A Surrealist Stratigraphy of Dorothea Tanning’s Chasm (Studies in Surrealism)

In A Surrealist Stratigraphy of Dorothea Tanning ’s Chasm, Catriona McAra offers the first critical study of the literary work of the celebrated American painter and sculptor Dorothea Tanning (1910–2012). McAra fills a major gap in the scholarship, repositioning Tanning’s writing at the centre of her entire creative oeuvre and focusing on a little-known short story "Abyss," a gothic-flavoured, desert adventure which Tanning worked on intermittently throughout her creative life, finally publishing it in 2004 as Chasm: A Weekend . McAra performs a major reassessment of the visual and literary principles upon which the surrealist movement was initially founded. Combining a groundbreaking methodological approach with reference to cultural theory and feminist aesthetics as well as Tanning’s unpublished journals and notes, McAra reveals Tanning as a key player in contemporary art practice as well as in the historical surrealist milieu. In 'a Surrealist Stratigraphy Of Dorothea Tanning's Chasm', Catriona Mcara Offers The First Critical Study Of The Literary Work Of The Celebrated American Surrealist Painter And Soft Sculptor. Mcara Fills A Major Gap In The Scholarship, Repositioning Tanning's Writing At The Centre Of Her Entire Creative Oeuvre And Focusing On The Little-known Manuscript, Abyss, A Gothic-flavoured, Desert Adventure Which Tanning (1910-2012) Worked On Intermittently Throughout Her Creative Life, Finally Publishing It In 2004 As 'chasm: A Weekend'. Mcara Undertakes A Major Reassessment Of The Visual And Literary Principles Upon Which The Surrealist Movement Was Initially Founded. Combining A Ground-breaking Methodological Approach With Reference To Cultural Theory And Feminist Aesthetics, And With Access To Tanning's Unpublished Journals And Notes, Mcara Reveals Tanning As A Key Player In Contemporary Art Practice As Well As In The Historical Surrealist Milieu. Unpacking Tanning's Library -- The Alternative Reality Of Sedona -- Surrealism In The Attic -- The Fur Of The Fairy Tale -- Quoting Tanning: Surrealist Heirlooms In Contemporary Practice. Catriona Mcara. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.