DCist wanted to make sure that everyone, especially teachers, knew about today: 4/20. As you know, 420 is teenagers’ ubiquitous reference to surrealism. You should know that some kids today will be emboldened to come to school in shapes representing themselves, or will want to “engage the subconscious” with others. Be on the lookout for the following troubling behavior:

• Use of child-like forms for serious subjects;
• Redistribution of an object’s features to suggest its form without portraying it directly;
• Corporeal discontinuity;
• Disheveled dress or broken lines;
• A giddiness or silliness that borders on the absurd;
• That sweet, yet pungent, smell that accompanies melting clocks;
• Overemphasis of the philosophical and stylistic schism with Dada;
• The need to make visits to alternate dimensions; or
• “The Munchies.”

We just want you to be informed. If you notice any behaviors of this type, remind students of Picasso’s blue period and Dalí’s ridiculous moustache. Surrealism is a gateway art, so we should all work to nip this in the bud as soon as possible.

P.S.: Happy Birthday, Joan Miró. Hat tip to area high school administrators.

Photo of Miró’s Lunar Bird from the Hirshorn sculpture garden.