Journal of Surrealism and the Americas




The Journal of Surrealism and the Americas focuses on the subject of modern European and American intellectuals’ obsession with the “New World.” This obsession—the very heart of Surrealism—extended not only to North American sites, but also to Latin America, the Caribbean, and to the numerous indigenous cultures located there. The journal invites essays that examine aspects of the actual and fantasized travel of these European and American intellectuals throughout the Americas, and their creative response to indigenous art and culture, including their anthropological and collecting activities, and their interpretations of the various geographic, political, and cultural landscapes of the Americas. We furthermore intend to investigate the interventions / negotiations / repudiations of European/American or other surrealisms, by indigenous as well as other artists, writers and filmmakers.


The editors are pleased to announce our second issue, on Surrealism and Ethnography, edited by Amy Winter. Issue 2:1 (2008) is now available under "Current Issue."

Information on the most current Call for Papers (for Issue 3, Surrealism and Photography, and Issue 4, the Latin American issue), and on upcoming feature articles and reviews, are listed under "Announcements."

N.B.: It is recommended that you view the JSA using the Firefox or Internet Explorer browser. Problems have been reported with the Safari browser. You can download the Firefox and Internet Explorer browsers at: www.mozilla.com/firefox and www.microsoft.com/windows/products/winfamily/ie/default.mspx respectively.


Please watch for our upcoming CFPs: Issue 4: Surrealism and Latin America (deadline for submissions December 1, 2008); and Issue 5, a general topics issue (deadline June 30, 2009)


Advisory Board Mary Ann Caws, Edmund Carpenter, Flora Clancy, Katharine Conley, Kate Duncan, Susannah J. Glusker, Hjorleifur Jonsson, Lewis Kachur, Ellen G. Landau, James Lastra, Marie Mauzé, Evan Maurer, Aleta Ringlero, W. Jackson Rushing, Jack Spector

Editors Samantha Kavky, Claudia Mesch, Amy Winter


The JSA is a refereed e-journal, published biannually, and is supported by a grant from the Terra Foundation for American Art.

Vol 2, No 1 (2008)


Kurt Seligmann, Map of Hagwilget, location of Chieddem Skaniisht pole. Ink and pastel on paper. Fonds Kurt & Arlette Seligmann © Canadian Museum of Civilization.