Detailed Information
Surrealism
Surrealism is an artistic and literary movement that grew out of the revolutionary Dada activities during and after World War I. This course will begin with the origins of the Surrealist movement in Paris and trace its global development through a variety of art forms and practices. From the revolutionary ideas of André Breton to the bizarre world of Salvador Dalí, Surrealism encompasses many fascinating ideas and surprising artworks. The various techniques and art theories will be explored through the works of artists such as Joan Miró, Max Ernst and René Magritte who to varying degrees were influenced by Freudian psychoanalysis and accessing the subconscious through artistic practices like automatism. The social and historical context is essential to this artistic style and will be discussed in conjunction with the written manifestos of the group. There will be one class dedicated to film and one visit to the National Gallery of Ireland to examine relevant works in person.
This course will include a field trip on 26th of March to the National Gallery of Ireland
8 Tuesdays
14:00-16:00
30 Jan, 6, 13, 20, 27 Feb, 5, 12, 19 Mar
Field trip on 26th of March to the National Gallery of Ireland
- Surrealism
- Dada
- Modernism
- World War I
- 20th century European history
- Freudian psychoanalysis
N/A
At the end of the course, students should be able to:
- development of Surrealism and recognise its significance within art history
- identify the main aspects of the style and the different responses of the main artists to the overall theories of the movement.
- confidently discuss the key artists and works
- demonstrate a greater understanding of the relevant paintings in the collection of the National Gallery
This course will have an integral visual component with a weekly PowerPoint presentation of the relevant images for each class which the talk will be based around. The content will run roughly chronologically, exploring different aspects of the era and relevant artists will be discussed in each class.
Handouts with important dates and the details of all artworks discussed will be provided after each class. Students will be encouraged to ask questions and make comments. There will be a visit to the National Gallery to discuss works relevant to the course.
Jessica Fahy is on the lecturer panels for the National Gallery and the Hugh Lane Gallery. She teaches on all areas of Western Art from the 14th century to the present day. She is a regular contributor on RTÉ radio for Arena. She has a MLitt and BA in Art History from UCD and completed her MA in Italian Renaissance Art at the Courtauld Institute of Art in London in 2007.