How Surrealism Has Been Applied to Psychedelic Rock

Surrealism has been a major influence on psychedelic rock since the 1960s. In this blog post, we explore how surrealist techniques have been used by some of the genre’s biggest bands.

What is Surrealism?

Surrealism is a cultural movement that began in the early 1920s, and its style of art, film, photography, and writing was originally influenced by the work of Sigmund Freud. Surrealist artists sought to channel the unconscious mind, and their work often had dreamlike, or even nightmarish, qualities. In the 1960s, surrealism began to have an influence on popular culture, particularly in music. Psychedelic rock, which developed in the mid-1960s, was indebted to surrealism in both its sound and its visuals.

What are the main principles of Surrealism?

Surrealism was an avant-garde art movement that began in the early 1920s. The main principles of Surrealism are:

– attacking the idea of a single reality or “truth”
– using chance and unexpected juxtapositions to create new meaning
– automatism, or unleashing the subconscious mind to find new ideas and images
– tapping into the power of dreams, myths, and symbols

In practice, Surrealists often used techniques like automatic writing and painting, collage, and decalcomania (a method of making relief prints from two copper plates). These techniques were meant to help access the unconscious mind and create art that was beyond rational thought.

How did Surrealism develop?

Surrealism developed out of the Dada activities of World War I and the most important center of the movement was Paris. Dada was an anarchistic international movement, anti-art and anti-literature nihilists who mocked bourgeois conventions; they believed that the only corrective to a logic-based, materialist, toxic culture was total assault on its values. The main ideas of Surrealism were first formulated by the poet Guillaume Apollinaire in his essay Les Mamelles de Tirésias (The Breasts of Tiresias), which was inspired by William Shakespeare’s play A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

What is Psychedelic Rock?

Psychedelic Rock, also known as “Psychedelia”, is a style of rock music that was popularized in the late 1960’s. This type of music is characterized by its use of feedback, distortion, and other experimental sound effects. Psychedelic Rock is often associated with the use of drugs, particularly LSD.

What are the main characteristics of Psychedelic Rock?

Psychedelic rock is a style of rock music that is inspired by or attempts to replicate the effects of psychedelic drugs. The music is intended to replicate the experience of altered consciousness, often associated with the use of psychedelic drugs. The genre emerged during the mid-1960s among folk rock and blues rock bands in the United States and the United Kingdom.

The main characteristics of psychedelic rock include extended and repetitive song structures, unusual sounds created with guitars, keyboards, and electronic effects, and use of feedback and multi-tracking to create a “wall of sound.” The lyrics often explore themes such as love, failed relationships, drug use, and mental illness.

How did Psychedelic Rock develop?

It is difficult to pinpoint the exact moment when Psychedelic Rock began. However, many experts date its origins back to the mid-1960s, around the same time as the emergence of Surrealism in the art world.

Psychedelic Rock can be seen as a direct extension of Surrealist principles, in that it attempts to break down traditional notions of reality and create something new and unique. Like Surrealist art, Psychedelic Rock often uses unexpected juxtapositions, bizarre imagery, and mind-bending hallucinations to create its own unique reality.

Psychedelic Rock also shares a close connection with another artistic movement of the 1960s: Abstract Expressionism. Both movements sought to break free from the limitations of traditional forms and explore new ways of expression. Psychedelic Rock musicians often borrowed from Abstract Expressionist painters when creating their album artwork, using bold colors and wild patterns to create visually arresting designs.

While Psychedelic Rock has its roots in the 1960s, it has continued to evolve and influence music in the present day. Many modern Psychedelic Rock bands still incorporate Surrealist and Abstract Expressionist elements into their music, while also adding their own unique twist.

How has Surrealism been applied to Psychedelic Rock?

Psychedelic Rock emerged in the mid 1960’s as a result of the collision of two distinct art movements -Psychedelia and Rock. Psychedelia, with its roots in Surrealism, sought to explore the workings of the human mind through the use of drugs, while Rock music was the perfect vehicle to deliver Psychedelia’s message to a mass audience.

What are some examples of Psychedelic Rock songs that incorporate Surrealist elements?

Psychedelic rock is a genre of rock music that incorporates elements of psychedelia, a subculture that arose in the 1960s in reaction to the perceived excesses of mainstream materialism and social regimentation. Psychedelic rock attempts to replicate the experience of taking psychedelic drugs, often aiming to replicate or enhance the experience of a trip through sound. Psychedelic rock songs often feature distorted guitars, sitars, backwards recordings, and sound effects such as feedback and tape loops. Some artists have also used slide guitar, Indian music, and electronic music in their work.

One psychedelic rock band that frequently incorporated surrealist elements into their songs was The Doors. The Doors were an American rock band formed in 1965 in Los Angeles, with singer Jim Morrison, keyboardist Ray Manzarek, guitarist Robby Krieger, and drummer John Densmore. The band is best known for their 1967 album Strange Days, which included the hit single “People Are Strange.” The song’s lyrics were written by Morrison, and the song itself has been described as “a perfect example of how The Doors wove surrealist imagery into their music.”

Another psychedelic rock band that made use of surrealist elements was Pink Floyd. Pink Floyd was an English rock band formed in 1965. They are best known for their 1967 album The Piper at the Gates of Dawn, which included the singles “See Emily Play” and “Apples and Oranges.” The band’s later work would become increasingly experimental and incorporate more elaborate sound effects and tape loops. One notable example is their 1974 album Dark Side of the Moon, which featured the now-iconic track “Eclipse.” This song made use of spoken word passages from various sources (such as literature and interviews) that were edited together to create a non-linear narrative. This technique helped to create an ‘altered state’ for the listener, furthering Pink Floyd’s reputation as one of the most innovative and experimental bands of their era.

How have Psychedelic Rock artists been influenced by Surrealism?

Psychedelic Rock has been influenced by Surrealism in a number of ways. Many artists associated with the genre have been inspired by the writings of Surrealist authors such as André Breton and Salvador Dali. Psychedelic Rock artists have also been influenced by Surrealist art, which often features dreamlike imagery and unexpected juxtapositions. In some cases, Psychedelic Rock artists have attempted to create music that embodies the principles of Surrealism; for example, the band Pink Floyd deliberately sought to create “sonic landscapes” that would evoke unconsciousness and hallucinations.