Breton had studied medicine and psychiatry and was well-versed in the psychoanalytical writings of Sigmund Freud. He was particularly interested in the idea that the unconscious mind—which produced dreams—was the source of artistic creativity. read more
The Soviet Union didn’t have the same social climate, and therefore, there was no real emotional incentive to deride materialism, etc. In a way, Soviet life had become surreal. However, other modernist trends were embraced there as the State avoided ties to the aristocratic past. read more
Siphon, a device for dispensing carbonated soda water, was created in 1829 in France and was very popular in Europe before World War II. The war, however, destroyed most siphon production plants in Europe, and then bottled carbonated beverages became popular everywhere, except in the USSR where buying bottled water was very expensive. read more
Unsurprisingly, the condition was only observed in the Soviet Union and its satellite states, and seemingly disappeared after the collapse of the USSR. Some of the symptoms of sluggish schizophrenia included advocating political reform, perseverance, or struggling for truth. read more