The Paranoid-Critical Method

Reading activity

Dalì himself developed the so-called paranoid-critical method, in order to paint without the control of reason and to let subconscious topics spring in the artwork.

Create 8 groups of 3-4 students

Read these two webpages

Paranoid critical method, provided by Tufts University (MA) - Programme of M.A. (Master of Arts) in Art History

(groups 1-4). This text focuses more on the cultural context, and on the importance of Freud and psychoanalysis.

Salvador Dali - The Paranoid Critical Transformation Method, provided by Humboldt State University (CA) - Art in the HSU Library

(groups 5-8). This text focuses more on style and technical features, comparing Dalì to other ancient and modern painters.

Discuss and report

Discuss the text and the images with your group.

Writing activity: create a summary (max 3 lines) of Dalì’s method

Report to the class