The History of DADA

[supersop]

Dada was, officially, not a movement, its artists not artists and its art not art. That sounds easy enough, doesn't it? Of course, there is a bit more to the story of Dadaism than this simplistic explanation.

Dada was a literary and artistic movement born in Europe at a time when the horror of World War I was being played out in what amounted to citizens' front yards. Due to the war, a number of artists, writers and intellectuals - notably of French and German nationality - found themselves congregating in the refuge that Zurich (in neutral Switzerland) offered. Far from merely feeling relief at their respective escapes, this bunch was pretty ticked off that modern European society would allow the war to have happened. They were so angry, in fact, that they undertook the time-honored artistic tradition of protesting.

Banding together in a loosely-knit group, these writers and artists used any public forum they could find to (metaphorically) spit on nationalism, rationalism, materialism and any other -ism which they felt had contributed to a senseless war. In other words, the Dadaists were fed up. If society is going in this direction, they said, we'll have no part of it or its traditions. Including...no, wait!...especially artistic traditions. We, who are non-artists, will create non-art - since art (and everything else in the world) has no meaning, anyway.

About the only thing these non-artists all had in common were their ideals. They even had a hard time agreeing on a name for their project. "Dada" - which some say means "hobby horse" in French and others feel is just baby talk - was the catch-phrase that made the least amount of sense, so "Dada" it was.

Using an early form of Shock Art, the Dadaists thrust mild obscenities, scatological humor, visual puns and everyday objects (renamed as "art") into the public eye. Marcel Duchamp performed the most notable outrages by painting a mustache on a copy of the Mona Lisa (and scribbling an obscenity beneath) and proudly displaying his sculpture entitled Fountain (which was actually a urinal, sans plumbing, to which he added a fake signature).

The public, of course, was revulsed - which the Dadaists found wildly encouraging. Enthusiasm being contagious, the (non)movement spread from Zurich to other parts of Europe and New York City. And just as mainstream artists were giving it serious consideration, in the early 1920s, Dada (true to form) dissolved itself.

In an interesting twist, this art of protest - based on a serious underlying principle - is delightful. The nonsense factor rings true. Dada art is whimsical, colorful, wittily sarcastic and, at times, downright silly. If one wasn't aware that there was, indeed, a rationale behind Dadaism, it would be fun to speculate as to just what these gentlemen were "on" when they created these pieces.

What are the key characteristics of Dada art?

Dada began in Zurich and became an international movement. Or non-movement, as it were.

Dada had only one rule: Never follow any known rules.

Dada was intended to provoke an emotional reaction from the viewer (typically shock or outrage). If its art failed to offend traditionalists, Dada writing - particularly Tristan Tzara's manifestoes - proved a fine, nose-thumbing Plan B.

Dada art is nonsensical to the point of whimsy. Almost all of the people who created it were ferociously serious, though.

Abstraction and Expressionism were the main influences on Dada, followed by Cubism and, to a lesser extent, Futurism.

There was no predominant medium in Dadaist art. All things from geometric tapestries to glass to plaster and wooden reliefs were fair game. It's worth noting, though, that assemblage, collage, photomontage and the use of ready made objects all gained wide acceptance due to their use in Dada art.

For something that supposedly meant nothing, Dada certainly created a lot of offshoots. In addition to spawning numerous literary journals, Dada influenced many concurrent trends in the visual arts (especially in the case of Constructivism). The best-known movement Dada was directly responsible for is Surrealism.

Dada self-destructed when it was in danger of becoming "acceptable".

ABOVE INFORMATION TAKEN FROM My link

[supersop]

And there you have it .. please feel free to discuss your thoughts on what BD is trying to say or not say.

Discuss.

[MotorCityMusician]

"Dada art is nonsensical to the point of whimsy. Almost all of the people who created it were ferociously serious, though."

they nailed it

[supersop]

"Dada art is nonsensical to the point of whimsy. Almost all of the people who created it were ferociously serious, though."

they nailed it

Dada was intended to provoke an emotional reaction from the viewer (typically shock or outrage). If its art failed to offend traditionalists, Dada writing - particularly Tristan Tzara's manifestoes - proved a fine, nose-thumbing Plan B.

And I think they nailed that.

[flammaster]

Don't even bother here. Or then again go ahead. Suit yourself. At least I dig it and i know a few others that will.

[supersop]

Don't even bother here. Or then again go ahead. Suit yourself. At least I dig it and i know a few others that will.

This isn't flamebait or trolling. I'm actually hoping people will read this and then really think about what the BD show is .... whether they be a rabid fan or a staunch protester of their show.

[skywhopper]

Dada had only one rule: Never follow any known rules.

Looks like BD has failed spectacularly, given their scores and lack of penalties.

Edited July 23, 2012 by skywhopper

[supersop]

Looks like BD has failed spectacularly, given their scores.

Cheapshot .. cmon DCP'erz .... are there only about 10 of us on here that actually discuss hard topics in depth anymore?

[kdaddy]

this thread is so DADA

[13strokeroll]

Dada was, officially, not a movement, its artists not artists and its art not art.

Dada self-destructed when it was in danger of becoming "acceptable".

Wasn't there also a great deal of alienation caused by a self-perceived sense of intellectual superiority? Weren't the Dadaists satisfied believing they were smarter than everyone else and thus, becoming too mainstream was threatening this perceived "superiority?" Admired the mastery, loved the Satie, am not afraid of the discussion, am not a raving fan.