Jean-Jacques Lebel and French Happenings of the 1960s : The Erotics of Revolution

Combining a broad overview of Jean-Jacques Lebel's coming-of-age among Surrealists and his rupture with the movement, Laurel Jean Fredrickson focuses on two landmark happenings in this book: the first, "Funeral of the Thing of Tinguely" (1960), and the most scandalous, "120 Minutes dedicated to the Divine Marquis" (1966). This study illustrates the development and significance of French happenings in relation to cultural and political changes of the 1960s. Research in Lebel's archives, and others like the Archives nationale d'outre-mer are indispensable in the telling of this extraordinary historical and theoretical narrative. It illuminates sensitive, often veiled dimensions of postwar French society, from torture during the Algerian War, to government censorship, to the sexual politics of nudity in art. This volume shows how Lebel synthesized the lessons of Dada and surrealism and 1960s experimentalism, electrified by political radicalism, to participate in shaping the erotics and forms of revolution in May 1968. In 1960, a young French artist and anti-Algerian war activist Jean-Jacques Lebel orchestrated Europe?s first happening, becoming a pioneer in a global movement. A key figure in the transnational avant-gardes of the 1960s, Lebel linked cultural and political undergrounds across national borders and generations, translating Dada and Surrealism for his postwar generation of artists. This study introduces an artist who, despite major museum exhibitions in Europe, remains virtually unknown outside of France. It combines a broad overview of Lebel?s coming of age among the Surrealists and rupture with the movement, and analysis of the full range of his creative output (collage-paintings, assemblages, collective activities, and theoretical writings) with a focus on two particular happenings: the first, Burial of the Thing of Tinguely (1960), and the most scandalous, 120 Minutes dedicated to the Divine Marquis (1966). In doing so, the study illustrates the development and significance of French happenings in relation to the cultural and political changes of the 1960s. Research in Lebel?s personal archives and access to the restricted archive of Kristine Stiles, Lebel?s close friend and confidant, in the Special Collections Library at Duke University are indispensible in the telling of this extraordinary historical and theoretical narrative that illuminates sensitive, often veiled dimensions of postwar French society, from the torture of civilians during the Algerian war, government repression of cultural expression, to the sexual politics of nudity in art "Combining a broad overview of Jean-Jacques Lebel's coming-of-age among Surrealists and his rupture with the movement, Laurel Jean Fredrickson focuses on two landmark happenings in this book: the first, ?Funeral of the Thing of Tinguely? (1960), and the most scandalous, ?120 Minutes dedicated to the Divine Marquis? (1966). This study illustrates the development and significance of French happenings in relation to cultural and political changes of the 1960s. Research in Lebel's archives, and others like the Archives nationale d'outre-mer are indispensable in the telling of this extraordinary historical and theoretical narrative. It illuminates sensitive, often veiled dimensions of postwar French society, from torture during the Algerian War, to government censorship, to the sexual politics of nudity in art. This volume shows how Lebel synthesized the lessons of Dada and surrealism and 1960s experimentalism, electrified by political radicalism, to participate in shaping the erotics and forms of revolution in May 1968."-- Provided by publisher "Combining a broad overview of Jean-Jacques Lebel's coming-of-age among the Surrealists and his rupture with the movement, Laurel Fredrickson focuses on two landmark happenings: the first, Burial of the Thing of Tinguely (1960), and the most scandalous, 120 Minutes dedicated to the Divine Marquis (1966). In doing so, the study illustrates the development and significance of French happenings in relation to the cultural and political changes of the 1960s. Research in Lebel's personal archives and access to the restricted archive of Kristine Stiles, Lebel's close friend and confidant, are indispensable in the telling of this extraordinary historical and theoretical narrative that illuminates sensitive, often veiled dimensions of postwar French society, from the torture of civilians during the Algerian war, to government repression of cultural expression, to the sexual politics of nudity in art"-- Provided by publisher Cover Half Title Title Copyright Dedication Contents Acknowledgments Introduction: Poetry as Dissent 1 Eros, Revolution, Transmutation 2 L’enterrement de la Chose de Tinguely 3 120 minutes dédiées au Divin Marquis 4 Desire, Spontaneity, Revolution Bibliography Index