For Georges Bataille, the "absence of myth" had itself become the defining myth of the modern age. In a world that had lost its cohesive spark, Bataille viewed Surrealism as both a symptom of this decay and a radical attempt to reclaim it.
The Absence of Myth stands as the most incisive study of the Surrealist movement ever produced. Written in the profound wake of World War II, these essays move beyond mere art criticism to treat Surrealism as a cultural and social phenomenon with far-reaching consequences.
Bataille’s complex and often misunderstood relationship with André Breton is brought into sharp focus, revealing Bataille as a figure far more radical than often portrayed. He emerges here as a thinker who continually sought to extend Marxist social theory—a pessimistic mind, certainly, but one positioned far from the void of nihilism. This collection is essential for those seeking to understand the intersection of philosophy, politics, and the avant-garde.
Physical Info: 1.27 x 21 x 14 cm | 224 pages | Paperback