2.2

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ACTIVITY THINKING ABSTRACTLY

Look at the painting by Salvador Dalí reproduced below, The Persistence of Memory (1931). As Burton does with the scissors in Edward Scissorhands, Dalí is treating the clocks metaphorically. After observing the clocks carefully and identifying any patterns in how Dalí represents the clocks, try to draw a conclusion about what he might be suggesting about time. What does the title tell you about Dalí’s intended meaning in this piece? What is an alternate title for the painting that might reflect your conclusion?

image
The Persistence of Memory, 1931 (oil on canvas), Dalí, Salvador (1904–89)/Museum of Modern Art, New York, USA/Bridgeman Images. © Salvador Dalí, Fundació Gala-Salvador Dalí, Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York 2015.