Surrealist Games

Bys: Brotchie, Alistair and Gooding, Mel

Book Overview

In A Book of Surrealist Games, readers are invited into the captivating realm of Surrealism, where creativity knows no bounds. This comprehensive collection of the methods used by the artists and poets of the Surrealist school explores the movement's radical approach to art and thought, offering a collection of games and techniques that serve as both historical document and practical manual for unlocking the unconscious mind.

Discover how the Surrealists used play and chance to subvert established norms and liberate words and images from rational constraints. From automatic writing to the exquisite corpse, Alastair Brotchie and Mel Gooding help illuminate the collaborative nature of Surrealist practices, revealing how these playful activities fostered unexpected connections among artists. This collection also examines the philosophical underpinnings of the movement, exploring its critique of societal norms and bourgeois values. A Book of Surrealist Games challenges readers to reclaim their imaginative faculties and engage with the world in a more playful way, where everyday objects transform into symbols of deeper meaning and dreams manifest in tangible forms.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1570620849
• ISBN13: 9781570620843
• Release Date: July 1995
• Publisher: Shambhala Redstone Editions
• Length: 176 Pages
• Weight: 0.33 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 4.3" x 6.2"

Customer Reviews

Intelligent Games

Great games for creative people. Wonderful ideas for more sophisticated parties. Good stuff!

Decalcomania

A great reference addition to the art library. Not just the games that the surrealist played, but their answers and responses as well. True gem for any surrealist enthustiast.

Excellent Starting Point

Whether your goal is surrealist literature, surrealist art, or just entertainment, this book is a great buy. Lots of games (some literary, some artistic), information about the surrealist movement itself and some of the key players, and a good bibliography for future reading.

neat lil' book.

Being an admirer and wanna-be creator of DaDa, I found this book amusing. The games were interesting and bizarre, there were lots of pictures, and a lot of artists were included. They are fun to read about and see the examples even if you have no intention of really trying them. "The Exquisite Corpse" and "Directions for Use" were 2 of the better ones, and they have examples by the original surrealists. The only problem I had with the book was that some of the directions were a little vague. For instance, the picture on page 71 is a double image, but it could have given some clue about how to actually find it - it became frustrating. The games are so unusual compared to what we normally think of as games that more detailed directions are essential. For instance, there are not obvious "winners" and "losers" in them, they are played for the sake of toying with reality and using imagination to create the unexpected. It's a fun book that's small enough to take with you all the time.

E-mail me if you love this book!

This book is my idea of fun! It's full of games for people who love to be creative, collaborative, extemporaneous! I'd like to know you if you are into these games. Judy (vegwriter@aol.com