Aesthetic Notes on Nadja

There is much about surrealist aesthetics that I don't understand. Here are some notes on Aesthetics from André Breton's Nadja.

Aesthetics:

"Chirico acknowledged at the time that he could paint only when surprised (surprised first of all) by certain arrangements of objects, and that the entire enigma of revelation consisted for him in the word: surprise" (Breton, 15). Breton goes on to note that the art that Chirico created certainly was linked with the object that inspired it, but only in a way that two brothers resemble on another or as a dream about a person resembles the actual person. Firstly, the dream part is a part of the surrealist fascination with dreams. But, the element of surprise seems to be essential to understanding the Surrealist aesthetic desire as well. I was not familiar with De Chirico until I looked him up, but after seeing some of his more famous paintings like Love Song, The Red Tower and The Disquieting Muses I realized I had at least seen some of his works. They encapsulate (at least his work during his 'metaphysical' period) what I've always considered surrealism's enjoyable aspects.

"I insist on knowing the names, on being interested only in books left ajar, like doors; I will not go looking for keys" (Breton, 18). This seems an interesting aesthetic ideal for Breton considering the surrealist paintings. I guess in some extent the door is left ajar in that a painting or drawing in that style naturally opens itself to multiple vantage points and interpretations. But, on the other hand the door seems firmly closed to getting to the meaning behind the works.

There is a long passage on Breton's concept of beauty after the dots on page 159 through the final page 160. But the final sentence of the book seems to articulate Breton's view on beauty well enough. "Beauty will be convulsive or will not be at all". If something therefore, doesn't cause an unconscious reaction then it isn't beauty at all. Convulsions aren't usually something that I incorporate into my ideas of pleasurable experiences, but there are of course muscle convulsions that are. It's just an ugly word to associate with beauty.