surrealism
/səˈrɪə.lɪz.əm/ IELTSAcademic
noun
A 20th-century art and literary movement that shows dreamlike, strange, or illogical scenes. It tries to go beyond ordinary reality and explore the unconscious mind.
- This painting is influenced by surrealism.
- The film mixes humor and surrealism.
- Her poems show strong surrealism.
Adinary Nuance
Surrealism is not the same as simply 'weird' or 'fantasy'. Weird only means unusual, and fantasy usually builds an imaginary world. Surrealism feels dreamlike and unreal, but it often uses real objects in strange combinations.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- chủ nghĩa siêu thực
- Spanish
- surrealismo
- Chinese
- 超现实主义
- Japanese
- シュルレアリスム
- Korean
- 초현실주의
Etymology
The word came into English in the 1920s from French surréalisme. It combines Latin roots meaning 'above' and 'real', showing art that goes beyond normal reality.
Common phrases
surrealism in artsurrealist paintingthe surrealism movement
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is surrealism the same as surreal?
- No. Surreal is an adjective. Surrealism is the art movement and style.
- Is surrealism used only for paintings?
- No. It is also used for writing, film, and other creative works.
- What is the difference between surrealism and fantasy?
- Fantasy creates imaginary worlds. Surrealism makes real things feel dreamlike or strange.
- Is surrealism a formal word?
- Yes. It is mainly used in art, literature, film, and academic writing.