Trends and Movements 

This blog explores how the Expressionist movement, Surrealism, and theDada movement shaped 20th-century art, literature, theatre, and film by emphasising emotional truth over realism, which are part of our thinking activities.

Expressionism : 

🔷 1. Definition:

Expressionism is a modernist movement that originated in Germany in the early 20th century. It is characterised by the presentation of the world from a subjective perspective, distorting it radically for emotional effect to evoke moods or ideas. Rather than depicting external reality, Expressionists sought to express inner emotional experience.

🔷2. Summary:

Expressionism is a powerful artistic and literary movement that seeks to express the inner turmoil, anxieties, and emotional truths of the modern individual. Through distortion, symbolism, and abstraction, it breaks away from realism to highlight what lies beneath the surface of reality—making it one of the most influential movements of the 20th century.

🔷 Historical Background:

Expressionism emerged in the early 20th century, around 1905, primarily in Germany, during a time of intense social, political, and psychological unrest. It developed as a strong reaction against earlier artistic movements like Realism, Naturalism, and Impressionism. While those styles focused on depicting the external world accurately or capturing fleeting impressions of reality, Expressionism turned inward, aiming to portray the raw, intense emotions of the human experience. Germany, during this period, was undergoing rapid industrialisation and urbanisation, which led to feelings of alienation and anxiety among individuals who felt lost in the fast-paced, impersonal life of modern cities. Artists and writers sensed a spiritual emptiness in society and grew increasingly disillusioned with materialism and the mechanisation of life. These feelings were only heightened by the looming threat of World War I and, later, by the horror and trauma caused by the war itself. The brutality and senselessness of the war shattered people’s faith in traditional values such as rationalism, progress, and nationalism. In response, Expressionists sought to capture the inner turmoil, existential dread, and emotional chaos that defined the human condition in such a fractured world. Their work did not attempt to show the world as it looked but as it felt—distorted, intense, and deeply personal. Expressionism, therefore, became not just a style of art but a passionate cry against the dehumanising forces of modern life and a search for deeper, often painful, truths beneath the surface of reality.

Time Period: 1905 to the 1920s

• Expressionism began around 1905 and reached its peak during the 1910s and early 1920s.
• Although it started before World War I (1914–1918), the trauma and chaos of the war gave it even more power and urgency.
• Even after the 1920s, its influence continued to be seen in later art, literature, theatre, and film movements across the world.

Place of Origin: Germany:

• Expressionism began in Germany, especially in cities like Berlin, Dresden, and Munich, which were cultural hubs.
• Germany at that time was going through rapid industrialisation and modernisation, which caused a lot of social and emotional tension.
• From Germany, the movement spread to other parts of Europe, such as Austria, France, and Scandinavia, and eventually influenced the whole world.

🔷 3. Key Characteristics:

🔹 Subjective Perspective:

Expressionism does not try to show the world as it is but as it feels to the character. It presents reality from a deeply personal and emotional viewpoint, often through someone who is mentally disturbed, spiritually intense, or visionary. This approach makes the world appear strange or distorted because it reflects inner feelings rather than outside facts.

🔹 Distortion and Exaggeration:

To express strong emotions, expressionist artists and writers use exaggerated forms, twisted shapes, and unnatural colours. In literature or theatre, characters might act in extreme ways, or the story may seem unreal. This distortion helps highlight emotional truth instead of physical accuracy.

🔹 Themes of Angst and Alienation:

Expressionist works often focus on dark and intense emotions such as fear, anxiety, madness, and a deep sense of loneliness. These themes reflect how people feel lost or disconnected in a modern, fast-changing world. The goal is to explore the emotional pain and spiritual emptiness of human life.

🔹 Symbolism:

Everything in expressionist art or literature often has a deeper meaning. A broken mirror might represent a broken mind, or a city might symbolise chaos and confusion. Symbols are used to express things that are hard to say directly, especially inner thoughts and spiritual struggles.

🔹 Bold Colours and Harsh Lines (in art):

In visual art, expressionists use bright, unnatural colours and strong, jagged lines. These are not meant to look beautiful but to shock or move the viewer emotionally. The goal is to create an emotional impact rather than a realistic picture.

🔹 Anti-Bourgeois Attitude:

Expressionism often criticises modern capitalist society, especially the comfortable, materialistic middle class (bourgeois). Artists felt that such a lifestyle was spiritually empty and false. So, expressionism rejects social norms and focuses instead on truthful emotional expression, even if it's dark or disturbing.

🔷 4. Expressionism in Different Fields:

Field	Expressionism Characteristics	Key Artists/Works	Themes
Visual Arts	- Intense emotional experiences, rejecting realistic representation. - Use of violent brushwork, stark contrasts, jagged lines, and intense, non-naturalistic colours.	- Edvard Munch (The Scream) - Egon Schiele - Ernst Ludwig Kirchner - Wassily Kandinsky - Emil Nolde	- Human emotion and inner turmoil. - Primitive and emotional expressions.
Literature	- Focus on the inner workings of the human mind. - Techniques like interior monologue and stream of consciousness. - Fragmented structure, non-linear narratives.	- Franz Kafka (The Metamorphosis) - Georg Kaiser (From Morn to Midnight) - Ernst Toller (Man and the Masses) - August Strindberg (The Dream Play)	- Psychological torment. - Loss of identity. - Disintegration of reality. - Alienation in modern society.
Theatre	- Abstract sets distorting physical environment to reflect emotional states. - Heightened dialogue (screams, chants). - Episodic, symbolic narratives.	- Georg Kaiser - Ernst Toller - Elmer Rice (The Adding Machine) - Eugene O'Neill (The Hairy Ape)	- Alienation. - Societal conflict. - Existential despair.
Film	- Stylised, distorted sets with exaggerated angles and perspectives. - Deep shadows and harsh lighting for atmosphere. - Blurring of reality and delusion.	- The Cabinet of Dr Caligari (1920, Robert Wiene) - Nosferatu (1922, F.W. Murnau) - Metropolis (1927, Fritz Lang)	- Madness. - Mystery. - Horror, insanity. - Class division, oppression, industrialisation.

🔷 6. Influence and Legacy

• Later Movements Influenced:

  • Film Noir

  • Theatre of the Absurd

  • Abstract Expressionism

  • Existentialism

• Modern Relevance: Continues to influence art, drama, literature, and cinema, especially in emotionally intense or psychologically deep works.

🔷 7. Expressionism in Literature: A Sample Analysis

• Franz Kafka’s The Metamorphosis

  • Protagonist Gregor Samsa transforms into a monstrous insect.

  • Symbolises alienation and dehumanisation in modern society.

  • The absurd, dreamlike setting emphasises internal turmoil.

  • Reflects the Expressionist concern with the inner psychological world over outer reality.

🔷 Surrealism:

🔹 1. Definition

Surrealism was an avant-garde cultural movement that began in the early 1920s. It sought to unlock the power of the unconscious mind, dream states, and irrational imagery. Surrealists rejected logic, reason, and traditional artistic norms in favor of the bizarre, the fantastical, and the subconscious.

The word "surrealism" comes from the French term “surréalisme”, meaning “beyond reality”.

🔹 2. Historical Background

• Time Period: Officially began in 1924 with the publication of the Surrealist Manifesto by André Breton.

• Origins: Grew out of Dadaism, a post-WWI anti-art movement.

• Context: Surrealism emerged as a response to the trauma of World War I, disillusionment with rationalism, and a growing interest in Sigmund Freud’s theories of dreams and the unconscious.

Breton and other Surrealists believed that the rational world had led to war and destruction, and that truth could be found in dreams, imagination, and the subconscious instead.

🔹 3. Philosophy and Key Ideas

• Unlocking the Unconscious: Influenced by Freud, Surrealists believed that tapping into dreams and subconscious thoughts could reveal deeper truths.

• Dream Imagery: Emphasized dreamlike scenes, illogical juxtapositions, and fantastical creatures.

• Automatism: A technique where artists or writers create without conscious control, allowing unconscious thoughts to guide them.

• Anti-Rationalism: Surrealism rejected order, logic, and structure in favor of chance, chaos, and intuition.

• Freedom of Thought: The movement promoted total creative freedom, imagination, and liberation from societal norms.

🔹 4. Key Characteristics of Surrealism:

1. Dream-like and Irrational Elements
   Surrealist art and writing often resemble dreams. The scenes are strange, unrealistic, and sometimes even disturbing. These elements come from the unconscious mind, where logic is replaced by emotion and fantasy.

2. Juxtaposition of Unrelated Objects or Concepts
   Surrealists loved placing two things together that normally don’t belong. For example, a clock melting on a tree branch or a fish flying in the sky. This strange combination surprises the viewer and makes them think deeper about hidden meanings.

3. Distorted Figures or Spaces
   Human bodies, faces, and spaces are often stretched, twisted, or oddly shaped in surrealist works. This distortion reflects psychological tension, inner confusion, or emotional intensity.

4. Symbolism and Metaphors
   Surrealist art is full of symbols that represent hidden thoughts, fears, or desires. For example, an open drawer in a body might symbolize a person’s secrets. These symbols often connect to emotions or dreams rather than literal meanings.

5. Unexpected Transitions
   In surrealist films and stories, the scenes might suddenly shift without warning—like in dreams. One moment you're in a desert, and the next you're underwater. These sudden changes break the rules of time and space.

6. Disregard for Traditional Artistic Techniques
   Surrealists rejected realistic styles and classical beauty. Instead, they experimented with form, technique, and materials. Their goal wasn’t perfection—it was to express the inner world, no matter how messy or unusual it looked.

7. Automatism and Spontaneity
   Automatism means creating without thinking too much—letting the hand move freely in drawing or writing, as a way to tap into the subconscious. Surrealists used this method to bypass logic and let hidden thoughts surface naturally.

Field	Description	Famous Artists / Writers / Works	Techniques / Features
Visual Arts	Dream-like, irrational, and symbolic imagery; aimed to express the unconscious.	- Salvador Dalí (The Persistence of Memory) - René Magritte (The Treachery of Images) - Max Ernst - Joan Miró - Yves Tanguy - Leonora Carrington	- Frottage (rubbing) - Grattage (scraping) - Collage and photomontage - Paranoiac-critical method (Dalí)
Literature	Broke away from logical plots; emphasized dreams, automatic writing, and subconscious thought.	- André Breton (Nadja, Manifesto of Surrealism) - Paul Éluard - Louis Aragon - Robert Desnos - Antonin Artaud	- Stream of consciousness - Non-linear structure - Dream symbolism - Irrational imagery
Theatre	Used fragmented dialogue and absurd visuals to reflect inner realities and shock audiences.	Inspired: - Theatre of the Absurd (e.g., Samuel Beckett’s Waiting for Godot) - Antonin Artaud (Theatre of Cruelty)	- Dream-like narratives - Symbolic characters - Illogical dialogues - Grotesque and visual metaphors
Film	Focused on dream logic and surreal visuals rather than plot; explored psychological depth.	- Un Chien Andalou (1929) – Luis Buñuel & Salvador Dalí - L’Âge d’Or (1930) – Buñuel - Meshes of the Afternoon (1943) – Maya Deren	- Strange transitions - Dream logic - Abstract visuals - Non-linear storytelling

🔸 The Dada Movement :

1. What is Dada?

The Dada Movement, also called Dadaism, was an avant-garde artistic and literary movement that emerged as a reaction to World War I. It rejected logic, reason, and aestheticism of modern capitalist society and instead embraced chaos, irrationality, and nonsense.

Dada was not just an art style—it was a rebellion against conventional culture, politics, and values. It sought to shock, disturb, and provoke people out of complacency.

2. Historical Background

• Time Period: 1916–1924 (but its influence lasted much longer)

• Place of Origin: Zürich, Switzerland (at the Cabaret Voltaire)

• Context:

  • Born during the horrors of World War I, when many intellectuals felt disillusioned by the war and the systems that allowed it.

  • Dadaists saw traditional values, nationalism, and capitalism as responsible for the war.

  • Their response was to mock these systems through absurdity and anti-art expressions.

3. Philosophy and Attitude

• Anti-art: Dada questioned the very definition of art.

• Irrational and Nonsensical: It embraced chaos and absurdity as forms of protest.

• Political Rebellion: Dada artists were often anarchists, pacifists, and radicals.

• Freedom of Expression: Anything could be art—words cut from newspapers, random objects, or chance happenings.

4. Key Characteristics

🔹 1. Absurdity and Nonsense

Dada artworks often appeared completely illogical or meaningless. This was intentional. By creating absurd and nonsensical art, Dadaists were rebelling against the idea that art had to make sense or be beautiful. They wanted to reflect the chaos of the world around them—especially the senselessness of war. Poems made of gibberish, random shapes, and performances without plot were meant to confuse and disrupt conventional thinking.

🔹 2. Satire and Irony

Dada artists used humor, mockery, and irony to criticize the values of the time—especially nationalism, materialism, and traditional art standards. They often made fun of serious art institutions, the upper class (bourgeois), and the systems that led to World War I. For example, Marcel Duchamp drew a mustache on a postcard of the Mona Lisa to poke fun at how society worships art masterpieces.

🔹 3. Collage and Photomontage

Instead of painting traditionally, Dadaists created collages and photomontages—by cutting up newspaper clippings, photos, advertisements, and combining them in bizarre ways. This technique allowed them to break away from realism and logic, creating surreal, chaotic compositions that reflected the fractured nature of modern life. It was also a statement that art could be made from anything.

🔹 4. Readymades

A revolutionary idea introduced by Marcel Duchamp, “readymades” were ordinary manufactured objects presented as art. For example, Duchamp’s Fountain was simply a porcelain urinal signed with a fake name. This challenged traditional definitions of art and questioned whether the idea or the object mattered more. Readymades were shocking, funny, and powerful critiques of elitist art culture.

🔹 5. Chance and Spontaneity

Many Dada works were created by random processes. Artists would drop paper pieces and glue them where they fell, or write poems by pulling words out of a hat. This emphasis on chance and spontaneity rejected the idea of planning and perfection in art. It celebrated freedom, unpredictability, and the subconscious, showing that art could be discovered, not just made.

🔹 6. Anti-establishment

Dada was deeply political, though often in a rebellious or chaotic way. It opposed war, capitalism, and the traditional social order. Dada artists were against the establishment, meaning governments, institutions, and norms that they felt led to destruction and conformity. Their art was not just visual—it was a statement against the system, meant to awaken people to think critically.

5. Major Figures and Their Works

Artist / Writer	Contribution / Famous Work
Marcel Duchamp:	Fountain (a urinal), L.H.O.O.Q. (Mona Lisa parody)
Hugo Ball:	Co-founder of Cabaret Voltaire, sound poems like Karawane
Tristan Tzara:	Dada manifesto, poet and theorist
Hans Arp:	Collages, abstract sculptures
Man Ray:	Dada photography and rayographs
Francis Picabia:	Satirical paintings and machine drawings
Jean Arp (Hans Arp):	Abstract visual compositions using chance

6. Dada in Different Art Forms

 Visual Arts

• Focused on nonsense, randomness, and shock value

• Use of collage, photomontage, readymades, and absurd sculptures

• Key Work: Duchamp’s Fountain – a urinal presented as art

 Literature and Poetry

• Sound poetry, cut-up texts, and automatic writing

• No logical structure or grammar

• Aimed to confuse and disrupt meaning

• Key Writers: Hugo Ball, Tristan Tzara, Richard Huelsenbeck

 Performance and Theatre

• Happened mostly at Cabaret Voltaire

• Included nonsense poems, puppetry, mask performances, and chaotic skits

• Emphasized spontaneity, absurdity, and audience interaction

Conclusion:

Expressionism, Surrealism, and Dada—though distinct in their approaches—collectively redefined the boundaries of artistic expression in the 20th century. Expressionism gave voice to inner turmoil and emotional extremes, Surrealism unlocked the unconscious and dreamlike realms of the psyche, and Dada rebelled against logic and tradition through absurdity and anti-art. Together, these movements challenged conventional norms across art, literature, theatre, and film, offering new ways to grapple with the complexities of modern existence. Their revolutionary spirit not only reflected the anxieties and hopes of their time but also laid the foundation for countless avant-garde and contemporary forms of creative expression that followed.