On my birthday, June 13, 2023, I asked Bard what the words "Vestigial Surreality" mean to him? His answer (which I think is better than any definition I have ever provided):
The words "vestigial surreality" suggest a sense of the uncanny, the eerie, or the supernatural. It evokes a feeling of being in a world that is not quite real, a world that is somehow both familiar and strange.
The word "vestigial" refers to something that is left over from the past, something that is no longer fully functional but that still retains some of its original form. In the context of surrealism, the word "vestigial" suggests that the uncanny or supernatural elements of the world are not entirely new, but that they are instead remnants of a past that has been forgotten or suppressed.
The word "surreality" refers to a state of being that is not quite real, a state that is characterized by dreamlike qualities or by the violation of the laws of nature. In the context of the phrase "vestigial surreality," the word "surreality" suggests that the uncanny or supernatural elements of the world are not simply imaginary, but that they are instead somehow real, even if they are not fully comprehensible.
The phrase "vestigial surreality" can be used to describe a wide range of experiences, from the feeling of déjà vu to the experience of being haunted by a ghost. It can also be used to describe works of art, literature, and film that explore the uncanny or supernatural.
Here are some examples of vestigial surreality in art and literature:
- The paintings of Salvador Dali, such as "The Persistence of Memory" and "The Metamorphosis of Narcissus," are often described as being surreal.
- The novels of Franz Kafka, such as "The Metamorphosis" and "The Trial," are often described as being surreal.
- The films of David Lynch, such as "Mulholland Drive" and "Blue Velvet," are often described as being surreal.
Vestigial surreality is a fascinating and elusive concept. It is a reminder that the world is not always what it seems, and that there are things beyond our understanding.
