Art essay Thesis: what elements of Dada and Surrealism suggest the influence of Freud?

Art essay

Thesis: what elements of Dada and Surrealism suggest the influence of Freud?

“My life is interesting only if it’s related to psychoanalysis” this is said by the famous scientist Sigmund Freud, also known as the father of psychoanalysis. (Jean Chiriac)

Since childhood, Freud was a hard working gal, for by the time he ended his school learning he possessed the ability to speak more than two different languages. Moreover, Freud himself was a Jewish Czech, and he considers that being Jew was responsible for his intelligence and discoveries, although he weren’t religiously attached. Eventually, he grew up to become a psychoanalyst, who has endeavored theories related to hysteria, dreams, unconsciousness, transference, Oedipus complex, narcissism, and paranoia. However, we are prone to notice his indirect and direct affect on art and literature, for he endeared art greatly. Along with all his theories, Freud related them to sexual repression or (libido), as well as, infantile memories.

(Storr)

He said once:

“I may say at once that I am no connoisseur in art, but simply a layman. I have often observed that the subject-matter of works of art has a stronger attraction for me than their formal and technical qualities, though to the artist their value lies first and foremost in these latter. I am unable rightly to appreciate many of the methods used and the affects obtained in art.

(SE, XII.211)

In the previous statement by Freud himself, Anthony Storr reports that Freud was not concerned with the form of the art itself but with its content; hence, he “applied the same technique of interpretation to works of art as he did to dreams, phantasies, and neurotic symptoms.”(93)

Furthermore, in the 20th century there was the rise of both art movements Dada(ism) and surrealism, and both were greatly influenced by the works of great innovators such as Sigmund Freud. They were both driven by that time’s political structure, however, “Hopkins” states that both Surrealist and Dada’s “attitudes range of key topics from irrationalism to sexuality, before focusing closely on their politics.” (Hopkins)

And after I have bestowed the readers with a very short introduction on both art movements, and Freud himself; I will be deliberating how both art factions include specific elements which suggest the influence of Freud.

Freud’s theory concerning free association, dreams, and transference:

Before, we discuss how Freud has influenced element in both art movements, Surrealism and Dadaism; I am about to ponder over Freud’s theory of dreams, however keep in mind that this theory was greatly dealt and used by many surrealist artist. Therefore, in this section I will discuss Freud’s theory concerning dreams, free association and transference. (And, by transference we mean it’s: the redirection of feelings and desires and especially of those unconsciously retained from childhood toward a new ...

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Freud’s theory concerning free association, dreams, and transference:

In the very beginning, Freud was responsible for the development of a theory concerning neurosis. It started with hypnosis, and it ended with the usage of free association, dreams, and transference; moreover, they all investigated into the confines of the conscious and unconscious mind of human beings.Restating that, during the development of Freud’s theory on neurosis Freud has his techniques of treatment. He started off by using hypnosis, as well as, exerting pressure on the forehead; in order, to help the patient recall the memories of his trauma, and eventually reaches closure.This technique was exercised upon war soldiers who experienced war trauma. (Storr 40-41)

However, Freud changed his techniques using free association, dreams, and transference. This innovative technique requires the patient “to put into words, without censorship, whatever thoughts or fantasies spontaneously occurred”. Moreover, with the help of free association the patient is able to solve his own problems.(40)

And according to “Oxford’s very short introduction”, dreams should be engaged through free association for it is “often known as impressive or disturbing mental phenomena”. Freud is also known for “pulling the threads together”, for he is responsible for formulating a theory of dreams, and how they could be interpreted. Eventually, he had a book called “The interpretation of dreams”.(41)

Once Freud said that:

“The interpretation of dreams is the royal road to knowledge of the unconscious activities of the mind”

(SE, V.608)

It first started when Freud himself dreamt his “Irma’s Injection”. This dream was considered a translation to Freud’s wish. He wrote to Fleiss:

“Do you suppose that someday bone will read on a marble tablet on this house:

Here, on July 24 1895

The secret of the dream

Revealed itself to Dr. Sigm. Freud”

(The Freud-Fleiss letters 417)

Freud worked hard to translate dreams into words of advice to his patients, and he was able to do so by turning his fantasy into “reality on 6 May 1977”. At that time the world was facing a plaque (Storr 40-41)

Therefore, we are able to conclude from the previous section, that Freud committed several attempts to interpret dreams. Consequently, he was able to infer and clarify the use of dreams in neurosis. However, we are prone to realize the irony in Freud’s attempt to research dreams; for Freud’s personal dreams were his sole objective which eventually persuaded him to investigate them, and this is evident in the previous paragraph.

Freud’s dream theory consisted of the following:

He claimed that usually dreams were “disguised hallucinatory fulfillments of repressed wishes”. And, by wishes, we not only refer to the fulfillment of current wishes, but also to the wishes which age from childhood.(Storr 44-45) Freud said:

“Our theory of dreams regards wishes originating in infancy as the indispensible motive force for the formation of dreams”

(SE, V.589)

Freud believed that dreams were “guardians of sleep”. For, when someone goes to sleep he is detached from reality by disengaging all sorts of external influences, like light, urge to urinate, numb of leg or head, cough… etc. moreover, the dreamer is said to be severed from the internal stimuli as well such as emotions to cry, anxiety, fear, happiness. Hence, Freud states that when the mind needs to protect the body from external and internal stimuli it begins to manufacture dreams. (Kevin)

He believed that in order for the dreamer not to be disturbed, and which will eventually force him to wake up. The negative emotions and the unconscious ideas are disguised (the manifest). Hence, your dreams appear in images and symbols; however these are only the manifest, or the disguised profound meaning of your unconscious mind. In addition, the manifest also consists of what is the dreamer is able to remember after he is wakes up. But usually, Freud refers to the manifest as nonsense for it is only the disguised subconscious. Besides, there is another part in dreams called, the latent content. The latent content is the true feelings, emotions, and unconscious ideas in dreams. Freud links these dreams to the dreamer’s infantile memories and birth. He calls them the “infantile dreams”.(Kevin)

Freud has also processed dreams into “dreams work” which includes:

“: Condensation: Two or more latent thoughts are combined to make up one manifest dream image or situation.

2: Displacement: Instead of directing the emotion or desire toward the intended person or object it is transferred onto a meaningless / unrelated object in the manifest dream.

3: Symbolism: Where complex or vague concepts are converted into a dream image. For this, the mind may use the image of a similar sounding (more recognisable) word instead or use a similar looking less intrusive object. According to Freud, dream symbols are for the most part sexual in meaning thus many dreams (but not all) have a sexual correlation.” (Kevin)

Freud eventually used the terminology of free association. It was a key form in which it helped the patients to recall the (manifest content) which meant what the dreamer was able to remember after his awakening. Then, Freud would ask the patient to focus on a specific element in his dream whether it’s a displacement, a symbol, or a condensation. Eventually, the dreamer will be able to discover his disguised unconscious thought. ( Kevin)

Furthermore, before we start with the next chapter, I will discuss some of Freud’s symbols in dreams which might refer to a sexual oriented desire. Such as:

“Freud suggested that objects such as tree-trunks, ties, all weapons, sticks, balloons, rockets and other elongated objects were all symbols for the male organ/an erection. Where boxes, cases, chests, cupboards, ovens, suitcases and other hollow objects represented the female genitalia. A room usually signified a woman but so could the whole house, a door or the whole dream landscape. The simple act of walking up a staircase, steps or ladders could also signify a sexual act.

Freud also had a fascination with symbols of castration, which he believed were represented in a dream by baldness, teeth falling out and the cutting of hair. In addition, the genitals could also be represented by another part of the body. For example, the male organ could be represented by a hand, the female organ represented by a mouth or an eye.

This could therefore explain the reason why the causes of ‘wet dreams’ are usually never the result of a normal sexual act within a dream.” (Kevin)

Freud in Art and Literature:

During the 20th century psychoanalysis has influenced many art movements, as well as, literature. And, Freud was able to exert an influence on Surrealism and Dadaism. What Freud did was considered to be an eye-opener for many artists, for they were capable of discovering the importance of “dream and day-dreaming, and to find significance in thoughts and images which they would previously have dismissed as absurd or illogical.” (Storr 91)

Freud believed that the only motivation of such a talent which has been projected through forms of art, where all persuaded by the libido (sexual drive). Therefore, Freud believed that artists “discharged their infantile sexuality by converting it into non-instinctual forms”.(92)

Freud has mentioned that artists are people that “avoid neurosis and perversion by sublimating their impulses in their work”. (92-93)

Into the bargain, we interpret that Freud has applied his theory of dream on art because he was interested in the content of it, and not in its form. He said that art is the manifest content while the latent content derives from aggression, love of fame, wealth, and sexual drive, and infantile suppressed wishes. He said once, quoting his words:

“An artist is once more in rudiments an introvert, not far removed from neurosis. He is oppressed by excessively powerful instinctual needs. He desires to win honour, power, wealth, fame, and love of women; but he lacks the means for achieving these satisfactions. Consequently, like any other unsatisfied man, he turns away form reality and transfers all his interest, and his libido too , to the wishful constructions of his life of fantasy, whence the path might lead to neurosis.” (101)

As well, Freud believes that art is derived from wishes, and this could be projected through dreams he says:

“We may lay it down that a happy person never fantasies, only an unsatisfied one. The motive forces of fantasies are unsatisfied wishes.” (101)

Dada and Freud: