A Companion to Dada and Surrealism

Dada and Surrealism are two of the most influential, provocative and intellectually demanding areas of twentieth century art. A Companion to Dada and Surrealism provides an excellent overview of new research in the area from some of the finest established and up-and-coming scholars in the field. Blending expert synthesis of the latest scholarship with previously unpublished research findings, the book offers detailed historical coverage as well as in-depth and innovative discussion of thematic areas such as childhood, natural history, counter-culture, criminality, sexuality and gender.  One of the first studies to produce global coverage of the two movements together, this unique overview addresses the themes that unite them, but also looks at them as discrete, albeit partially overlapping entities. The Companion is divided into three sections: the first offers a complete historical account of the movements, in an expanded global context. The second provides a series of essays on key themes shared, to a greater or lesser extent, by the movements. The final section deals with the critical and cultural aftermath of Dada and Surrealism in the later twentieth century. Re-defining the research field, this text provides an invaluable companion for both scholars and students.