Surrealism in Film - Revision Cards

A set of flashcards covering key concepts and definitions related to surrealism in film.

What is a key characteristic of surrealist film?

Dream-like sequences that defy logic.

Which surrealist filmmaker co-directed Un Chien Andalou?

Luis Bunuel.

What storytelling device is common in surrealist films?

Disjointed, non-linear narrative.

What does surrealist cinema aim to explore?

The unconscious mind and irrational thought.

What technique is used in surrealist editing?

Discontinuous editing with shocking juxtapositions.

How are characters typically portrayed in surrealist film?

As symbolic or fragmented identities.

Which object famously gets sliced in Un Chien Andalou?

An eyeball.

How does mise-en-scene contribute to surrealism?

It blends familiar settings with disturbing or illogical elements.

Why do surrealist films often avoid cause-and-effect logic?

To mimic the illogical flow of dreams.

What is one visual aesthetic common to surrealist cinema?

Unexpected juxtapositions and symbolic imagery.

Which artistic movement is closely linked to surrealist film?

Dadaism.

What does surrealist cinema often reject?

Conventional narrative and character logic.

Why are surrealist films often open to interpretation?

They rely on abstract symbolism and unconscious themes.

How is time often represented in surrealist film?

As fluid, non-linear or circular.

What kind of logic is often rejected in surrealist film narratives?

Linear cause-and-effect logic.

Why is surrealism considered anti-bourgeois?

It challenges traditional values and rational thinking.

How is symbolism used in surrealist cinema?

To represent unconscious desires and fears.

Which of these best fits the surrealist concept of 'dream logic'?

Scenes shift with no clear reason or transition.

What is the audiences expected role in watching a surrealist film?

To interpret meaning without clear answers.

Which surrealist film ends with a cryptic image of buried priests?

Un Chien Andalou.

Why are animals and insects often used in surrealist imagery?

They represent primal instincts and fears.

Which female filmmaker is known for surrealist work like Meshes of the Afternoon?

Maya Deren.

How do surrealist films often treat setting and location?

They shift or distort space to unsettle the viewer.

How do surrealist films treat the boundary between reality and dream?

They often blur or collapse the distinction entirely.

Which surrealist filmmaker was also a prominent artist and collaborator of Bunuel?

Salvador Dali.

Why might a surrealist film include disturbing or shocking imagery?

To provoke the viewer and reflect the unconscious mind.

What narrative technique does surrealism often employ to disrupt logic?

Abrupt scene changes with no clear transition.

In surrealist films, what is often used instead of traditional cause-effect logic?

Associative or symbolic connections.

Why is traditional character development often avoided in surrealism?

To focus on fragmented identity and symbolism.

What type of imagery is frequently used in surrealist films?

Objects placed out of context or transformed.

How is sound sometimes used in surrealist cinema?

In jarring or mismatched ways to unsettle the viewer.

What editing effect is often used to shock or confuse in surrealist films?

Abrupt cuts between unrelated images.

How do surrealist films often challenge audience expectations?

By breaking traditional story structures.

What inspired many surrealist filmmakers' exploration of dreams?

Freudian psychoanalysis.

Why might a surrealist film feature looping or repeated actions?

To disrupt logical progression and suggest subconscious repetition.

Which concept is central to both surrealist art and film?

The irrational and unconscious mind.

Which 1970 surrealist film critiques religion and authoritarianism through bizarre imagery?

The Holy Mountain.

How might a surrealist film use music?

In disjointed or unexpected ways to heighten unease.

What makes surrealist cinema anti-narrative?

It rejects clear plotlines and character arcs.

Which visual element is most likely in a surrealist scene?

Mismatched or impossible scale (e.g., giant eyes, melting clocks).

How does surrealism influence modern experimental cinema?

Through fragmented storytelling and symbolic visuals.