Investigating Sex: Surrealist Discussions, 1928-1932

by José Pierre (Editor), Malcolm Imrie (Translator)

In January 1928, the surrealists initiated their remarkable “researches into sexuality” with a series of round-table conversations involving key figures such as André Breton, Yves Tanguy, Louis Aragon, Man Ray, Max Ernst and Antonin Artaud. The transcripts, in all their bizarre and fascinating detail, are presented here. While there is plenty of humor—not all of it intentional—the speakers were trying scrupulously to record every aspect of sexual love, cataloging preferences and positions, quality and quantity. This book is a unique historical record of sexual practice and ethics; a fundamental text for understanding the surrealist movement and, for all its idiosyncrasies, a document that still retains an extraordinary vitality today.

Genres: Nonfiction, Art, Philosophy, Sexuality, Gender

224 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 1992

About the author

José Pierre, né Pierre José Darrambide à Bénesse-Maremne (Landes) le 24 novembre 1927 et mort à Paris le 7 avril 19992, est un écrivain français, critique et historien d'art, spécialiste du mouvement surréaliste.

Reviews

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

For a bunch of prudish homophobes, they certainly like shoving it into ladies' arseholes an awful lot.

[else fine · Rating 5 out of 5]

As this book progresses, it becomes increasingly clear that Andre Breton is a huge prude. It's clear to the other surrealists, too, who spend most of their time trying to fuck with him, telling ever more gross and improbable stories. It's a delightful read.

[Tosh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Probably one of the first sex surveys among friends - better known as The Surrealists. Also total lunatics. Breton headed this group but there were certain things that couldn't be touched on - for instance homosexuality. It drove him bananas! Also other sexual acts seemed to disturb him to no end as well. When the group came to it, he would have a fit.

Breton for all his faults I think was a prude when it came to sexual manners. Yet he was intrigued to visit that side of the world -yet he had his limits!

[Aleksandra Bekreneva · Rating 5 out of 5]

Мне не спалось, и я набрела на книгу, в которой сюрреалисты начала ХХ века (Андре Бретон, Макс Эрнст, Луи Арагон, Ив Танги, Антонен Арто и другие) обсуждают секс. Детальная расшифровка откровенных разговоров талантливых мужчин и парочки женщин в 1928-1932 годах.

Забавно, живо, кажется, что ты сидишь с ними в одной комнате. Я так люблю трепаться без конца и без края, какая отличная идея — собрать вместе умных людей, дать им интересную тему для разговора, всё записать, с их согласия, и выпустить книгу! Огонь!

Самая сексуальная часть женщины — оказывается, глаза.

Мне нравится, когда в книгах всё как есть, когда диалоги похожи на расшифровку диктофонной записи, или, как здесь — вся книга — живые разговоры. Читаешь, и ощущение, что времени нет, пространства нет, и от 1928-го до 2022-го — прошли считанные секунды.

[saradevil · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting yes, but a bunch of men speculating on women's sexuality ultimately comes off as priggish.

[Lance Grabmiller · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Surrealist discussions on sexuality from 1928-1932, the first few of which were published in the La Révolution surréaliste, along with some later supplemental material.

As a student of both surrealism and human sexuality, this is a fascinating volume, but mileage will vary greatly for other people.

I wish that the editors had included the responses to the inquiries included in the appendices, though perhaps that would have made the volume too unruly.

[Lewis White · Rating 1 out of 5]

What the fuck this is book?? I had to stop 60 pages in when a man described his first sexual experience as trying to have sex with a 10 year old girl when he was 16, and then convincing his 9 year old brother to do the same.

Most of the book was interesting before that, in a kind of strange way, but that’s too much for me :/

[zelfvoldaantje · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an absolute joke to read! I love seeing (surrealist) men discuss how women experience sex, love and lust. Oh and did you know that most of the surrealist forbade masturbation, but were fine with the idea of beastiality? I fucking loved these insane discussions

[Guilherme · Rating 3 out of 5]

Laugh-out-loud funny, and a breezy read. Perverts, all. They all---though Breton is the star---have the self-importance, thin skin, and dullness of great Portis characters.

[madison]

omg this was hilarious. apparently these surrealists knew... nothing about sex? homophobic, prude, sexist, and self important to boot. so much fun to read for its ridiculousness.

[Tom Crathorne · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF @ 64%. Some observations were amusing, shocking, or a combination thereof, but mostly it was a very slow read, and difficult to engage with due to the repetitive and dry nature of the content.

[Karolina Butkute · Rating 2 out of 5]

Novel idea. The execution subpar.

[Ada Beda]

Ganska underhållande pga blandningen av prydhet, sexism och fördomar med ärlighet.

[che · Rating 2 out of 5]

Should’ve asked me and the girls instead

[Nina · Rating 3 out of 5]

*3,5

My main takeaway from this is that the surrealists were heavily invested in reaching a sort of 'scientific' common ground or consensus about topics like sexuality. I did not know this before: I thought surrealists just celebrated the accidental, the random and that which escapes rationality in their art without trying to theoretically grasp those things. In these sessions however, if a satisfying definition of a term is not given by the speaker, their contribution is straight out rejected. A lot of these sessions is just them arguing about the definition of 'love' or urging each other to be more exact and precise in what they're saying. Quite fascinating! Other than that: massive content warning for André Breton's homophobia, misogyny and misogynoir in particular.

[David Allen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a series of transcripts of 12 discussions between assorted surrealist and dadaist (and Man Ray who was technically neither) artists regarding sex. This is before the Kinsey report and even though these guys were as far out from conventional sexual thought as was possible at the time, they are still grossly uninformed, sometimes sexist and usually homophobic. Andre Breton is especially grossed out by gay sex, in that sort of way where you can kind of tell he's into it. One of the artists reveals just how sheltered people were at the time when he admits to fantasizing about being fucked by a woman with an elongated clitoris, believing that such a thing exists.

Definitely a fast, interesting read.

[Autumn Kovach · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting read that I wouldn't have thought to pick up. A friend recommended it during a bookstore visit. I found the questions and answers to be very liberating on a topic that is rarely discussed. I have certainly never been a part of such a conversation. I'm undecided if I would like to or if it would be necessary but I like the idea of simply having a conversation that I have never had before. I loved the honest answers of these men. Some were more willing to share intimate details of their life. I find it important to have these talks because it can be a very isolating and lonely thing to encounter. This is the blessing of books; to enter into conversations that you don't have access to for whatever reason.

[Acacia · Rating 2 out of 5]

funny