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Summary:

Abstract: This thesis investigates possible connections between the music of Erik Satie (1866-1925) and the later surrealist movement, turning to Parade (1917) in a case study that seeks to understand surrealism in music through the idea of self-exploration, a well-established interpretive approach in studies of surrealism in the visual arts. This thesis seeks to redefine surrealism in music not as a set of concrete musical characteristics, but as a collection of techniques meant to evoke subconscious turbulence by blurring the boundary between the "outside" and "inside," between conscious and subconscious, leading to a new discovery of higher or deeper truth. Satie's music aligns with the psychoanalytic elements of the discourse on surrealism. Psychoanalysis, pioneered by Sigmund Freud (1856-1939) and his followers in the 1890s in Vienna, permeated France around the time of the creation of the work. It inspired early surrealist techniques like automatism, illusory formal structures, collage, and stylistic allusion. This thesis demonstrates that such techniques can be discerned throughout Parade, not only in Satie's music, but also in its scenario, staging, costumes, and choreography. As such, Parade was a foundational work for the surrealist movement, with Satie's music contributing with the other media equally to the emotional and psychological impact of the ballet.

Table of Contents:

• Introduction
• Parade : collaboration, creation, reception
• Understanding surrealism through psychoanalysis
• Surrealism in the music of Parade
• Conclusion : Satie, surrealism in sound, and self-exploration.

Author/Creator:

Rajatanavin, Tanaporn , author

Contributors:

Mondelli, Peter , major professor

Languages:

English

Language Notes:

Item content: English

Main Work:

The Emergence of the Subconscious in Erik Satie's "Parade": The Search for Surrealism in Sound [by Rajatanavin, T.]

Related Series:

NT thesis, Music (Complete); [volume] 2020

Subjects:

Satie, Erik, 1866-1925 — Parade

Surrealism and music

Psychoanalysis and music

Parade (Satie, Erik)

Genres:

Academic theses

Dissertation Notes:

M.A. ― University of North Texas, 2020.

General Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 53-55).
Description based on: Online resource; title from PDF title page (UNT Digital Library, viewed December 20, 2021).

Physical Description:

1 online resource (iv, 55 pages) : illustrations.

Digital Characteristics:

text file

Call Numbers:

Electronic Thesis

OCLC Numbers:

1300233032