The Arts · Grade 9 · Art in Context: History and Criticism · Term 2

Surrealism and Dada: Art of the Unconscious

Investigating art movements that embraced the irrational, dreams, and anti-art sentiments.

• Ontario Curriculum Expectations
• VA:Cn11.1.HSII
• VA:Re7.2.HSII

About This Topic

Surrealism and Dada represent pivotal 20th-century art movements that challenged conventional aesthetics. Surrealists, influenced by Freudian psychoanalysis, explored the unconscious through dream imagery, automatic drawing, and unexpected juxtapositions, as seen in Salvador Dalí's melting clocks or René Magritte's impossible scenes. Dadaists, responding to World War I's devastation, rejected logic and beauty with absurd collages, readymades like Marcel Duchamp's Fountain, and provocative performances that mocked bourgeois values.

In the Ontario Grade 9 Arts curriculum, this unit aligns with standards for connections in art history (VA:Cn11.1.HSII) and responding through analysis (VA:Re7.2.HSII). Students examine how these movements reflect historical turmoil and psychological theories, justifying Dada's anti-art stance and analyzing Surrealism's emotional effects. Key questions guide critical thinking about subconscious inspiration and object juxtaposition.

Active learning shines here because students replicate techniques like automatic sketching or collage assembly. These hands-on tasks make abstract concepts concrete, foster risk-taking in creativity, and encourage peer critique that mirrors the movements' disruptive spirit.

Key Questions

1. Explain how Surrealist artists accessed the subconscious mind for creative inspiration.
2. Justify the Dadaists' rejection of traditional art forms during their historical context.
3. Analyze the psychological impact of juxtaposing unrelated objects in a Surrealist artwork.

Learning Objectives

• Analyze the influence of Freudian psychoanalysis on Surrealist techniques like automatism and dream transcription.
• Compare and contrast the core philosophies and artistic outputs of the Dada and Surrealist movements.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of Dadaist anti-art strategies in challenging societal norms and the art establishment.
• Create an artwork employing Surrealist juxtaposition or Dadaist collage to express an irrational concept.
• Explain the historical context of World War I and its impact on the development of Dadaism.

Before You Start

Elements and Principles of Design

Why: Students need a foundational understanding of visual elements and principles to analyze how Surrealists and Dadaists manipulated them to create specific effects.

Introduction to 20th Century Art Movements

Why: Prior exposure to early 20th-century art provides context for understanding the historical and cultural factors that led to the emergence of Dada and Surrealism.

Key Vocabulary

Automatism	A method of art creation where the artist bypasses conscious thought, allowing the subconscious mind to direct the hand, often resulting in spontaneous drawings or writings.
Juxtaposition	The placement of two or more unrelated objects or ideas side by side, creating an unexpected or surprising effect, a key technique in Surrealism.
Readymade	An ordinary manufactured object selected by the artist and presented as art, challenging traditional notions of artistic skill and originality, famously used by Dadaists.
Anti-art	A concept associated with Dadaism that rejected traditional aesthetic values and the very definition of art, often through absurdity, irrationality, and protest.
Psychoanalysis	A set of theories and therapeutic techniques originating from Sigmund Freud, exploring the unconscious mind, dreams, and repressed desires, which heavily influenced Surrealism.

Watch Out for These Misconceptions

Common Misconception

Surrealism is random weirdness with no deeper meaning.

What to Teach Instead

Surrealists deliberately tapped the subconscious via techniques like automatism to reveal hidden truths. Active collage-making lets students experience controlled 'randomness' and discuss psychological layers, shifting views through peer analysis.

Common Misconception

Dada was pointless chaos without historical purpose.

What to Teach Instead

Dada protested World War I's irrationality by subverting art norms. Role-playing performances helps students connect absurdity to context, as group critiques reveal protest strategies and build empathy for artists' intent.

Common Misconception

Juxtaposing objects in Surrealism only shocks, not evokes psychology.

What to Teach Instead

Such combinations provoke subconscious associations and unease. Student-led analyses of partner artworks during sharing sessions clarify emotional responses, with active creation reinforcing analytical skills.

Active Learning Ideas

Collaborative Problem-Solving: Exquisite Corpse Drawings

Fold paper into thirds; each student in a trio draws a head, body, or legs without seeing others' work, then unfolds to reveal surreal figures. Discuss resulting juxtapositions and subconscious influences. Students annotate with dream associations.

30 min·Small Groups

Stations Rotation: Dada Readymades

Set up stations with everyday objects: combine them into 'sculptures,' photograph, and write manifestos justifying anti-art choices. Groups rotate, vote on most provocative, and present historical parallels to Duchamp.

45 min·Small Groups

Pairs: Surrealist Automatic Writing

Partners write stream-of-consciousness for 5 minutes without stopping, then exchange and illustrate key phrases as collages. Pairs analyze how unconscious elements emerge and connect to Freudian ideas.

35 min·Pairs

Whole Class: Dada Performance Skit

Brainstorm absurd scenarios mocking war or art norms; assign roles and rehearse short performances with nonsense sounds. Debrief on emotional impact and historical context through class gallery walk of photos.

50 min·Whole Class

Real-World Connections

• Graphic designers and advertisers utilize Surrealist principles of unexpected imagery and juxtaposition to create memorable and thought-provoking campaigns for products and brands.
• Filmmakers and animators draw inspiration from Surrealist and Dadaist aesthetics to develop dreamlike sequences, unconventional narratives, and visually striking scenes in movies and animated shorts.
• Contemporary artists continue to explore themes of the subconscious, irrationality, and social commentary through collage, assemblage, and performance art, echoing the disruptive spirit of Dada and Surrealism.

Assessment Ideas

Discussion Prompt

Facilitate a class discussion using the prompt: 'Imagine you are a critic in 1920s Paris. Write a short review of a fictional Surrealist painting that uses extreme juxtaposition. What would you praise or criticize, and why?' Encourage students to reference specific Surrealist techniques.

Quick Check

Present students with three images: one clearly Dadaist, one clearly Surrealist, and one unrelated artwork. Ask them to identify which is which and write one sentence explaining their reasoning for each, focusing on the core characteristics of Dada and Surrealism.

Peer Assessment

Students complete a short automatic drawing or a Dada-inspired collage. In pairs, they present their work and use the following prompts for feedback: 'What irrational element or unexpected connection did you notice in your partner's work? How does it remind you of Dada or Surrealism?'

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you teach the historical context of Dada in Grade 9 Arts?

Start with World War I timelines and artist letters, then have students create 'Dada manifestos' responding to modern events. This contextualizes rejection of tradition. Pair with image analysis of Cabaret Voltaire events to show anti-art as protest, building critical justification skills per VA:Cn11.1.HSII.

What activities access the subconscious in Surrealism lessons?

Use automatic drawing and exquisite corpse exercises where students avoid conscious control. Follow with reflections on emerging imagery tied to Freud. These build on VA:Re7.2.HSII by analyzing personal psychological impacts, making abstract theory personal and engaging.

How can active learning help students understand Surrealism and Dada?

Hands-on replications like collage juxtapositions or Dada performances immerse students in artists' processes, turning passive history into experiential critique. Group rotations and peer feedback develop analysis skills, address misconceptions through trial-and-error, and connect to Ontario standards by justifying creative choices in context.

How to analyze psychological impact of Surrealist juxtapositions?

Guide students to pair artworks with emotion journals, noting reactions to elements like Magritte's pipes. Small-group discussions link to subconscious triggers. This scaffolds VA:Re7.2.HSII responding, with extensions to student creations for deeper personal insight.