Surrealism is a movement that was based on the flourishing look at art, psychology and the functioning of the mind. Popularly associated with the works of Salvador Dali, Surrealist art takes imagery and ideology and creates correlation where there is none, creating new forms of art. In this essay I will attempt to explore the beginning of the Surrealist movement, including the Surrealist Manifesto, to highlight the importance of these artists and their work in the 20th century and beyond. I will also look at films from our European Cinema course to express how the films incorporate the influence of Surrealism both intentionally and unintentionally. To begin, we will examine the ideals and influences that led to the formation of surrealist ideals, starting with something that sparked multiple artistic movements, the First World War. Many French artists were displaced during the war and embraced ideals that expressed their dissatisfaction with the results of rationalism, which in their eyes was the cause of the war itself (http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-surrealism.htm). These artists called themselves “Dadaists” and believed in the concept of “Anti-art”, a rejection of previous values ​​linked to rational or bourgeois ideals. Upon their return to Paris after the war, these artists brought the idea of ​​anti-art and began to express their ideas through performances, written works, and various other forms that looked to the absurd or ridiculous to ridicule the formal presentation of art and realism. These protests, however, were driven more by social and aesthetic commentary than the Surrealists, who focused more on the effects of art of the mind, both in creation and viewing. The major spark occurred in 1924, when André Breton published “Surrealist Manifes......middle of paper......m successful films down to the smallest independent feature films. The suspension of reality inherent in watching any film is a process that the surrealists sought to utilize, the image sharply challenging expectations of concrete reality. Works Cited The discreet charm of the bourgeoisie. Director Luis Buñuel. Perf. Fernando Rey. 1972.The Seventh Seal. Director Ingmar Bergmann. Perf. Max von Sydow. AB Svensk Filmindustri, 1957. DVD. Neginsky, Rosina. “Lesson on surrealism”. Microsoft Word files. November 28, 2011. Neginsky, Rosina. "Surrealism, interesting information." Microsoft Word files. November 28, 2011. "What is Surrealism?" WiseGeek, NdWeb. November 28, 2011.Voorhies, James. "Surrealism." The Metropolitan Museum of Art, N.d. Web. November 28, 2011. Magrini, James M. “'Surrealism' and the Omnipotence of Cinema.” The senses of cinema and the web. November 28. 2011.