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Surrealism and the French-Algerian War

conference contribution
posted on 2025-04-05, 22:56 authored by Raymond SpiteriRaymond Spiteri
The French-Algerian War (1954-62) was a key event in French post-WWII history. It coincided with a renewal of the French surrealist movement, with the publication of a new review, Le Surréalisme, même (1956-60), and a major group exhibition in 1959, Exposition intéRnatiOnale du Surréalisme (EROS). What effect did the French-Algerian War have on surrealism? The surrealists not only supported Algerian independence, but they were also involved in the intellectual opposition to the war, participating in numerous initiatives supporting the Algerian cause. Yet, despite this evidence, the picture that emerges is curiously fragmented, suggesting in retrospect that the war was more a shadowy presence than an overriding concern during this period.

Funding

AAANZ 2021 | Funder: HUMANITIES

History

Preferred citation

Spiteri, R. (2023, December). Surrealism and the French-Algerian War. In Journal of Avant-Garde Studies (4 (2) pp. 185-215). Walter de Gruyter GmbH. https://doi.org/10.1163/25896377-00402001

Title of proceedings

Journal of Avant-Garde Studies

Volume

4

Contribution type

Unpublished Paper

Publication or Presentation Year

2023-12-07

Pagination

185-215

Publisher

Walter de Gruyter GmbH

Publication status

Unpublished

ISSN

2589-6369

eISSN

2589-6377