneiotafroma certainlineofconductaboutwhichyouneednotconcernyourselfanyfurther.Outof thiswillresultaplotmoreorlesscleverinappearance,justifyingpointbypointthis movingorcomfortingdenouementaboutwhichyoucouldn'tcareless.Yourfalsenovel willsimulatetoamarvelousdegreearealnovelyouwillberich,andeveryonewill agreethat"you'vereallygotalotofguts,"sinceit'salsointhisregionthatthis somethingislocated. Ofcourse,byananalogousmethod,andprovidedyouignorewhatyouarereviewing, youcansuccessfullydevoteyourselftofalseliterarycriticism. Howtocatchtheeyeofawoman youpassinthestreet

Againstdeath Surrealismwillusheryouintodeath,whichisasecretsociety.Itwillgloveyourhand, buryingthereintheprofoundMwithwhichthewordMemorybegins.Donotforgetto makeproperarrangementsforyourlastwillandtestament:speakingpersonally,Iask thatIbetakentothecemeteryinamovingvan.Maymyfriendsdestroyeverylastcopy oftheprintingoftheSpeechconcerningtheModicumofReality.

LanguagehasbeengiventomansothathemaymakeSurrealistuseofit.Tothe extentthatheisrequiredtomakehimselfunderstood,hemanagesmoreorlessto expresshimself,andbysodoingtofulfillcertainfunctionsculledfromamongthemost vulgar.Speaking,readingaletter,presentnorealproblemforhim,providedthat,inso doing,hedoesnotsethimselfagoalabovethemean,thatis,providedheconfines himselftocarryingonaconversation(forthepleasureofconversing)withsomeone.He isnotworriedaboutthewordsthataregoingtocome,noraboutthesentencewhichwill followafterthesentenceheisjustcompleting.Toaverysimplequestion,hewillbe capableofmakingalightninglikereply.Intheabsenceofminorticsacquiredthrough contactwithothers,hecanwithoutanyadoofferanopiniononalimitednumberof subjectsforthathedoesnotneedto"countuptoten"beforespeakingortoformulate anythingwhateveraheadoftime.Whohasbeenabletoconvincehimthatthisfacultyof thefirstdraftwillonlydohimadisservicewhenhemakesuphismindtoestablishmore delicaterelationships?Thereisnosubjectaboutwhichheshouldrefusetotalk,towrite aboutprolifically.Allthatresultsfromlisteningtooneself,fromreadingwhatone

haswritten,isthesuspensionoftheoccult,thatadmirablehelp.Iaminnohurryto understandmyself(basta!Ishallalwaysunderstandmyself).Ifsuchandsucha sentenceofmineturnsouttobesomewhatdisappointing,atleastmomentarily,Iplace mytrustinthefollowingsentencetoredeemitssinsIcarefullyrefrainfromstartingit overagainorpolishingit.Theonlythingthatmightprovefataltomewouldbethe slightestlossofimpetus.Words,groupsofwordswhichfollowoneanother,manifest amongthemselvesthegreatestsolidarity.Itisnotuptometofavoronegroupoverthe other.Itisuptoamiraculousequivalenttointerveneandinterveneitdoes. Notonlydoesthisunrestrictedlanguage,whichIamtryingtorenderforevervalid, whichseemstometoadaptitselftoalloflife'scircumstances,notonlydoesthis languagenotdeprivemeofanyofmymeans,onthecontraryitlendsmean extraordinarylucidity,anditdoessoinanareawhereIleastexpectedit.Ishallevengo sofarastomaintainthatitinstructsmeand,indeed,Ihavehadoccasiontouse surreallywordswhosemeaningIhaveforgotten.Iwassubsequentlyabletoverifythat thewayinwhichIhadusedthemcorrespondedperfectlywiththeirdefinition.This wouldleaveonetobelievethatwedonot"learn,"thatallweeverdois"relearn."There arefelicitousturnsofspeechthatIhavethusfamiliarizedmyselfwith.AndIamnot talkingaboutthepoeticconsciousnessofobjectswhichIhavebeenabletoacquireonly afteraspiritualcontactwiththemrepeatedathousandtimesover. TheformsofSurrealistlanguageadaptthemselvesbesttodialogue.Here,twothoughts confronteachotherwhileoneisbeingdelivered,theotherisbusywithitbuthowisit busywithit?Toassumethatitincorporatesitwithinitselfwouldbetantamountto admittingthatthereisatimeduringwhichitispossibleforittolivecompletelyoffthat otherthought,whichishighlyunlikely.And,infact,theattentionitpaysiscompletely exteriorithasonlytimeenoughtoapproveorrejectgenerallyrejectwithallthe considerationofwhichmaniscapable.Thismodeoflanguage,moreover,doesnot allowtheheartofthemattertobeplumbed.Myattention,preytoanentreatywhichit cannotinalldecencyreject,treatstheopposingthoughtasanenemyinordinary conversation,it"takesitup"almostalwaysonthewords,thefiguresofspeech,it employsitputsmeinapositiontoturnittogoodadvantageinmyreplybydistorting them.Thisistruetosuchadegreethatincertainpathologicalstatesofmind,wherethe sensorialdisordersoccupythepatient'scompleteattention,helimitshimself,while continuingtoanswerthequestions,toseizingthelastwordspokeninhispresenceor thelastportionoftheSurrealistsentencesometraceofwhichhefindsinhismind. Q."Howoldareyou?"A."You."(Echolalia.) Q."Whatisyourname?"A."Fortyfivehouses."(Gansersyndrome,orbesidethepoint replies.) Thereisnoconversationinwhichsometraceofthisdisorderdoesnotoccur.Theeffort tobesocialwhichdictatesitandtheconsiderablepracticewehaveatitaretheonly thingswhichenableustoconcealittemporarily.Itisalsothegreatweaknessofthe bookthatitisinconstantconflictwithitsbest,bywhichImeanthemostdemanding, readers.IntheveryshortdialoguethatIconcoctedabovebetweenthedoctorandthe

madman,itwasinfactthemadmanwhogotthebetteroftheexchange.Because, throughhisreplies,heobtrudesupontheattentionofthedoctorexamininghimand becauseheisnotthepersonaskingthequestions.Doesthismeanthathisthoughtat thispointisstronger?Perhaps.Heisfreenottocareanylongerabouthisageorname. PoeticSurrealism,whichisthesubjectofthisstudy,hasfocuseditseffortsuptothis pointonreestablishingdialogueinitsabsolutetruth,byfreeingbothinterlocutorsfrom anyobligationsandpoliteness.Eachofthemsimplypursueshissoliloquywithouttrying toderiveanyspecialdialecticalpleasurefromitandwithouttryingtoimposeanything whatsoeveruponhisneighbor.Theremarksexchangedarenot,asisgenerallythe case,meanttodevelopsomethesis,howeverunimportantitmaybetheyareas disaffectedaspossible.Asforthereplythattheyelicit,itis,inprinciple,totally indifferenttothepersonalprideofthepersonspeaking.Thewords,theimagesareonly somanyspringboardsforthemindofthelistener.InLesChampsmagntiques,thefirst purelySurrealistwork,thisisthewayinwhichthepagesgroupedtogetherunderthe titleBarriresmustbeconceivedofpageswhereinSoupaultandIshowourselvesto beimpartialinterlocutors.

Surrealismdoesnotallowthosewhodevotethemselvestoittoforsakeitwhenever theylike.Thereiseveryreasontobelievethatitactsonthemindverymuchasdrugs dolikedrugs,itcreatesacertainstateofneedandcanpushmantofrightfulrevolts.It alsois,ifyoulike,anartificialparadise,andthetasteonehasforitderivesfrom Baudelaire'scriticismforthesamereasonastheothers.Thustheanalysisofthe mysteriouseffectsandspecialpleasuresitcanproduceinmanyrespectsSurrealism occursasanewvicewhichdoesnotnecessarilyseemtoberestrictedtothehappy fewlikehashish,ithastheabilitytosatisfyallmanneroftastessuchananalysishas tobeincludedinthepresentstudy. 1.ItistrueofSurrealistimagesasitisofopiumimagesthatmandoesnotevokethem ratherthey"cometohimspontaneously,despotically.Hecannotchasethemawayfor thewillispowerlessnowandnolongercontrolsthefaculties."*(Baudelaire.)Itremains tobeseenwhetherimageshaveeverbeen"evoked."Ifoneaccepts,asIdo,Reverdy's definitionitdoesnotseempossibletobringtogether,voluntarily,whathecalls"two distantrealities."Thejuxtapositionismadeornotmade,andthatisthelongandthe shortofit.Personally,Iabsolutelyrefusetobelievethat,inReverdy'swork,images suchas Inthebrook,thereisasongthatflows or: Dayunfoldedlikeawhitetablecloth or:

Theworldgoesbackintoasack revealtheslightestdegreeofpremeditation.Inmyopinion,itiserroneoustoclaimthat "themindhasgraspedtherelationship"oftworealitiesinthepresenceofeachother. Firstofall,ithasseizednothingconsciously.Itis,asitwere,from thefortuitous juxtapositionofthetwotermsthataparticularlighthassprung,thelightoftheimage,to whichweareinfinitelysensitive.Thevalueoftheimagedependsuponthebeautyofthe sparkobtaineditis,consequently,afunctionofthedifferenceofpotentialbetweenthe twoconductors.Whenthedifferenceexistsonlyslightly,asinacomparison,*(Compare theimageintheworkofJulesRenard.)thesparkislacking.Now,itisnotwithinman's power,sofarasIcantell,toeffectthejuxtapositionoftworealitiessofarapart.The principleoftheassociationofideas,suchasweconceiveofit,militatesagainstit.Or elsewewouldhavetoreverttoanellipticalart,whichReverdydeploresasmuchasI. Wearethereforeobligedtoadmitthatthetwotermsoftheimagearenotdeducedone fromtheotherbythemindforthespecificpurposeofproducingthespark,thattheyare thesimultaneousproductsoftheactivityIcallSurrealist,reason'srolebeinglimitedto takingnoteof,andappreciating,theluminousphenomenon. Andjustasthelengthofthesparkincreasestotheextentthatitoccursinrarefied gases,theSurrealistatmospherecreatedbyautomaticwriting,whichIhavewantedto putwithinthereachofeveryone,isespeciallyconducivetotheproductionofthemost beautifulimages.Onecanevengosofarastosaythatinthisdizzyingracetheimages appearliketheonlyguidepostsofthemind.Byslowdegreesthemindbecomes convincedofthesupremerealityoftheseimages.Atfirstlimitingitselftosubmittingto them,itsoonrealizesthattheyflatteritsreason,andincreaseitsknowledge accordingly.Themindbecomesawareofthelimitlessexpanseswhereinitsdesiresare mademanifest,wheretheprosandconsareconstantlyconsumed,whereitsobscurity doesnotbetrayit.Itgoesforward,bornebytheseimageswhichenraptureit,which scarcelyleaveitanytimetoblowuponthefireinitsfingers.Thisisthemostbeautiful nightofall,thelightningfillednight:day,comparedtoit,isnight. ThecountlesskindsofSurrealistimageswouldrequireaclassificationwhichIdonot intendtomaketoday.Togroupthemaccordingtotheirparticularaffinitieswouldlead mefarafieldwhatIbasicallywanttomentionistheircommonvirtue.Forme,their greatestvirtue,Imustconfess,istheonethatisarbitrarytothehighestdegree,theone thattakesthelongesttimetotranslateintopracticallanguage,eitherbecauseit containsanimmenseamountofseemingcontradictionorbecauseoneofitstermsis strangelyconcealedorbecause,presentingitselfassomethingsensational,itseemsto endweakly(becauseitsuddenlyclosestheangleofitscompass),orbecauseitderives fromitselfaridiculousformaljustification,orbecauseitisofahallucinatorykind,or becauseitverynaturallygivestotheabstractthemaskoftheconcrete,ortheopposite, orbecauseitimpliesthenegationofsomeelementaryphysicalproperty,orbecauseit provokeslaughter.Here,inorder,areafewexamplesofit: Therubyofchampagne.(LAUTRAMONT)

Beautifulasthelawofarresteddevelopmentofthebreastinadults,whosepropensity togrowthisnotinproportiontothequantityofmoleculesthattheirorganism assimilates.(LAUTRAMONT) Achurchstooddazzlingasabell.(PHILIPPESOUPAULT) InRroseSlavy'ssleepthereisadwarfissuedfromawellwhocomestoeatherbread atnight.(ROBERTDESNOS) Onthebridgethedewwiththeheadofatabbycatlullsitselftosleep.(ANDR BRETON) Alittletotheleft,inmyfirmamentforetold,Iseebutit'sdoubtlessbutamistofblood andmurderthegleamingglassofliberty'sdisturbances.(LOUISARAGON) Intheforestaflame Thelionswerefresh.(ROBERTVITRAC) Thecolorofawoman'sstockingsisnotnecessarilyinthelikenessofhereyes,which ledaphilosopherwhoitispointlesstomention,tosay:"Cephalopodshavemore reasonstohateprogressthandoquadrupeds."(MAXMORISE) 1st.Whetherwelikeitornot,thereisenoughtheretosatisfyseveraldemandsofthe mind.Alltheseimagesseemtoattesttothefactthatthemindisripeforsomething morethanthebenignjoysitallowsitselfingeneral.Thisistheonlywayithasofturning toitsownadvantagetheidealquantityofeventswithwhichitisentrusted.*(Letusno forgetthat,accordingtoNovalis'formula,"thereareseriesofeventswhichrunparallel torealevents.Menandcircumstancesgenerallymodifytheidealtrainof circumstances,sothatisseemsimperfectandtheirconsequencesarealsoequally imperfect.ThusitwaswiththeReformationinsteadofProtestantism,wegot Lutheranism.")Theseimagesshowittheextentofitsordinarydissipationandthe drawbacksthatitoffersforit.Inthefinalanalysis,it'snotsuchabadthingforthese imagestoupsetthemind,fortoupsetthemindistoputitinthewrong.ThesentencesI quotemakeampleprovisionforthis.Butthemindwhichrelishesthemdrawstherefrom theconvictionthatitisontherighttrackonitsown,themindisincapableoffinding itselfguiltyofcavilithasnothingtofear,since,moreover,itattemptstoembrace everything. 2nd.ThemindwhichplungesintoSurrealismreliveswithglowingexcitementthebest partofitschildhood.Forsuchamind,itissimilartothecertaintywithwhichaperson whoisdrowningreviewsoncemore,inthespaceoflessthanasecond,allthe insurmountablemomentsofhislife.Somemaysaytomethattheparallelisnotvery encouraging.ButIhavenointentionofencouragingthosewhotellmethat.From childhoodmemories,andfromafewothers,thereemanatesasentimentofbeing unintegrated,andthenlaterofhavinggoneastray,whichIholdtobethemostfertile thatexists.Itisperhapschildhoodthatcomesclosesttoone's"reallife"childhood beyondwhichmanhasathisdisposal,asidefromhislaissezpasser,onlyafew

complimentaryticketschildhoodwhereeverythingneverthelessconspirestobring abouttheeffective,riskfreepossessionofoneself.ThankstoSurrealism,itseemsthat opportunityknocksasecondtime.Itisasthoughwewerestillrunningtowardour salvation,orourperdition.Intheshadowweagainseeapreciousterror.ThankGod,it's stillonlyPurgatory.Withashudder,wecrosswhattheoccultistscalldangerous territory.InmywakeIraiseupmonstersthatarelyinginwaittheyarenotyettooill disposedtowardme,andIamnotlost,sinceIfearthem.Hereare"theelephantswith theheadsofwomenandtheflyinglions"whichusedtomakeSoupaultandmetremble inourbootstomeet,hereisthe"solublefish"whichstillfrightensmeslightly.POISSON SOLUBLE,amInotthesolublefish,IwasbornunderthesignofPisces,andmanis solubleinhisthought!ThefloraandfaunaofSurrealismareinadmissible. 3rd.IdonotbelieveintheestablishmentofaconventionalSurrealistpatternanytimein thenearfuture.Thecharacteristicscommontoallthetextsofthiskind,includingthoseI havejustcitedandmanyotherswhichalonecouldofferusalogicalanalysisanda carefulgrammaticalanalysis,donotprecludeacertainevolutionofSurrealistprosein time.ComingontheheelsofalargenumberofessaysIhavewritteninthisveinover thepastfiveyears,mostofwhichIamindulgentenoughtothinkareextremely disordered,theshortanecdoteswhichcomprisethebalanceofthisvolumeoffermea glaringproofofwhatIamsaying.Idonotjudgethemtobeanymoreworthless, becauseofthat,inportrayingforthereaderthebenefitswhichtheSurrealist contributionisliabletomaketohisconsciousness. Surrealistmethodswould,moreover,demandtobe heard.Everythingisvalidwhenitcomestoobtainingthedesiredsuddennessfrom certainassociations.ThepiecesofpaperthatPicassoandBraqueinsertintotheirwork havethesamevalueastheintroductionofaplatitudeintoaliteraryanalysisofthemost rigoroussort.ItisevenpermissibletoentitlePOEMwhatwegetfromthemostrandom assemblagepossible(observe,ifyouwill,thesyntax)ofheadlinesandscrapsof headlinescutoutofthenewspapers:

POEM Aburstoflaughter

ofsapphireintheislandofCeylon
Themostbeautifulstraws

HAVEAFADEDCOLOR

UNDERTHELOCKS onanisolatedfarm
FROMDAYTODAY thepleasant

grows worse

coffee
preaches for its saint
THE DAILY ARTISAN OF YOUR BEAUTY

ADAM,

a pair

of silk stockings
is not

Aleapintospace
A STAG

Loveaboveall

Everythingcouldbeworkedout sowell PARISISABIGVILLAGE

Watch out for

the fire that covers

THE PRAYER

of fair weather

Know that
Theultravioletrays
have finished their task

shortandsweet

THEFIRSTWHITEPAPER
OFCHANCE
Red will be The wandering singer

WHEREISHE?
inmemory

inhishouse

ATTHESUITORSBALL

Ido asIdance

Whatpeopledid,whattheyre goingtodo

Andwecouldoffermanymanymoreexamples.Thetheater,philosophy,science, criticismwouldallsucceedinfindingtheirbearingsthere.Ihastentoaddthatfuture Surrealisttechniquesdonotinterestme.

Farmoreserious,inmyopinion*(WhateverreservationsImaybeallowedtomake concerningresponsibilityingeneralandthemedicolegalconsiderationswhich determineanindividual'sdegreeofresponsibilitycompleteresponsibility, irresponsibility,limitedresponsibility(sic)howeverdifficultitmaybeformetoaccept theprincipleofanykindofresponsibility,Iwouldliketoknowhowthefirstpunishable offenses,theSurrealistcharacterofwhichwillbeclearlyapparent,willbejudged. Will theaccusedbeacquitted,orwillhemerelybegiventhebenefitofthedoubtbecauseof extenuatingcircumstances?It'sashamethattheviolationofthelawsgoverningthe Pressistodayscarcelyrepressed,forifitwerenotwewouldsoonseeatrialofthis sort:theaccusedhaspublishedabookwhichisanoutragetopublicdecency.Several ofhis"mostrespectedandhonorable"fellowcitizenshavelodgedacomplaintagainst him,andheisalsochargedwithslanderandlibel.Therearealsoallsortsofother chargesagainsthim,suchasinsultinganddefamingthearmy,incitingtomurder,rape, etc.Theaccused,moreover,wastesnotimeinagreeingwiththeaccusersin "stigmatizing"mostoftheideasexpressed.Hisonlydefenseisclaimingthathedoes notconsiderhimselftobetheauthorofhisbook,saidbookbeingnomoreandnoless thanaSurrealistconcoctionwhichprecludesanyquestionofmeritorlackofmeriton thepartofthepersonwhosignsitfurther,thatallhehasdoneiscopyadocument

withoutofferinganyopinionthereon,andthatheisatleastasforeigntotheaccused textasisthepresidingjudgehimself. Whatistrueforthepublicationofabookwillalsoholdtrueforawholehostofotheracts assoonasSurrealistmethodsbegintoenjoywidespreadfavor.Whenthathappens,a newmoralitymustbesubstitutedfortheprevailingmorality,thesourceofallourtrials andtribulations.)IhaveintimateditoftenenougharetheapplicationsofSurrealismto action.Tobesure,IdonotbelieveinthepropheticnatureoftheSurrealistword."Itis theoracle,thethingsIsay."*(Rimbaud.)Yes,asmuchasIlike,butwhatoftheoracle itself?**(Still,STILL....Wemustabsolutelygettothebottomofthis.Today,June8, 1924,aboutoneo'clock,thevoicewhisperedtome:"Bthune,Bthune."Whatdidit mean?IhaveneverbeentoBthune,andhaveonlythevaguestnotionastowhereitis locatedonthemapofFrance.Bthuneevokesnothingforme,notevenascenefrom TheThreeMusketeers.IshouldhaveleftforBthune,whereperhapstherewas somethingawaitingmethatwouldhavebeentosimple,really.Someonetoldmethey hadreadinabookbyChestertonaboutadetectivewho,inordertofindsomeoneheis lookingforinacertaincity,simplyscouredfromrooftocellarthehouseswhich,from theoutside,seemedsomehowabnormaltohim,wereitonlyinsomeslightdetail.This systemisasgoodasanyother. Similarly,in1919,Soupaultwentintoanynumberofimpossiblebuildingstoaskthe conciergewhetherPhilippeSoupaultdidinfactlivethere.Hewouldnothavebeen surprised,Isuspect,byanaffirmativereply.Hewouldhavegoneandknockedonhis door.)Men'spietydoesnotfoolme.TheSurrealistvoicethatshookCumae,Dodona, andDelphiisnothingmorethanthevoicewhichdictatesmylessirasciblespeechesto me.Mytimemustnotbeitstime,whyshouldthisvoicehelpmeresolvethechildish problemofmydestiny?Ipretend,unfortunately,toactinaworldwhere,inordertotake intoaccountitssuggestions,Iwouldbeobligedtoresorttotwokindsofinterpreters, onetotranslateitsjudgementsforme,theother,impossibletofind,totransmittomy fellowmenwhateversenseIcouldmakeoutofthem.Thisworld,inwhichIendurewhat Iendure(dontgosee),thismodernworld,Imean,whatthedevildoyouwantmetodo withit?PerhapstheSurrealistvoicewillbestilled,Ihavegivenuptryingtokeeptrackof thosewhohavedisappeared.Ishallnolongerenterinto,howeverbriefly,themarvelous detaileddescriptionofmyyearsandmydays.IshallbelikeNijinskiwhowastakenlast yeartotheRussianballetanddidnotrealizewhatspectacleitwashewasseeing.I shallbealone,veryalonewithinmyself,indifferenttoalltheworldsballets.WhatIhave done,whatIhaveleftundone,Igiveittoyou.

AndeversinceIhavehadagreatdesiretoshowforbearancetoscientificmusing, howeverunbecoming,inthefinalanalysis,fromeverypointofview.Radios?Fine. Syphilis?Ifyoulike.Photography?Idontseeanyreasonwhynot.Thecinema?Three cheersfordarkenedrooms.War?Gaveusagoodlaugh.Thetelephone?Hello.Youth? Charmingwhitehair.Trytomakemesaythankyou:"Thankyou."Thankyou.Ifthe

commonmanhasahighopinionofthingswhichproperlyspeakingbelongtotherealm ofthelaboratory,itisbecausesuchresearchhasresultedinthemanufactureofa machineorthediscoveryofsomeserumwhichthemaninthestreetviewsasaffecting himdirectly.Heisquitesurethattheyhavebeentryingtoimprovehislot.Iamnotquite suretowhatextentscholarsaremotivatedbyhumanitarianaims,butitdoesnotseem tomethatthisfactorconstitutesaverymarkeddegreeofgoodness.Iam,ofcourse, referringtotruescholarsandnottothevulgarizersandpopularizersofallsortswho takeoutpatents.Inthisrealmasinanyother,IbelieveinthepureSurrealistjoyofthe manwho,forewarnedthatallothersbeforehimhavefailed,refusestoadmitdefeat, setsofffromwhateverpointhechooses,alonganyotherpathsaveareasonableone, andarriveswhereverhecan.Suchandsuchanimage,bywhichhedeemsit opportunetoindicatehisprogressandwhichmayresult,perhaps,inhis receivingpublicacclaim,istome,Imustconfess,amatterofcomplete indifference.Noristhematerialwithwhichhemustperforceencumberhimselfhis glasstubesormymetallicfeathers...Asforhismethod,Iamwillingtogiveitasmuch creditasIdomine.Ihaveseentheinventorofthecutaneousplantarreflexatworkhe manipulatedhissubjectswithoutrespite,itwasmuchmorethanan"examination"he wasemployingitwasobviousthathewasfollowingnosetplan.Hereandtherehe formulatedaremark,distantly,withoutnonethelesssettingdownhisneedle,whilehis hammerwasneverstill.Helefttoothersthefutiletaskofcuringpatients.Hewaswholly consumedbyanddevotedtothatsacredfever.

Surrealism,suchasIconceiveofit,assertsourcompletenonconformismclearly enoughsothattherecanbenoquestionoftranslatingit,atthetrialoftherealworld,as evidenceforthedefense.Itcould,onthecontrary,onlyservetojustifythecomplete stateofdistractionwhichwehopetoachieveherebelow.Kantsabsentmindedness regardingwomen,Pasteursabsentmindednessabout"grapes,"Curies absentmindednesswithrespecttovehicles,areinthisregardprofoundlysymptomatic. Thisworldisonlyveryrelativelyintunewiththought,andincidentsofthiskindareonly themostobviousepisodesofawarinwhichIamproudtobeparticipating."Cemonde nestquetrsrelativementlamesuredelapenseetlesincidentsdecegenre nesontquelespisodesjusquicilesplusmarquantsduneguerre dindpendencelaquellejemefaisgloiredeparticiper."Surrealismisthe "invisibleray"whichwillonedayenableustowinoutoverouropponents."Youareno longertrembling,carcass."Thissummertherosesarebluethewoodisofglass.The earth,drapedinitsverdantcloak,makesaslittleimpressionuponmeasaghost.Itis livingandceasingtolivewhichareimaginarysolutions.Existenceiselsewhere.

[http://www.geocities.com/lmc2124/breton.html#manifesto]

What is Surrealism?

AndrBreton
(A lecture given in Brussels on 1st June 1934 at a public meeting organised by the Belgian Surrealists, and issued as a pamphlet immediately afterwards)

Comrades: TheactivityofoursurrealistcomradesinBelgiumiscloselyalliedwithourownactivity,andIam happytobeintheircompanythisevening.Magritte,Mesens,Noug,ScutenaireandSourisare amongthosewhoserevolutionarywilloutsideofallconsiderationoftheiragreementor disagreementwithusonparticularpointshasbeenforusinParisaconstantreasonfor thinkingthatthesurrealistproject,beyondthelimitationsofspaceandtime,cancontributeto theefficaciousreunificationofallthosewhodonotdespairofthetransformationoftheworld andwhowishthistransformationtobeasradicalaspossible. * Atthebeginningofthewarof1870(hewastodiefourmonthslater,agedtwentyfour),the authoroftheChantsdeMaldororandofPosies,IsidoreDucasse,betterknownbythenameof ComtedeLautramont,whosethoughthasbeenoftheverygreatesthelpandencouragement tomyselfandmyfriendsthroughoutthefifteenyearsduringwhichwehavesucceededin carryingacommonactivity,madethefollowingremark,amongmanyotherswhichwereto electrifyusfiftyyearslater:"AtthehourinwhichIwrite,newtremorsarerunningthroughthe intellectualatmosphereitisonlyamatterofhavingthecouragetofacethem." 186875:itisimpossible,lookingbackuponthepast,toperceiveanepochsopoeticallyrich,so victorious,sorevolutionaryandsochargedwithdistantmeaningasthatwhichstretchesfrom theseparatepublicationofthePremierChantdeMaldorortotheinsertioninalettertoErnest DelahayeofRimbaud'slastpoem,Rve,whichhasnotsofarbeenincludedinhisComplete Works.ItisnotanidlehopetowishtoseetheworksofLautramontandRimbaudrestoredto theircorrecthistoricalbackground:thecomingandtheimmediateresultsofthewarof1870. Otherandanalogouscataclysmscouldnothavefailedtoriseoutofthatmilitaryandsocial cataclysmwhosefinalepisodewastobetheatrociouscrushingoftheParisCommunethelast indatecaughtmanyofusattheveryagewhenLautramontandRimbaudfoundthemselves thrownintotheprecedingone,andbywayofrevengehashadasitsconsequenceandthisis thenewandimportantfactthetriumphoftheBolshevikRevolution. Ishouldsaythattopeoplesociallyandpoliticallyuneducatedaswethenwerewewho,on onehand,cameforthemostpartfromthepetitebourgeoisie,andontheother,wereallby vocationpossessedwiththedesiretointerveneupontheartisticplanethedaysofOctober, whichonlythepassingoftheyearsandthesubsequentappearanceofalargenumberofworks withinthereachofallwerefullytoillumine,couldnotthereandthenhaveappearedtoturnso decisiveapageinhistory.Wewere,Irepeat,illpreparedandillinformed.Aboveall,wewere exclusivelypreoccupiedwithacampaignofsystematicrefusal,exasperatedbytheconditions

underwhich,insuchanage,wewereforcedtolive.Butourrefusaldidnotstopthereitwas insatiableandknewnobounds.Apartfromtheincrediblestupidityoftheargumentswhich attemptedtolegitimizeourparticipationinanenterprisesuchasthewar,whoseissueleftus completelyindifferent,thisrefusalwasdirectedandhavingbeenbroughtupinsuchaschool, wearenotcapableofchangingsomuchthatisnolongersodirectedagainstthewholeseries ofintellectual,moralandsocialobligationsthatcontinuallyandfromallsidesweighdownupon manandcrushhim.Intellectually,itwasvulgarrationalismandchoplogicthatmorethan anythingelseformedthecausesofourhorrorandourdestructiveimpulsemorally,itwasall duties:religious,civicandofthefamilysocially,itwaswork(didnotRimbaudsay:"Jamaisje netravaillerai,flotsdefeu!"andalso:"Lamainplumevautlamaincharrue.Quelsicle mains!Jen'auraijamaismamain!"[NeverwillIwork,Otorrentsofflame!Thehandthatwrites isworththehandthatploughs!Whatacenturyofhands!Iwillneverliftmyhand!]). ThemoreIthinkaboutit,themorecertainIbecomethatnothingwastoourmindsworthsaving, unlessitwas...unlessitwas,atlast"l'amourlaposie,"totakethebrightandtremblingtitleof oneofPaulEluard'sbooks,"l'amourlaposie,"consideredasinseparableintheiressenceand asthesolegood.Betweenthenegationofthisgood,anegationbroughttoitsclimaxbythe war,anditsfullandtotalaffirmation("Poetryshouldbemadebyall,notone"),thefieldwasnot, toourminds,opentoanythingbutaRevolutiontrulyextendedintoalldomains,improbably radical,tothehighestdegreeimpracticalandtragicallydestroyingwithinitselfthewholetime thefeelingthatitbroughtwithitbothofdesirabilityandofabsurdity. Manyofyou,nodoubt,wouldputthisdowntoacertainyouthfulexaltationandtothegeneral savageryofthetimeImust,however,insistonthisattitude,commontoparticularmenand manifestingitselfatperiodsnearlyhalfacenturydistantfromoneanother.Ishouldaffirmthatin ignoranceofthisattitudeonecanformnoideaofwhatsurrealismreallystandsfor.Thisattitude alonecanaccount,andverysufficientlyatthat,foralltheexcessesthatmaybeattributedtous butwhichcannotbedeploredunlessonegratuitouslysupposesthatwecouldhavestartedfrom anyotherpoint.Theillsoundingremarks,thatareimputedtous,thesocalledinconsiderate attacks,theinsults,thequarrels,thescandalsallthingsthatwearesomuchreproached withturneduponthesameroadasthesurrealistpoems.Fromtheverybeginning,the surrealistattitudehashadthatincommonwithLautramontandRimbaudwhichonceandfor allbindsourlottotheirs,andthatiswartimedefeatism. Iamnotafraidtosaythatthisdefeatismseemstobemorerelevantthanever."Newtremors arerunningthroughtheintellectualatmosphereitisonlyamatterofhavingthecouragetoface them."Theyare,infact,alwaysrunningthroughtheintellectualatmosphere:theproblemof theirpropagationandinterpretationremainsthesameand,asfarasweareconcerned,remains tobesolved.But,paraphrasingLautramont,Icannotrefrainfromaddingthatatthehourin whichIspeak,oldandmortalshiversaretryingtosubstitutethemselvesforthosewhicharethe veryshiversofknowledgeandoflife.Theycometoannounceafrightfuldisease,adisease followedbythedeprivationofallrightsitisonlyamatterofhavingthecouragetofacethem also.Thisdiseaseiscalledfascism. Letusbecarefultodaynottounderestimatetheperil:theshadowhasgreatlyadvancedover Europerecently.Hitler,DolfussandMussolinihaveeitherdrownedinbloodorsubjectedto corporalhumiliationeverythingthatformedtheeffortofgenerationsstrainingtowardsamore tolerableandmoreworthyformofexistence.TheotherdayInoticedonthefrontpageofa ParisnewspaperaphotographofthesurroundingsoftheLambrechiesmineonthedayafter thecatastrophe.Thisphotographillustratedanarticletitled,inquotationmarks,'OnlyOur ChagrinRemains'.Onthesamepagewasanotherphotographthisoneoftheunemployedof

yourcountrystandinginfrontofahovelintheParisian'poorzone'withthecaptionPovertyis notacrime."Howdelightful!"Isaidtomyself,glancingfromonepicturetotheother.Thusthe bourgeoispublicinFranceisabletoconsoleitselfwiththeknowledgethattheminersofyour countrywerenotnecessarilycriminalsjustbecausetheygotthemselveskilledfor35francsa day.Anddoubtlesstheminers,ourcomrades,willbehappytolearnthatthecommitteeofthe BelgianCoalAssociationintendstopostponetillthedayaftertomorrowtheapplicationofthe wagecutsetfor20May.Incapitalistsociety,hypocrisyandcynicismhavenowlostallsenseof proportionandarebecomingmoreoutrageouseveryday.Withoutmakingexaggerated sacrificestohumanitarianism,whichalwaysinvolvesimpossiblereconciliationsandtrucesto theadvantageofthestronger,Ishouldsaythatinthisatmosphere,thoughtcannotconsiderthe exteriorworldwithoutanimmediateshudder.Everythingweknowaboutfascismshowsthatitis preciselytheconfirmationofthisstateofaffairs,aggravatedtoitsfurthestpointbythelasting resignationthatitseekstoobtainfromthosewhosuffer.Isnottheevidentroleoffascismtore establishforthetimebeingthetotteringsupremacyoffinancecapital?Sucharoleisofitself sufficienttomakeitworthyofallourhatredwecontinuetoconsiderthisfeignedresignationas oneofthegreatestevilsthatcanpossiblybeinflicteduponbeingsofourkind,andthosewho wouldinflictitdeserve,inouropinion,tobebeatenlikedogs.Yetitisimpossibletoconcealthe factthatthisimmensedangeristhere,lurkingatourdoors,thatithasmadeitsappearance withinourwalls,andthatitwouldbepurebyzantinismtodisputetoolong,asinGermany,over thechoiceofthebarriertobesetupagainstit,whenallthewhile,underseveralaspects,itis creepingnearerandnearertous. Duringthecourseoftakingvariousstepswithaviewtocontributing,insofarasIamcapable, totheorganizationinParisoftheantifasciststruggle,Ihavenoticedthatalreadyacertain doubthascreptintotheintellectualcirclesoftheleftastothepossibilityofsuccessfully combatingfascism,adoubtwhichhasunfortunatelyinfectedeventhoseelementswhomone mighthavethoughtitpossibletorelyonandwhohadcometotheforeinthisstruggle.Someof themhaveevenbeguntomakeexcusesforthelossofthebattlealready.Suchdispositions seemtometobesodismayingthatIshouldnotcaretobespeakingherewithoutfirsthaving madeclearmypositioninrelationtothem,orwithoutanticipatingawholeseriesofremarksthat aretofollow,affirmingthattoday,morethaneverbefore,theliberationofthemind,demandsas primarycondition,intheopinionofthesurrealists,theexpressaimofsurrealism,theliberation ofman,whichimpliesthatwemuststrugglewithourfetterswithalltheenergyofdespairthat todaymorethaneverbeforethesurrealistsentirelyrelyforthebringingaboutoftheliberationof manupontheproletarianRevolution. Inowfeelfreetoturntotheobjectofthispamphlet,whichistoattempttoexplainwhat surrealismis.Acertainimmediateambiguitycontainedinthewordsurrealism,is,infact, capableofleadingonetosupposethatitdesignatesIknownotwhattranscendentalattitude, while,onthecontraryitexpressesandalwayshasexpressedforusadesiretodeepenthe foundationsofthereal,tobringaboutanevenclearerandatthesametimeevermore passionateconsciousnessoftheworldperceivedbythesenses.Thewholeevolutionof surrealism,fromitsoriginstothepresentday,whichIamabouttoretrace,showsthatour unceasingwish,growingmoreandmoreurgentfromdaytoday,hasbeenatallcoststoavoid consideringasystemofthoughtasarefuge,topursueourinvestigationswitheyeswideopen totheiroutsideconsequences,andtoassureourselvesthattheresultsoftheseinvestigations wouldbecapableoffacingthebreathofthestreet.Atthelimits,formanyyearspastormore exactly,sincetheconclusionofwhatonemaytermthepurelyintuitiveepochofsurrealism (191925)atthelimits,Isay,wehaveattemptedtopresentinteriorrealityandexteriorreality astwoelementsinprocessofunification,orfinallybecomingone.Thisfinalunificationisthe supremeaimofsurrealism:interiorrealityandexteriorrealitybeing,inthepresentformof

society,incontradiction(andinthiscontradictionweseetheverycauseofman'sunhappiness, butalsothesourceofhismovement),wehaveassignedtoourselvesthetaskofconfronting thesetworealitieswithoneanotheroneverypossibleoccasion,ofrefusingtoallowthe preeminenceoftheoneovertheother,yetnotofactingontheoneandontheotherbothat once,forthatwouldbetosupposethattheyarelessapartfromoneanotherthantheyare(and Ibelievethatthosewhopretendthattheyareactingonbothsimultaneouslyareeitherdeceiving usorareapreytoadisquietingillusion)ofactingonthesetworealitiesnotbothatonce,then, butoneaftertheother,inasystematicmanner,allowingustoobservetheirreciprocalattraction andinterpenetrationandtogivetothisinterplayofforcesalltheextensionnecessaryforthe trendofthesetwoadjoiningrealitiestobecomeoneandthesamething. AsIhavejustmentionedinpassing,Iconsiderthatonecandistinguishtwoepochsinthe surrealistmovement,ofequalduration,fromitsorigins(1919,yearofthepublicationofChamps Magntiques)untiltodayapurelyintuitiveepoch,andareasoningepoch.Thefirstcan summarilybecharacterizedbythebeliefexpressedduringthistimeintheallpowerfulnessof thought,consideredcapableoffreeingitselfbymeansofitsownresources.Thisbelief witnessestoaprevailingviewthatIlookupontodayasbeingextremelymistaken,theviewthat thoughtissupremeovermatter.Thedefinitionofsurrealismthathaspassedintothedictionary, adefinitiontakenfromtheManifestoof1924,takesaccountonlyofthisentirelyidealist dispositionand(forvoluntaryreasonsofsimplificationandamplificationdestinedtoinfluencein mymindthefutureofthisdefinition)doessointermsthatsuggestthatIdeceivedmyselfatthe timeinadvocatingtheuseofanautomaticthoughtnotonlyremovedfromallcontrolexercised bythereasonbutalsodisengagedfrom"allaestheticormoralpreoccupations."Itshouldat leasthavebeensaid:consciousaestheticormoralpreoccupations. Duringtheperiodunderreview,intheabsence,ofcourse,ofallseriouslydiscouragingexterior events,surrealistactivityremainedstrictlyconfinedtoitsfirsttheoreticalpremise,continuingall thewhiletobethevehicleofthattotal"nonconformism"which,aswehaveseen,wasthe bindingfeatureinthecomingtogetherofthosewhotookpartinit,andthecause,duringthefirst fewyearsafterthewar,ofanuninterruptedseriesofadhesions.Nocoherentpoliticalorsocial attitude,however,madeitsappearanceuntil1925,thatistosay(anditisimportanttostress this),untiltheoutbreakoftheMoroccanwar,which,rearousinginusourparticularhostilityto thewayarmedconflictsaffectman,abruptlyplacedbeforeusthenecessityofmakingapublic protest.Thisprotest,which,underthetitleLaRvolutiond'AbordetToujours(October1925 [RevolutionNowandForever]),joinedthenameofthesurrealistspropertothoseofthirtyother intellectuals,wasundoubtedlyratherconfusedideologicallyitnonethelessmarkedthe breakingawayfromawholewayofthinkingitnonethelesscreatedaprecedentthatwasto determinethewholefuturedirectionofthemovement.Surrealistactivity,facedwithabrutal, revolting,unthinkablefact,wasforcedtoaskitselfwhatwereitsproperresourcesandto determinetheirlimitsitwasforcedtoadoptapreciseattitude,exteriortoitself,inorderto continuetofacewhateverexceededtheselimits. Surrealistactivityatthismomententeredintoitsreasoningphase.Itsuddenlyexperiencedthe necessityofcrossingoverthegapthatseparatesabsoluteidealismfromdialecticalmaterialism. Thisnecessitymadeitsappearanceinsourgentamannerthatwehadtoconsidertheproblem intheclearestpossiblelight,withtheresultthatforsomemonthswedevotedourentire attentiontothemeansofbringingaboutthischangeoffrontonceandforall.IfIdonottoday feelanyretrospectiveembarrassmentinexplainingthischange,thatisbecauseitseemstome quitenaturalthatsurrealistthought,beforecomingtorestindialecticalmaterialismand insisting,astoday,onthesupremacyofmatterovermind,shouldhavebeencondemnedto pass,inafewyears,throughthewholehistoricdevelopmentofmodernthought.Itcame

normallytoMarxthroughHegel,justasitcamenormallytoHegelthroughBerkeleyandHume. Theselatterinfluencesofferacertainparticularityinthat,contrarytocertainpoeticinfluences undergoneinthesameway,andaccommodatedtothoseoftheFrenchmaterialistsofthe eighteenthcentury,theyyieldedaresiduumofpracticalaction.Totryandhidetheseinfluences wouldbecontrarytomydesiretoshowthatsurrealismhasnotbeendrawnupasanabstract system,thatistosay,safeguardedagainstallcontradictions.Itisalsomydesiretoshowhow surrealistactivity,driven,asIhavesaid,toaskitselfwhatwereitsproperresources,hadin somewayoranothertoreflectuponitselfitsrealization,in1925,ofitsrelativeinsufficiencyhow surrealistactivityhadtoceasebeingcontentwiththeresults(automatictexts,therecitalof dreams,improvisedspeeches,spontaneouspoems,drawingsandactions)whichithad originallyplannedandhowitcametoconsiderthesefirstresultsasbeingsimplysomuch material,startingfromwhichtheproblemofknowledgeinevitablyaroseagainunderquiteanew form. Asalivingmovement,thatistosayamovementundergoingaconstantprocessofbecoming and,whatismore,solidlyrelyingonconcretefacts,surrealismhasbroughttogetherandisstill bringingtogetherdiversetemperamentsindividuallyobeyingorresistingavarietyofbents.The determinantoftheirenduringorshortlivedadherenceisnottobeconsideredasablind concessiontoaninertstockofideasheldincommon,butasacontinuoussequenceofacts which,propellingthedoertomoreorlessdistantpoints,forceshimforeachfreshstarttoreturn tothesamestartingline.Theseexercisesnotbeingwithoutperil,onemanmaybreakalimb orforwhichthereisnoprecedenthishead,anothermaypeaceablysubmergehimselfina quagmireorreporthimselfdyingoffatigue.Unableasyettotreatitselftoanambulance, surrealismsimplyleavestheseindividualsbythewayside.Thosewhocontinueintheranksare awareofcourseofthecasualtiesleftbehindthem.Butwhatofit?Theessentialisalwaysto lookahead,toremainsurethatonehasnotforfeitedtheburningdesireforbeauty,truthand justice,toilinglytogoonwardstowardsthediscovery,onebyone,offreshlandscapes,andto continuedoingsoindefinitelyandwithoutcoerciontotheend,thatothersmayafterwardstravel thesamespiritualroad,unhinderedandinallsecurity.Penetration,tobesure,hasnotbeenas deepasonewouldhavewished.Poeticallyspeaking,afewwild,orshallwesaycharming, beastswhosecriesfilltheairandbaraccesstoadomainasyetonlysurmised,arestillfarfrom beingexorcized.Butforallthat,thepiercingofthethicketwouldhaveproceededless tortuously,andthosewhoaredoingthepioneeringwouldhaveacquittedthemselveswith unabatingtenacityintheserviceofthecause,if,betweenthebeginningandtheendofthe spectaclewhichtheyprovideforthemselvesandwouldbegladtoprovideforothers,achange hadnottakenplace. In1934,morethaneverbefore,surrealismowesittoitselftodefendthepostulateofthe necessityofchange.Itisamusing,indeed,toseehowthemorespitefulandsillyofour adversariesaffecttotriumphwhenevertheystumbleonsomeoldstatementwemayhavemade andwhichnowsoundsmoreorlessdiscordantlyinthemidstofothersintendedtorender comprehensibleourpresentconduct.Thisinsidiousmanoeuvre,whichiscalculatedtocasta doubtonourgoodfaith,oratleastonthegenuinenessofourprinciples,caneasilybedefeated. Thedevelopmentofsurrealismthroughoutthedecadeofitsexistenceis,wetakeit,afunction oftheunrollingofhistoricalrealitiesasthesemaybespeededupbetweentheperiodofrelief whichfollowstheconclusionofapeaceandthefreshoutbreakofwar.Itisalsoafunctionofthe processofseekingafternewvaluesinordertoconfirmorinvalidateexistingones. Thefactthatcertainofthefirstparticipantsinsurrealistactivityhavethrowninthespongeand havebeendiscardedhasbroughtabouttheretiringfromcirculationofsomewaysofthinking andtheputtingintocirculationofothersinwhichtherewereimplicitcertaingeneraldissentson

theonehandandcertaingeneralassentsontheother.Henceitisthatthisactivityhasbeen fashionedbytheevents.Atthepresentmoment,contrarytocurrentbiasedrumouraccordingto whichsurrealismitselfissupposed,initscrueltyofdisposition,tohavesacrificednearlyallthe bloodfirstvivifyingit,itishearteningtobeabletopointoutthatithasneverceasedtoavail itselfoftheperfectteamworkofRenCrevel,PaulEluard,MaxErnst,BenjaminPret,Man Ray,TristanTzara,andthepresentwriter,allofwhomcanattestthatfromtheinceptionofthe movementwhichisalsothedateofourenlistmentinituntilnow,theinitialprincipleoftheir covenanthasneverbeenviolated.Iftherehaveoccurreddifferencesonsomepoints,itwas essentiallywithintherhythmicscopeoftheintegralwhole,initselfaleastdisputableelementof objectivevalue. Theothers,theywhomwenolongermeet,cantheysayasmuch?Theycannot,forthesimple reasonthatsincetheyseparatedfromustheyhavebeenincapableofachievingasingle concertedactionthathadanydefiniteformofitsown,andtheyhaveconfinedthemselves, instead,toareactionagainstsurrealismwiththegreatestwastagetothemselvesafate alwaysovertakingthosewhogobackontheirpast.Thehistoryoftheirapostasyanddenialswill ultimatelybereadintothegreatlimboofhumanfailings,withoutprofittoanyobserverideal yesterday,butrealtodaywho,calledupontomakeapronouncement,willdecidewhetherthey orourselveshavebroughtthemoreappreciableeffortstobearuponarationalsolutionofthe manyproblemssurrealismhaspropounded. Althoughtherecanbenoquestionhereofgoingthroughthehistoryofthesurrealist movementitshistoryhasbeentoldmanyatimeandsometimestoldfairlywellmoreover,I prefertopassonasquicklyaspossibletotheexpositionofitspresentattitudeIthinkIought brieflytorecall,forthebenefitofthoseofyouwhowereunawareofthefact,thatthereisno doubtthatbeforethesurrealistmovementproperlysocalled,thereexistedamongthe promotersofthemovementandotherswholaterralliedroundit,veryactive,notmerely dissentingbutalsoantagonisticdispositionswhich,between1915and1920,werewillingto alignthemselvesunderthesignboardofDada.Postwardisorder,astateofmindessentially anarchicthatguidedthatcycle'smanymanifestations,adeliberaterefusaltojudgeforlack,it wassaid,ofcriteriatheactualqualificationsofindividuals,and,perhaps,inthelastanalysis,a certainspiritofnegationwhichwasmakingitselfconspicuous,hadbroughtaboutadissolution ofthegroupasyetinchoate,onemightsay,byreasonofitsdispersedandheterogeneous character,agroupwhosegerminatingforcehasneverthelessbeendecisiveand,bythegeneral consentofpresentdaycritics,hasgreatlyinfluencedthecourseofideas.Itmaybeproper beforepassingrapidlyasImustoverthisperiod,toapportionbyfarthehandsomestshare toMarcelDuchamp(canvasesandglassobjectsstilltobeseeninNewYork),toFrancis Picabia(reviews"291"and"391"),JacquesVach(LettresdeGuerre)andTristanTzara (TwentyfivePoems,DadaManifesto1918). Strangelyenough,itwasroundadiscoveryoflanguagethattherewasseekingtoorganizeitself in1920whatasyetonabasisofconfidentialexchangeassumedthenameofsurrealism,a wordfallenfromthelipsofApollinaire,whichwehaddivertedfromtherathergeneralandvery confusingconnotationhehadgivenit.Whatwasatfirstnomorethananewmethodofpoetic writingbrokeawayafterseveralyearsfromthemuchtoogeneraltheseswhichhadcometobe expoundedintheSurrealistManifestoSolubleFish,1924,theSecondManifestoadding otherstothem,wherebythewholewasraisedtoavasterideologicalplaneandsotherehadto berevision. Inanarticle,"EntertheMediums,"publishedinLittrature,1922,reprintedinLesPasPerdus, 1924,andsubsequentlyintheSurrealistManifesto,Iexplainedthecircumstancethathad

originallyputus,myfriendsandmyself,onthetrackofthesurrealistactivitywestillfollowand forwhichwearehopefulofgainingevermorenumerousnewadherentsinordertoextendit furtherthanwehavesofarsucceededindoing.Itreads: Itwasin1919,incompletesolitudeandattheapproachofsleep,thatmy attentionwasarrestedbysentencesmoreorlesscomplete,whichbecame perceptibletomymindwithoutmybeingabletodiscover(evenbyvery meticulousanalysis)anypossiblepreviousvolitionaleffort.Oneeveningin particular,asIwasabouttofallasleep,Ibecameawareofasentencearticulated clearlytoapointexcludingallpossibilityofalterationandstrippedofallqualityof vocalsoundacurioussortofsentencewhichcametomebearinginsober truthnotatraceofanyrelationwhatevertoanyincidentsImayatthattime havebeeninvolvedinaninsistentsentence,itseemedtome,asentenceI mightsay,thatknockedatthewindow. Iwaspreparedtopaynofurtherattentiontoitwhentheorganiccharacterofthe sentencedetainedme.Iwasreallybewildered.Unfortunately,Iamunableto remembertheexactsentenceatthisdistance,butitranapproximatelylikethis: "Amaniscutinhalfbythewindow."Whatmadeitplainerwasthefactthatitwas accompaniedbyafeeblevisualrepresentationofamanintheprocessof walking,butcloven,athalfhisheight,byawindowperpendiculartotheaxisof hisbody.Definitely,therewastheform,reerectedagainstspace,ofaman leaningoutofawindow.Butthewindowfollowingtheman'slocomotion,I understoodthatIwasdealingwithanimageofgreatrarity.Instantlytheidea cametometouseitasmaterialforpoeticconstruction.Ihadnosoonerinvested itwiththatquality,thanithadgivenplacetoasuccessionofallbutintermittent sentenceswhichleftmenolessastonished,butinastate,Iwouldsay,of extremedetachment. PreoccupiedasIstillwasatthattimewithFreud,andfamiliarwithhismethodsof investigation,whichIhadpractisedoccasionallyuponthesickduringtheWar,I resolvedtoobtainfrommyselfwhatoneseekstoobtainfrompatients,namelya monologuepouredoutasrapidlyaspossible,overwhichthesubject'scritical facultyhasnocontrolthesubjecthimselfthrowingreticencetothewindsand whichasmuchaspossiblerepresentsspokenthought.Itseemedandstillseems tomethatthespeedofthoughtisnogreaterthanthatofwords,andhencedoes notexceedtheflowofeithertongueorpen. Itwasinsuchcircumstancesthat,togetherwithPhilippeSoupault,whomIhad toldaboutmyfirstideasonthesubject,Ibegantocoversheetsofpaperwith writing,feelingapraiseworthycontemptforwhatevertheliteraryresultmightbe. Easeofachievementbroughtabouttherest.Bytheendofthefirstdayofthe experimentwewereabletoreadtooneanotheraboutfiftypagesobtainedinthis mannerandtocomparetheresultswehadachieved.Thelikenesswasonthe wholestriking.Thereweresimilarfaultsofconstruction,thesamehesitant manner,andalso,inbothcases,anillusionofextraordinaryverve,much emotion,aconsiderableassortmentofimagesofaqualitysuchasweshould neverhavebeenabletoobtaininthenormalwayofwriting,averyspecialsense ofthepicturesque,and,hereandthere,afewpiecesofoutandoutbuffoonery.

Theonlydifferenceswhichourtwotextspresentedappearedtometobedue essentiallytoourrespectivetemperaments,Soupault'sbeinglessstaticthan mine,and,ifhewillallowmetomakethisslightcriticism,tohishavingscattered aboutatthetopofcertainpagesdoubtlesslyinaspiritofmystificationvarious wordsundertheguiseoftitles.Imustgivehimcredit,ontheotherhand,for havingalwaysforciblyopposedtheleastcorrectionofanypassagethatdidnot seemtometobequitethething.Inthathewasmostcertainlyright. Itisofcoursedifficultinthesecasestoappreciateattheirjustvaluethevarious elementsintheresultobtainedonemayevensaythatitisentirelyimpossibleto appreciatethematafirstreading.Toyouwhomaybewritingthem,these elementsare,inappearance,asstrangeastoanyoneelse,andyouareyourself naturallydistrustfulofthem.Poeticallyspeaking,theyaredistinguishedchieflyby averyhighdegreeofimmediateabsurdity,thepeculiarqualityofthatabsurdity being,oncloseexamination,theiryieldingtowhateverismostadmissibleand legitimateintheworld:divulgationofagivennumberoffactsandpropertieson thewholenotlessobjectionablethantheothers. Theword"surrealism"havingthereuponbecomedescriptiveofthegeneralizableundertakingto whichwehaddevotedourselves,Ithoughtitindispensable,in1924,todefinethiswordonce andforall: SURREALISM,n.Purepsychicautomatism,bywhichitisintendedtoexpress, verbally,inwriting,orbyothermeans,therealprocessofthought.Thought's dictation,intheabsenceofallcontrolexercisedbythereasonandoutsideall aestheticormoralpreoccupations. ENCYCL.Philos.Surrealismrestsinthebeliefinthesuperiorrealityofcertain formsofassociationneglectedheretoforeintheomnipotenceofthedreamand inthedisinterestedplayofthought.Ittendsdefinitelytodoawaywithallother psychicmechanismsandtosubstituteitselffortheminthesolutionofthe principalproblemsoflife.Haveprofessedabsolutesurrealism:Messrs.Aragon, Baron,Boiffard,Breton,Carrive,Crevel,Delteil,Desnos,Eluard,Grard, Limbour,Malkine,Morise,Naville,Noll,Pret,Picon,Soupault,Vitrac. Thesetillnowappeartobetheonlyones....Wereonetoconsidertheiroutput onlysuperficially,agoodlynumberofpoetsmightwellhavepassedfor surrealists,beginningwithDanteandShakespeareathisbest.Inthecourseof manyattemptsIhavemadetowardsananalysisofwhat,underfalsepretences, iscalledgenius,Ihavefoundnothingthatcouldintheendbeattributedtoany otherprocessthanthis. Therefollowedanenumerationthatwillgain,Ithink,bybeingclearlysetoutthus: Young'sNightThoughtsaresurrealistfromcovertocover.Unfortunately,itisa priestwhospeaksabadpriest,tobesure,yetapriest. Heraclitusissurrealistindialectic. Lullyissurrealistindefinition. Flamelissurrealistinthenightofgold. Swiftissurrealistinmalice. Sadeissurrealistinsadism.

Carrierissurrealistindrowning. MonkLewisissurrealistinthebeautyofevil. AchimvonArnimissurrealistabsolutely,inspaceandtime Rabbeissurrealistindeath. Baudelaireissurrealistinmorals. Rimbaudissurrealistinlifeandelsewhere. HerveySaintDenysissurrealistinthedirecteddream. Carrollissurrealistinnonsense. Huysmansissurrealistinpessimism. Seuratissurrealistindesign. Picassoissurrealistincubism. Vachissurrealistinme. Rousselissurrealistinanecdote.Etc. TheywerenotalwayssurrealistsonthisIinsistinthesensethatonecan disentangleineachofthemanumberofpreconceivednotionstowhichvery naively!theyclung.Andtheyclungtothemsobecausetheyhadnotheardthe surrealistvoice,thevoicethatexhortsontheeveofdeathandintheroaring storm,andbecausetheywereunwillingtodedicatethemselvestothetaskofno morethanorchestratingthescorerepletewithmarvellousthings.Theywere proudinstrumentshencethesoundstheyproducedwerenotalways harmonioussounds. We,onthecontrary,whohavenotgivenourselvestoprocessesoffiltering,who throughthemediumofourworkhavebeencontenttobethesilentreceptaclesof somanyechoes,modestregisteringmachinesthatarenothypnotizedbythe patternthattheytrace,weareperhapsservingayetmuchnoblercause.Sowe honestlygivebackthetalentlenttous.Youmaytalkofthe"talent"ofthisyardof platinum,ofthismirror,ofthisdoorandofthissky,ifyouwish. Wehavenotalent... TheManifestoalsocontainedacertainnumberofpracticalrecipes,entitled:"Secretsofthe MagicSurrealistArt,"suchasthefollowing: WrittenSurrealistCompositionorFirstandLastDraft Havingsettleddowninsomespotmostconducivetothemind'sconcentration uponitself,orderwritingmaterialtobebroughttoyou.Letyourstateofmindbe aspassiveandreceptiveaspossible.Forgetyourgenius,talents,aswellasthe geniusandtalentsofothers.Repeattoyourselfthatliteratureisprettywellthe sorriestroadthatleadstoeverywhere.Writequicklywithoutanypreviously chosensubject,quicklyenoughnottodwellon,andnottobetemptedtoread over,whatyouhavewritten.Thefirstsentencewillcomeofitselfandthisisself evidentlytrue,becausethereisneveramomentbutsomesentencealientoour consciousthoughtclamoursforoutwardexpression.Itisratherdifficulttospeak ofthesentencetofollow,sinceitdoubtlesscomesinforashareofourconscious activityandsotheothersentences,ifitisconcededthatthewritingofthefirst sentencemusthaveinvolvedevenaminimumofconsciousness.Butthatshould inthelongrunmatterlittle,becausethereinpreciselyliesthegreatestinterestin thesurrealistexercise.Punctuationofcoursenecessarilyhindersthestreamof

absolutecontinuitywhichpreoccupiesus.Butyoushouldparticularlydistrustthe promptingwhisper.Ifthroughafaulteversotriflingthereisaforewarningof silencetocome,afaultletussay,ofinattention,breakoffunhesitatinglytheline thathasbecometoolucid.Afterthewordwhoseoriginseemssuspectyou shouldplacealetter,anyletter,l forexample,alwaystheletterl,andrestorethe arbitraryfluxbymakingthatlettertheinitialofthewordtofollow. IshallpassoverthemoreorlesscorrelatedconsiderationswhichtheManifestodiscussedin theirbearingonthepossibilitiesofplasticexpressioninsurrealism.Theseconsiderationsdid notassumearelativelydogmaticturnwithmetillafterwardsinSurrealismandPainting(1928). IbelievethattherealinterestoftheManifestotherewasnolackofpeoplewhoweregood enoughtoconcedeinterest,forwhichnoparticularcreditisduetomebecauseIhavenomore thangivenexpressiontosentimentssharedwithfriends,presentandformerrestsonly subordinatelyontheformulaabovegiven.Itisratherconfirmatoryofaturnofthoughtwhich,for goodorill,ispeculiarlydistinctiveofourtime.Thedefenceoriginallyattemptedofthatturnof thoughtstillseemsvalidtomeinwhatfollows: Westillliveunderthereignoflogic...Butthemethodsoflogicareapplied nowadaysonlytotheresolutionofproblemsofsecondaryinterest.Theabsolute rationalismwhichisstillthefashiondoesnotpermitconsiderationofanyfacts butthosestrictlyrelevanttoourexperience.Logicalends,ontheotherhand, escapeus.Needlesstosaythatevenexperiencehashadlimitsassignedtoit.It revolvesinacagefromwhichitbecomesmoreandmoredifficulttoreleaseit. Evenexperienceisdependentonimmediateutility,andcommonsenseisits keeper.Undercolourofcivilization,underpretextofprogress,allthatrightlyor wronglymayberegardedasfantasyorsuperstitionhasbeenbanishedfromthe mind,alluncustomarysearchingaftertruthhasbeenproscribed.Itisonlyby whatmustseemsheerluckthattherehasrecentlybeenbroughttolightan aspectofmentallifetomybeliefbyfarthemostimportantwithwhichitwas supposedthatwenolongerhadanyconcern.Allcreditforthesediscoveries mustgotoFreud.Basedonthesediscoveriesacurrentofopinionisformingthat willenabletheexplorerofthehumanmindtocontinuehisinvestigations,justified ashewillbeintakingintoaccountmorethanmeresummaryrealities.The imaginationisperhapsonthepointofreclaimingitsrights.Ifthedepthsofour mindsharbourstrangeforcescapableofincreasingthoseonthesurface,orof successfullycontendingwiththem,thenitisallinourinteresttocanalizethem,to canalizethemfirstinordertosubmitthemlater,ifnecessary,tothecontrolofthe reason.Theanalyststhemselveshavenothingtolosebysuchaproceeding.But itshouldbeobservedthattherearenomeansdesignedaprioriforthebringing aboutofsuchanenterprise,thatuntilthecomingoftheneworderitmightjustas wellbeconsideredtheaffairofpoetsandscientists,andthatitssuccesswillnot dependonthemoreorlesscapriciousmeansthatwillbeemployed. Iamresolvedtodealseverelywiththathatredofthemarvellouswhichisso rampantamongcertainpeople,thatridiculetowhichtheyaresoeagertoexpose it.Letusspeakplainly:Themarvellousisalwaysbeautiful,anythingmarvellous isbeautifulindeed,nothingbutthemarvellousisbeautiful. Whatisadmirableaboutthefantasticisthatthereisnolongerafantasticthere isonlythereal.

Interestinginadifferentwayfromthefutureofsurrealisttechnics(theatrical, philosophical,scientific,critical)appearstometheapplicationofsurrealismto action.WhateverreservationsImightbeinclinedtomakewithregardto responsibilityingeneral,Ishouldquiteparticularlyliketoknowhowthefirst misdemeanourswhosesurrealistcharacterisindubitablewillbejudged.When surrealistmethodsextendfromwritingtoaction,therewillcertainlyarisethe needofanewmoralitytotaketheplaceofthecurrentone,thecauseofallour woes. TheManifestoofSurrealismhasimprovedontheRimbaudprinciplethatthepoetmustturn seer.Maningeneralisgoingtobesummonedtomanifestthroughlifethosenewsentiments whichthegiftofvisionwillsosuddenlyhaveplacedwithinhisreach: Surrealism,asIenvisageit,assertsourabsolutenonconformismsoclearlythat therecanbenoquestionofclaimingitaswitnesswhentherealworldcomesup fortrial.Onthecontrary,itcanbuttestifytothecompletestateofdistraction whichwehopetoattainherebelow...Surrealismisthe"invisibleray"thatshall enableusonedaytotriumphoverourenemies."Youtremblenomore,carcass." Thissummertherosesarebluethewoodismadeofglass.Theearthwrapped initsfoliagehasaslittleeffectonmeasaghost.Livingandceasingtoliveare imaginarysolutions.Existencelieselsewhere. Surrealismthenwassecuringexpressioninallitspurityandforce.Thefreedomitpossessesis aperfectfreedominthesensethatitrecognizesnolimitationsexteriortoitself.Asitwassaid onthecoverofthefirstissueofLaRvolutionSurraliste,"itwillbenecessarytodrawupanew declarationoftheRightsofMan."Theconceptofsurreality,concerningwhichquarrelshave beensoughtwithusrepeatedlyandwhichitwasattemptedtoturnintoametaphysicalormystic ropetobeplacedafterwardsroundournecks,lendsitselfnolongertomisconstruction, nowheredoesitdeclareitselfopposedtotheneedoftransformingtheworldwhichhenceforth willmoreandmoredefinitelyyieldtoit. AsIsaidintheManifesto Ibelieveinthefuturetransmutationofthosetwoseeminglycontradictorystates, dreamandreality,intoasortofabsolutereality,ofsurreality,sotospeak.Iam lookingforwardtoitsconsummation,certainthatIshallnevershareinit,but deathwouldmatterlittletomecouldIbuttastethejoyitwillyieldultimately. AragonexpressedhimselfinverymuchthesamewayinUneVaguederves(1924): Itshouldbeunderstoodthattherealisarelationlikeanyothertheessenceof thingsisbynomeanslinkedtotheirreality,thereareotherrelationsbesides reality,whichthemindiscapableofgraspingandwhichalsoareprimary,like chance,illusion,thefantastic,thedream.Thesevariousgroupsareunitedand broughtintoharmonyinonesingleorder,surreality...Thissurrealityarelation inwhichallnotionsaremergedtogetheristhecommonhorizonofreligions, magic,poetry,intoxications,andofalllifethatislowlythattrembling honeysuckleyoudeemsufficienttopopulatetheskywithforus. AndRenCreval,inL'Espritcontrelaraison(1928):

Thepoetdoesnotputthewildanimalstosleepinordertoplaythetamer,but, thecageswideopen,thekeysthrowntothewinds,hejourneysforth,atraveller whothinksnotofhimselfbutofthevoyage,ofdreambeaches,forestsofhands, soulendowedanimals,allundeniablesurreality. IwastosumuptheideainSurrealismandPainting(1928): AllthatIlove,allthatIthinkandfeelinclinesmetowardsaparticularphilosophy ofimmanenceaccordingtowhichsurrealitywillresideinrealityitselfandwillbe neithersuperiornorexteriortoit.Andconversely,becausethecontainershallbe alsothecontained.Onemightalmostsaythatitwillbeacommunicatingvessel placedbetweenthecontainerandthecontained.Thatistosay,Iresistwithall mystrengthtemptationswhich,inpaintingandliterature,mighthavethe immediatetendencytowithdrawthoughtfromlifeaswellasplacelifeunderthe aegisofthought. Afteryearsofendeavourandperplexities,whenavarietyofopinionshaddisputedamongst themselvesthedirectionofthecraftinwhichanumberofpersonsofunequalabilityandvarying powersofresistancehadoriginallyembarkedtogether,thesurrealistidearecoveredinthe SecondManifestoallthebrilliancyofwhicheventshadvainlyconspiredtodespoilit.Itshould beemphasizedthattheFirstManifestoof1924didnomorethansumuptheconclusionswe haddrawnduringwhatonemaycalltheheroicepochofsurrealism,whichstretchesfrom1919 to1923.Theconcertedelaborationofthefirstautomatictextsandourexcitedreadingofthem, thefirstresultsobtainedbyMaxErnstinthedomainof"collage"andofpainting,thepracticeof surrealist"speaking"duringthehypnoticexperimentsintroducedamongusbyRenCreveland repeatedeveryeveningforoverayear,uncontrovertiblymarkthedecisivestagesofsurrealist explorationduringthisfirstphase.Afterthat,uptillthetakingintoaccountofthesocialaspectof theproblemroundabout1925(thoughnotformallysanctioneduntil1930),surrealismbeganto finditselfapreytocharacteristicwranglings.Thesewranglingsaccountveryclearlyforthe expulsionordersandticketsofleavewhich,aswewentalong,wehadtodealouttocertainof ourcompanionsofthefirstandsecondhour.Somepeoplehavequitegratuitouslyconcluded fromthisthatweareapttooverestimatepersonalquestions. Duringthelasttenyears,surrealismhasalmostunceasinglybeenobligedtodefenditself againstdeviationstotherightandtotheleft.Ontheonehandwehavehadtostruggleagainst thewillofthosewhowouldmaintainsurrealismonapurelyspeculativelevelandtreasonably transferitontoanartisticandliteraryplane(Artaud,Desnos,RibemontDessaignes,Vitrac)at thecostofallthehopeforsubversionwehaveplacedinitontheother,againstthewillofthose whowouldplaceitonapurelypracticalbasis,availableatanymomenttobesacrificedtoanill conceivedpoliticalmilitancy(Naville,Aragon)atthecost,thistime,ofwhatconstitutesthe originalityandrealityofitsresearches,atthecostoftheautonomousriskthatithastorun. Agitatedthoughitwas,theepochthatseparatesthetwoManifestoswasnonethelessarich one,sinceitsawthepublicationofsomanyworksinwhichthevitalprinciplesofsurrealism wereamplyaccountedfor.ItsufficestorecallparticularlyLePaysandeParisandTraitdu stylebyAragon,L'EspritcontrelaraisonandEtesvousfousbyRenCreval,Deuilpourdeuil byDesnos,CapitaledeladouleurandL'AmourlaposiebyEluard,LaFemme100ttesby Ernst,LaRvolutionetlesintellectuelsbyNaville,LeGrandJeubyPret,andmyownNadja. ThepoeticactivityofTzara,althoughclaiminguntil1930noconnectionwithsurrealism,isin perfectaccordwithours. WewereforcedtoagreewithPierreNavillewhenhewrote:

Surrealismisatthecrossroadsofseveralthoughtmovements.Weassumethatit affirmsthepossibilityofacertainsteadydownwardreadjustmentofthemind's rational(andnotsimplyconscious)activitytowardsmoreabsolutelycoherent thought,irrespectiveofwhatdirectionthatthoughtmaytakethatistosay,thatit proposes,orwouldatleastliketopropose,anewsolutionofallproblemsbut chieflymoral.Inthatsense,indeed,itisepochmaking.Thatiswhyonemay expresstheessentialcharacteristicofsurrealismbysayingthatitseeksto calculatethequotientoftheunconsciousbytheconscious. ItshouldbepointedoutthatinanumberofdeclarationsinLaRvolutionetlesIntellectuels. Quepeuventfairelessurralistes?(1926),[PierreNaville]demonstratedtheuttervanityof intellectualbickeringsinthefaceofthehumanexploitationwhichresultsfromthewageearning system.Thesedeclarationsgaveriseamongstustoconsiderableanxietyand,attemptingfor thefirsttimetojustifysurrealism'ssocialimplications,IdesiredtoputanendtoitinLgitime Dfense.Thispamphletsetouttodemonstratethatthereisnofundamentalantinomyinthe basisofsurrealistthought. Inreality,wearefacedwithtwoproblems,oneofwhichistheproblemraised,atthebeginning ofthetwentiethcentury,bythediscoveryoftherelationsbetweentheconsciousandthe unconscious.Thatwashowtheproblemchosetopresentitselftous.Wewerethefirsttoapply toitsresolutionaparticularmethod,whichwehavenotceasedtoconsiderboththemost suitableandthemostlikelytobebroughttoperfectionthereisnoreasonwhyweshould renounceit.Theotherproblemwearefacedwithisthatofthesocialactionweshouldpursue. Weconsiderthatthisactionhasitsownmethodindialecticalmaterialism,andwecanallthe lessaffordtoignorethisactionsince,Irepeat,weholdtheliberationofmantobethesinequa nonconditionoftheliberationofthemind,andwecanexpectthisliberationofmantoresult onlyfromtheproletarianrevolution. Thesetwoproblemsareessentiallydistinctandwedeploretheirbecomingconfusedbynot remainingso.Thereisgoodreason,then,totakeupastandagainstallattemptstoweldthem togetherand,moreespecially,againsttheurgetoabandonallsuchresearchesasoursinorder todevoteourselvestothepoetryandartofpropaganda.Surrealism,whichhasbeentheobject ofbrutalandrepeatedsummonsesinthisrespect,nowfeelstheneedofmakingsomekindof counterattack.Letmerecallthefactthatitsverydefinitionholdsthatitmustescape,inits writtenmanifestations,oranyothers,fromallcontrolexercisedbythereason.Apartfromthe puerilityofwishingtobringasupposedlyMarxistcontroltobearontheimmediateaspectof suchmanifestations,thiscontrolcannotbeenvisagedinprinciple.Andhowillbodingdoesthis distrustseem,comingasitdoesfrommenwhodeclarethemselvesMarxists,thatistosay possessednotonlyofastrictlineinrevolutionarymatters,butalsoofamarvellouslyopenmind andaninsatiablecuriosity! ThisbringsustotheeveoftheSecondManifesto.Theseobjectionshadtobeputanendto, andforthatpurposeitwasindispensablethatweshouldproceedtoliquidatecertain individualistelementsamongstus,moreorlessopenlyhostiletooneanother,whoseintentions didnot,inthefinalanalysis,appearasirreproachable,northeirmotivesasdisinterested,as mighthavebeendesired.Animportantpartoftheworkwasdevotedtoastatementofthe reasonswhichmovedsurrealismtodispenseforthefuturewithcertaincollaborators.Itwas attempted,onthesameoccasion,tocompletethespecificmethodofcreationproposedsix yearsearlier,and,asthoroughlyaspossible,tosetsurrealistideasinorder.

Inspiteoftheparticularcoursesfollowedbyformerorpresentadherentsof surrealism,everyonemustadmitthatthedriftofsurrealismhasalwaysand chieflybeentowardsageneralandemphaticcrisisinconsciousnessandthat onlytotheextenttowhichthisisorisnotaccomplishedcandecidethehistorical successorfailureofthemovement. Fromtheintellectualpointofview,itwasandstillisaquestionofexposingby everyavailablemeans,andtolearnatallcoststoidentify,thefacticious characteroftheoldantinomieshypocriticallycalculatedtohinderanyunusual agitationonthepartofman,wereitonlyafaintunderstandingofthemeansat hisdispocalandtoinspirehimtofreehimselfsomewhatfromtheuniversal fetters.Thehorrorofdeath,thepantomimeofthebeyond,theshipwreckofthe mostbeautifulreasoninsleep,theoverpoweringcurtainofthefuture,thetowers ofBabel,themirrorsofinconstancy,theinsuperablesilverwallsplashedwith brains,allthesestartlingimagesofhumancatastropheareperhaps,afterall,no morethanimages. Everythingleadstothebeliefthatthereexistsacertainpointofthemindatwhich lifeanddeath,therealandtheimaginary,thepastandthefuture,the communicableandtheincommunicable,thehighandthelow,arenotperceived ascontradictions.Itwouldbevaintoattributetosurrealismanyothermotivethan thehopeofdeterminingthispoint.Itisclear,moreover,thatitwouldbeabsurdto ascribetosurrealismeitherapurelydestructiveorapurelyconstructive characterthepointatissuebeingpreciselythis:thatconstructionand destructioncannolongerbebrandishedagainsteachother.Itbecomesclear alsothatsurrealismisnotatallinterestedintakingintoaccountwhatpasses alongsideitundertheguiseofartorevenantiartofphilosophyor antiphilosophyofanything,inaword,thathasnotforitsultimateendthe conversionofbeingintoajewel,internalandunseeing,withasoulthatisneither oficenoroffire.What,indeed,couldtheyexpectofsurrealism,whoarestill anxiousaboutthepositiontheymayoccupy?Onthismentalplanefromwhich onemayforoneselfaloneembarkontheperilous,but,wethink,supreme reconnaissanceonthisplanethefootstepsofthosewhocomeorgoareno longerofanyimportance,becausethesestepsoccurinaregionwhere,by definition,surrealismpossessesnolisteningear.Itisnotdesirablethat surrealismshouldbedependentonthewhimofthisorthatgroupofpersons.Ifit declaresitselfcapableofuprootingthoughtfromanincreasinglycruelserfdom, ofbringingitbacktothepathoftotalcomprehension,ofrestoringtoitsoriginal purity,itisindeednomorethanrightthatitshouldbejudgedonlybywhatithas doneandbywhatithasstilltodointhefulfilmentofitspromise... From1930untiltodaythehistoryofsurrealismisthatofsuccessfuleffortstorestoretoitits properbecomingbygraduallyremovingfromiteverytracebothofpoliticalopportunismandof artisticopportunism.ThereviewLaRvolutionSurraliste,(12issues)hasbeensucceededby another,LeSurralismeauServicedelaRvolution(6issues).Owingparticularlytoinfluences broughttobearbynewelements,surrealistexperimenting.whichhadfortoolongbeenerratic, hasbeenunreservedlyresumeditsperspectivesanditsaimshavebeenmadeperfectlyclearI maysaythatithasnotceasedtobecarriedoninacontinuousandenthusiasticmanner.This experimentinghasregainedmomentumunderthemasterimpulsegiventoitbySalvadorDali, whoseexceptionalinterior"boiling"hasbeenforsurrealism,duringthewholeofthisperiod,an invaluableferment.AsGuyMangeothasveryrightlypointedoutinhisHistoryofSurrealism,

publishedrecentlybyRenHenriquez,Dalihasendowedsurrealismwithaninstrumentof primaryimportance,inparticulartheparanoiaccriticalmethod,whichhasimmediatelyshown itselfcapableofbeingappliedwithequalsuccesstopainting,poetry,thecinema,tothe constructionoftypicalsurrealistobjects,tofashions,tosculptureandeven,ifnecessary,toall mannerofexegesis. HefirstannouncedhisconvictionstousinLaFemmeVisible(1930): Ibelievethemomentisathandwhen,byaparanoiacandactiveadvanceofthe mind,itwillbepossible(simultaneouslywithautomatismandotherpassive states)tosystematizeconfusionandthustohelptodiscreditcompletelythe worldofreality. Inordertocutshortallpossiblemisunderstandings,itshouldperhapsbesaid:"immediate" reality. Paranoiausestheexternalworldinordertoassertitsdominatingideaandhas thedisturbingcharacteristicofmakingothersacceptthisidea'sreality.Thereality oftheexternalworldisusedforillustrationandproof,andsocomestoservethe realityofone'smind. Inthespecial'SurrealistIntervention'numberofDocuments34,underthetitle'Philosophic Provocations',Daliundertakestodaytogivehisthoughtadidacticturn.Alluncertaintyastohis realintentionsseemstometobesweptawaybythesedefinitions: Paranoia:Deliriumofinterpretationbearingasystematicstructure. Paranoiaccriticalactivity:Spontaneousmethodof"irrationalknowledge"based onthecriticalandsystematicobjectificationofdeliriousassociationsand interpretations. Painting:Handmadecolour"photography"of"concreteirrationality"andofthe imaginativeworldingeneral. Sculpture:Modellingbyhandof"concreteirrationality"andoftheimaginative worldingeneral. Etc... InordertoformaconciseideaofDali'sundertaking,onemusttakeintoaccountthepropertyof uninterruptedbecomingofanyobjectofparanoiacactivity,inotherwordsoftheultraconfusing activityrisingoutoftheobsessingidea.Thisuninterruptedbecomingallowstheparanoiacwho isthewitnesstoconsidertheimagesoftheexternalworldunstableandtransitory,orsuspect andwhatissodisturbingisthatheisabletomakeotherpeoplebelieveintherealityofhis impressions.Oneaspect,forinstance,ofthemultipleimageoccupyingourattentionbeinga putrefieddonkey,the'cruel'putrefactionofthedonkeycanbeconsideredas'thehardand blindingflashofnewgems'.Herewefindourselvesconfrontedbyanewaffirmation, accompaniedbyformalproofs,oftheomnipotenceofdesire,whichhasremained,sincethe beginning,surrealism'ssoleactoffaith.Atthepointwheresurrealismhastakenupthe problem,itsonlyguidehasbeenRimbaud'ssibyllinepronouncement:"Isaythatonemustbea seer,onemustmakeoneselfaseer".Asyouknow,thiswasRimbaud'sonlymeansofreaching

theunknown.Surrealismcanflatteritselftodaythatithasdiscoveredandrenderedpracticable manyotherwaysleadingtotheunknown.Theabandonmenttoverbalorgraphicimpulsesand theresorttoparanoiaccriticalactivityarenottheonlyones,andonemaysaythat,duringthe lastfouryearsofsurrealistactivity,themanyothersthathavemadetheirappearanceallowus toaffirmthattheautomatismfromwhichwestartedandtowhichwehaveunfailinglyreturned doesinfactconstitutethecrossroadswherethesevariouspathsmeet.Amongthosewehave partlyexplored,andonwhichweareonlyjustbeginningtoseeahead,Ishouldsingleout simulationofmentaldiseases(acutemania,generalparalysis,dementiapraecox),whichPaul EluardandIpractisedinTheImmaculateConception(1930),undertakingtoprovethatthe normalmancanhaveaccesstotheprovisorilycondemnedplacesofthehumanmindthe manufactureofobjectsfunctioningsymbolically,startedin1931bytheveryparticularandquite newemotionarousedbyGiocometti'sobject'TheHourofTraces'theanalysisofthe interpenetrationofthestatesofsleepandwaking,tendingtomakethemdependentirelyonone anotherandevenconditiononeanotherincertainaffectivestates,whichIundertookinThe CommunicatingVesselsandfinally,thetakingintoconsiderationoftherecentresearchesof theMarburgschool(towhichIdrewattentioninanarticlepublishedinMinotaure,'The AutomaticMessage')whoseaimistocultivatetheremarkablesensorialdispositionsofchildren, enablingthemtochangeanyobjectwhatever,intonomatterwhat,simplybylookingatit fixedly. Nothingcouldbemorecoherent,moresystematicormorerichlyyieldingofresults,thanthis lastphaseofsurrealistactivity,whichhasseentheproductionoftwofilmsbyLuisBunueland SalvadorDali,UnChienAndalouandL'Aged'orthepoemsofRenCharL'Homme approximatif,oboiventlesloupsandL'AntittebyTristanTzaraLeClavecindeDiderotand LesPiedsdansleplatbyRenCrevelLaVieimmdiatebyEluardtheverypreciousvisual commentariesbyValentineHugoontheworksofArnimandRimbaudthemostintensepartof theworkofYvesTanguytheinspiredsculptureofAlbertoGiocomettithecomingtogetherof GeorgesHugnet,GuiRosey,PierreYoyotte,RogerCaillois,VictorBraunerandBalthus.Never hassopreciseacommonwillunitedus.IthinkIcanmostclearlyexpressthiswillbysayingthat todayitappliesitselfto"bringaboutthestatewherethedistinctionbetweenthesubjectiveand theobjectivelosesitsnecessityanditsvalue". Surrealism,startingfifteenyearsagowithadiscoverythatseemedonlytoinvolvepoetic language,hasspreadlikewildfire,onpursuingitscourse,notonlyinartbutinlife.Ithas provokednewstatesofconsciousnessandoverthrownthewallsbeyondwhichitwas immemoriallysupposedtobeimpossibletoseeithasasisbeingmoreandmoregenerally recognizedmodifiedthesensibility,andtakenadecisivesteptowardstheunificationofthe personality,whichitfoundthreatenedbyanevermoreprofounddissociation.Without attemptingtojudgewhatdirectionitwillultimatelytake,forthelandsitfertilizesasitflowsare thoseofsurpriseitself,Ishouldliketodrawyourattentiontothefactthatitsmostrecent advanceisproducingafundamentalcrisisofthe"object."Itisessentiallyupontheobjectthat surrealismhasthrownmostlightinrecentyears.Onlytheverycloseexaminationofthemany recentspeculationstowhichtheobjecthaspubliclygivenrise(theoneiricobject,theobject functioningsymbolically,therealandvirtualobject,themovingbutsilentobject,thephantom object,thediscoveredobject,etc.),cangiveoneapropergraspoftheexperimentsthat surrealismisengagedinnow.Inordertocontinuetounderstandthemovement,itis indispensabletofocusone'sattentiononthispoint. *

Imustcraveyourindulgenceforspeakingsotechnically,fromtheinside.Buttherecouldbeno questionofconcealinganyaspectofthepersuasionstowhichsurrealismhasbeenandisstill exposed.Isaythatthereexistsalyricalelementthatconditionsforonepartthepsychological andmoralstructureofhumansociety,thathasconditioneditatalltimesandthatwillcontinueto conditionit.Thislyricalelementhasuntilnow,eventhoughinspiteofthem,remainedthefact andthesolefactofspecialists.Inthestateofextremetensiontowhichclassantagonismshave ledthesocietytowhichwebelongandwhichwetendwithallourstrengthtoreject,itisnatural anditisfatedthatthissolicitationshouldcontinue,thatitshouldassumeforusathousand faces,imploring,temptingandeagerbyturns.Itisnotwithinourpower,itwouldbeunworthyof ourhistoricroletogivewaytothissolicitation.Bysurrealismweintendtoaccountfornothing lessthanthemannerinwhichitispossibletodaytomakeuseofthemagnificentand overwhelmingspirituallegacythathasbeenhandeddowntous.Wehaveacceptedthislegacy fromthepast,andsurrealismcanwellsaythattheusetowhichithasbeenputhasbeentoturn ittotheroutingofcapitalistsociety.Iconsiderthatforthatpurposeitwasandisstillnecessary forustostandwhereweare,tobewareagainstbreakingthethreadofourresearchesandto continuetheseresearches,notasliterarymenandartists,certainly,butratheraschemistsand thevariousotherkindsoftechnicians. Topassontothepoetryandartcalled(doubtlessinanticipation)proletarian:No.Theforceswe havebeenabletobringtogetherandwhichforfifteenyearswehaveneverfoundlacking,have arrivedataparticularpointofapplication:thequestionisnottoknowwhetherthispointof applicationisthebest,butsimplytopointoutthattheapplicationofourforcesatthispointhas givenusuptoanactivitythathasproveditselfvaluableandfruitfulontheplaneonwhichitwas undertakenandhasalsobeenofakindtoengageusmoreandmoreontherevolutionary plane. Whatitisessentialtorealizeisthatnootheractivitycouldhaveproducedsuchrich results,norcouldanyothersimilaractivityhavebeensoeffectiveincombatingthepresentform ofsociety.Onthatpointwehavehistoryonourside. Acomrade,ClaudeCahun,inastrikingpamphletpublishedrecently:LesParisSontOuverts,a pamphletthatattemptstopredictthefutureofpoetrybytakingaccountbothofitsownlawsand ofthesocialbasesofitsexistence,takesAragontotaskforthelackofrigourinhispresent position(IdonotthinkanyonecancontestthefactthatAragon'spoetryhasperceptibly weakenedsinceheabandonedsurrealismandundertooktoplacehimselfdirectlyatthe serviceoftheproletariancause,whichleadsonetosupposethatsuchanundertakinghas defeatedhimandisproportionatelymoreorlessunfavourabletotheRevolution)....Itisof particularinterestthattheauthorofLesParisSontOuvertshastakentheopportunityof expressinghimselffromthe"historic"pointofview.Hisappreciationisasfollows: Themostrevolutionaryexperimentinpoetryunderthecapitalistregimehaving beenincontestably,forFranceandperhapsforEuropetheDadaistsurrealist experiment,inthatithastendedtodestroyallthemythsaboutartthatfor centurieshavepermittedtheideologicaswellaseconomicexploitationof painting,sculpture,literature,etc.(e.g.thefrottagesofMaxErnst,which,among otherthings,havebeenabletoupsetthescaleofvaluesofartcriticsand experts,valuesbasedchieflyontechnicalperfection,personaltouchandthe lastingnessofthematerialsemployed),thisexperimentcanandshouldservethe causeoftheliberationoftheproletariat.Itisonlywhentheproletariathas becomeawareofthemythsonwhichcapitalistculturedepends,whentheyhave becomeawareofwhatthesemythsandthisculturemeanforthemandhave destroyedthem,thattheywillbeabletopassontotheirownproper development.Thepositivelessonofthisnegatingexperiment,thatistosayits

transfusionamongtheproletariat,constitutestheonlyvalidrevolutionarypoetic propaganda. Surrealismcouldnotaskforanythingbetter.Oncethecauseofthemovementisunderstood, thereisperhapssomehopethat,ontheplaneofrevolutionarymilitantismproper,our turbulence,oursmallcapacityforadaptation,untilnow,tothenecessaryrulesofaparty(which certainpeoplehavethoughtpropertocallour"blanquism"),maybeexcusedus.Itisonlytoo certainthatanactivitysuchasours,owingtoitsparticularization,cannotbepursuedwithinthe limitsofanyoneoftheexistingrevolutionaryorganizations:itwouldbeforcedtocometoahalt ontheverythresholdofthatorganization.Ifweareagreedthatsuchanactivityhasaboveall tendedtodetachtheintellectualcreatorfromtheillusionswithwhichbourgeoissocietyhas soughttosurroundhim,Iformypartcanonlyseeinthattendencyafurtherreasonfor continuingouractivity. Nonetheless,therightthatwedemandandourdesiretomakeuseofitdepend,asIsaidat thebeginning,onourremainingabletocontinueourinvestigationswithouthavingtoreckon,as forthelastfewmonthswehavehadtodo,withasuddenattackfromtheforcesofcriminal imbecility.Letitbeclearlyunderstoodthatforus,surrealists,theinterestsofthoughtcannot ceasetogohandinhandwiththeinterestsoftheworkingclass,andthatallattacksonliberty, allfettersontheemancipationoftheworkingclassandallarmedattacksonitcannotfailtobe consideredbyusasattacksonthoughtlikewise. Irepeat,thedangerisfarfromhavingbeenremoved.Thesurrealistscannotbeaccusedof havingbeenslowtorecognizethefact,since,ontheverynextdayafterthefirstfascistcoupin France,itwastheyamongsttheintellectualcircleswhohadthehonouroftakingtheinitiativein sendingoutanAppellalutte[acalltostruggle],whichappearedonFebruary10th,1934, furnishedwithtwentyfoursignatures.Youmayrestassured,comrades,thattheywillnot confinethemselves,thatalreadytheyhavenotconfinedthemselves,tothissingleact.

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