Introduction to Surrealism
Surrealism is an artistic concept or idea based mostly on the subconscious mind, which has ancient roots but was developed and popularized in the early 20th century. It is a style of art, literature and filmmaking largely inspired by the idea of tapping into the subconscious mind and using the creative process to explore its hidden depths. The term ‘surrealism’ is derived from the French phrase ‘surréalisme’, which was coined by the poet Guillaume Apollinaire in 1917. In the 1920s, surrealism was adopted as an artistic approach by a group of avant-garde European artists, filmmakers and writers.

Definition of Surrealism
The most common definition of surrealism is that it is an artistic and literary concept or idea that seeks to express the inner workings of the subconscious mind. It is a creative and artistic approach that seeks to explore the unknown depths of the mind and tap into unconscious ideas and feelings. It often involves juxtaposing unexpected elements and allowing for free association, which can lead to the discovery of new and interesting ideas. The goal of surrealism is to create art and literature that is thought-provoking and imaginative, where the subconscious plays a larger role than consciousness.

Surrealist Practices
Surrealist practices include automatic writing, collage art, dream analysis, and surrealist games. Automatic writing is a practice of writing down thoughts and ideas without editing, which helps to make contact with the subconscious mind. Collage art has its roots in surrealism; it is a visual art form in which disparate images are combined to create a new whole. Dream analysis is another practice associated with surrealism, which involves interpreting and extracting meaning from dreams. Surrealist games, such as the “exquisite corpse” game, are activities that are used to explore the subconscious mind in a playful and creative manner.

Conclusion
Surrealism is an artistic concept or idea derived from the subconscious mind. It is an artistic approach that seeks to explore the unknown depths of the mind and tap into unconscious ideas and feelings. Surrealist practices include automatic writing, collage art, dream analysis, and surrealist games. By exploring the realm of the subconscious, surrealism can offer a unique, imaginative and thought-provoking approach to art and literature.