Debating Surrealism: A Review and Critiques of the Current State of Research on Surrealism in Federico García Lorca’s Poeta en Nueva York

This article is a critical reflection on current research dedicated to Federico García Lorca’s Poeta en Nueva York. It divides the issue into three categories: studies of Surrealist influences on Lorca, those who believe the poems are Surrealist, and those who do not. Findings indicate that both sides have their respective shortcomings. The supporters often adopt a definition so broad as to lack boundaries, thereby incorporating a large number of elements that may not belong to Surrealism. The dissenters, conversely, often adopt an overly narrow definition, thereby regarding many elements that exist in Surrealist literature as decisive evidence that Poeta en Nueva York is not Surrealist. This situation arises because Surrealism is a movement with considerable internal differences, making it particularly difficult to arrive at a satisfactory definition. This article therefore suggests that future related research shift its focus to the issue of the Surrealist effect in Poeta en Nueva York.