The uncanny

Definition

The uncanny refers to the unsettling feeling of something being familiar yet foreign, evoking discomfort or eeriness. This concept plays a crucial role in various artistic and cultural expressions, often highlighting the tensions between reality and illusion, and challenging our understanding of the ordinary.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The uncanny often appears in surrealist exhibitions, where artworks provoke feelings of discomfort through familiar yet distorted representations.
2. In cinema, surrealist techniques like non-linear storytelling and dream logic create uncanny experiences that challenge viewers' perceptions of reality.
3. Symbolism in surrealist art frequently relies on the uncanny to evoke deeper meanings, using familiar objects placed in strange contexts to unsettle the viewer.
4. Neo-Surrealism continues to explore the uncanny, reflecting modern anxieties through visual media that blend reality with dreamlike qualities.
5. In advertising and popular culture, the uncanny is employed to engage audiences by using familiar images or sounds in unexpected ways, creating memorable and impactful messages.

Review Questions

• How does the concept of the uncanny influence the way surrealist exhibitions are designed and experienced by viewers?
  • The concept of the uncanny significantly shapes surrealist exhibitions by creating an atmosphere that blurs the lines between reality and illusion. Artworks often feature familiar objects presented in unusual contexts or altered forms, leading to a sense of discomfort and intrigue. This engages viewers on an emotional level, prompting them to confront their own perceptions of reality while navigating the strange narratives woven throughout the exhibition.
• Discuss how surrealist cinematic techniques utilize the uncanny to enhance storytelling and viewer engagement.
  • Surrealist cinematic techniques utilize the uncanny by incorporating dream-like sequences, disjointed narratives, and bizarre juxtapositions. These elements create an unsettling experience for viewers, who are often left questioning what is real. By employing unconventional editing methods and visual symbolism that evoke feelings of strangeness, filmmakers can deepen emotional responses and provoke critical thinking about the nature of reality within their stories.
• Evaluate the impact of the uncanny on contemporary art movements such as Neo-Surrealism and its relevance in today's visual culture.
  • The impact of the uncanny on contemporary art movements like Neo-Surrealism is profound, as artists use this concept to address modern anxieties and existential themes. By integrating familiar elements into strange contexts or altering them in unexpected ways, these artists provoke emotional reactions that resonate with today's audience. The relevance of the uncanny in visual culture today is evident in various media forms—from advertising to digital art—where it engages viewers by creating memorable experiences that challenge their understanding of reality.

Related terms

Freudian Uncanny: A concept introduced by Sigmund Freud, describing the uncanny as an emotional response triggered by repressed fears and anxieties manifesting in familiar yet strange forms.

Surrealism: An artistic movement that sought to explore the unconscious mind, using dream-like imagery and bizarre juxtapositions to create a sense of the uncanny.

Automatism: A technique used by surrealists to create art without conscious control, allowing spontaneous thoughts and feelings to surface, often resulting in uncanny imagery.