Unleash Creativity The Surrealist Way: Exquisite Corpse for Kids!

Brianne Wragg
July 15, 2023

Let’s explore the Exquisite Corpse game, a creative writing game that inspires spontaneity and play with words and meaning. If you have ever had a chance to observe one of our Writers’ 45 sessions, you will notice that word games and “play” is crucial to our workshops. But why do we play? How do we play? And can you bring this play into your own homes?

As a teacher, I must admit that I often neglected the inclusion of creative games like Exquisite Corpse in my lessons. Caught up in the pressure of covering the curriculum, I didn’t have time to explore the value of these seemingly time-consuming activities. How wrong I was!

While transitioning from the classroom to a writing group, I discovered the enchantment of the exquisite corpse game. I joined a local writing group amidst the pandemic seeking solace and inspiration. During this journey, I found the magic of the exquisite corpse game, which sparked my creativity and changed my perspective on how we should teach creative writing. And it started with one peculiar collective sentence: “The deathly flower cannot sever its connections with energy, but gods destroy the cosmos.”

At that moment, I realized the untapped potential of Exquisite Corpse. It ignited my imagination (inspiring my first poetic writing endeavor, which I have included) and fostered collaboration, transcending the boundaries of conventional teaching methods. I knew I had stumbled upon a powerful tool for nurturing creativity and inspiring young minds.

So join me and discover the charm of the exquisite corpse game and unlock a world of imagination with your children. Let’s play and create together!

Uncovering the Mystery Behind Exquisite Corpse Game

The name may sound a bit unusual, but fear not! The Exquisite Corpse Game has a fascinating history rooted in the Parisian Surrealist Movement of the 1920s. Surrealist artists like André Breton and Joan Miró invented this game to unleash their creativity and discover unexpected connections.

This game has left an indelible imprint on modern creativity, from its humble beginnings among influential Surrealist artists to its evolution into various creative mediums, such as visual arts, poetry, and prose. You may already enjoy several contemporary variations, including the Exquisite Corpse Drawing Game, where participants draw the head of a figure, the next the torso, and “Chain of Fools,” a humorous and poignant collective portrait of identity and transformation.

Step into Surrealist History

Let’s briefly dive into history to discover how the Exquisite Corpse game made its mark on art and literature. This game has left an indelible imprint on modern creativity, from its humble beginnings among influential Surrealist artists to its evolution into various creative mediums, such as visual arts, poetry, and prose.

The Exquisite Corpse game originated among Surrealist artists, including André Breton, Paul Éluard, and Joan Miró in the 1920s. The game’s focus on creativity and unexpected connections resonated with the movement’s core ideas. “Exquisite Corpse” comes from the first line of poetry created using the technique: “The exquisite corpse shall drink the new wine.” Since then, the Exquisite Corpse game has evolved and expanded into various creative mediums, including visual arts, poetry, and prose, leaving a lasting influence on modern art and literature.

One notable example of a contemporary Exquisite Corpse is the poem “Chain of Fools,” created by a poet group at the New York City Art Institute in the 1990s. The poem was structured around the sentence construction, “I used to be ________, but now I am ________.” Each poet contributed to the blanks, creating a hilarious and poignant collective portrait of identity and transformation.

How to play

Now, let’s get down to the nitty-gritty and learn to play Exquisite Corpse! Whether you prefer the classic pen-and-paper approach or want to explore digital platforms for collaboration, I’ve got you covered. Get ready to unleash a whirlwind of creativity in your living room!

Here’s how to play:

Players agree on a sentence structure beforehand. For example, “Adjective, Noun, Verb, Adjective, Noun.”
Each player contributes one word, conceals it, and then passes it on to the next player. Players can use either a sheet of paper and fold it over or a digital platform like Google Docs or Padlet that allows you to hide each participant’s entry.
Add articles and verb tenses at the end to ensure the sentence makes grammatical sense.
Reveal the complete sentence to the group! Exquisite corpse’s only hard and fast rule is that each participant is unaware of what the others have written, thus producing a surprising—sometimes absurd—yet often beautiful phrase or metaphor. Many of the most compelling phrases or metaphors are unpredictable.

Unleashing the Unexpected: From Nonsensical Sentences to Imaginative Stories

Challenges make life exciting, and the Exquisite Corpse game is no exception! I challenge your young writers to take their creations, even the most nonsensical sentences, and transform them into imaginative stories.

Encourage your writers to play with words, rules, and meaning. What if the dog didn’t mean a four-legged creature? Or what your noun was a proper noun? What senses can you manipulate to make a more meaningful story? Prepare to witness your child’s experimentation and spontaneity flourish, resulting in unexpected twists and turns that amaze you. This game is about embracing the unexpected and pushing the boundaries of storytelling.

Adaptations & Beyond: Explore Other Creative Possibilities

The Exquisite Corpse game knows no bounds regarding creativity and continuing popularity among poets, artists, and authors. It has been used in creative writing classes and played at poetry readings and literary festivals worldwide. Players can adapt the game to their purposes, using it as a tool for collaboration and experimentation.

Exquisite Corpse Drawing Game: the drawing game adaption, sometimes known as picture consequences, where artists draw the head of a figure, the middle third the torso, bottom third the legs – it is common in children’s books.
Collage/Mixed Media Game: another adaption of the exquisite corpse drawing game involves using collaging or mixed media where each player’s further contribution creates adds to the entire contemporary art masterpiece.
Build-a-Story Game: Each participant writes a sentence and conceals most of the text, leaving only a few words visible. The next writer continues the story using those visible words as a starting point. The process is repeated until everyone has contributed to a collaborative, nonsensical, and often humorous tale.
Poetry Version: Each participant writes a line of poetry but leaves the last word visible. The next poet contributes the poem’s following line, leaving the last word of the line visible. The process is repeated until everyone has contributed to a collaborative, nonsensical, and often humorous story.
Musical Exquisite Corpse Version: In GarageBand, one player picks a tempo and a key, the next can make a beat, then the next person can make a bassline without listening to the beat, and the next person can make a melody without listening to either. Then you could play it back and see what it sounds like.
Digital Game: Utilize online platforms, apps, social media, or collaborative writing tools for remote collaboration or connecting with writers. In these contexts, participants can contribute their words or images from anywhere worldwide, creating collective works of art that transcend geographic boundaries.

Benefits for Young Writers

One thing that has truly resonated with me since starting Writers’ 45 is the immense value of play in children’s writing. In our quest for the final product and tangible outcomes, we often overlook the power of play in nurturing creativity and growth. By embracing the concept of play, specifically through engaging in the Exquisite Corpse game, our children can unlock a world of benefits. Here are some advantages together:

Encouraging creativity: It helps young writers break free from conventional thinking and explore new ideas and perspectives.
Developing collaboration skills: Students learn the importance of teamwork and effective communication by participating in a group.
Enhancing writing skills: It exposes students to various writing styles and encourages them to expand their vocabulary and grammar usage.
Boosting self-confidence: There can be no right or wrong answers, so sharing work within a supportive group fosters an appreciation for individual contributions to a collective piece.
Integrating with other subjects or themes: Connect the game to subjects such as history, science, or literature by incorporating relevant topics or themes.

Through the power of play and the magic of Exquisite Corpse, we can unlock the full potential of our young writers. Let’s encourage them to embrace the joy of writing, explore without limitations, and witness their imaginations soar.

Final Thoughts

The Exquisite Corpse game is a gateway to boundless creativity, collaboration, and fun for your children. By immersing themselves in this whimsical game, they will discover the joy of expressing their thoughts in unique and unexpected ways. The essence of Exquisite Corpse lies in its ability to challenge preconceptions and creative habits, encouraging your children to embrace the unexpected and the absurd. Through this game, they will explore new ideas, connect with others, and develop a spirit of play and experimentation.

So, why wait? Dive into the world of Exquisite Corpse with your kids today and witness their creativity soar to new heights. Unleash their imaginations, foster collaboration, and ignite a passion for writing that will stay with them forever. Whether you’re seeking a fun activity for a lazy afternoon or a unique way to enhance your homeschooling curriculum, Exquisite Corpse has covered you.

Join our community of parents and share your Exquisite Corpse experiences. Let’s celebrate the beauty of fierce creativity and inspire a new generation of young writers. Remember the words of André Breton, “Beauty will be convulsive or will not be at all.” Let’s embark on this exciting journey and create convulsive beauty together.

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