I Want My Dada!

The first World War was sold as -- and thought to be -- a noble, necessary endeavor that was to end all wars. Soon it became evident that this first-mechanized war was a heartbreakingly horrific slaughter house of epic proportions.

The senseless decimation of virtually all the young men who -- with fervor and patriotism -- eagerly enlisted to "defend" their nation so repelled a group of artists and writers that they felt compelled to question the very meaning and purpose of artistic and cultural values.

Thus the Dada Movement was born. All (so-called) modern thought was called into question. It was reasoned that at that point in history we had become so barbarous that precious human life was chillingly expendable for the most ill-conceived and deceptive purposes.

Today, this is all known too well by many and ignored by just as many more.

When the government and its citizens are in a witting and unwitting dance of death with the media play the tune, I implore, I compel, and I all but beg those in the creative community to once again question and challenge and redefine the purpose of culture and its affect.

I want my Dada!

Comments

[unemployedprogressive]

As usual, a thought provoking post from Mr. Belzer. Until the real Dada rebirth comes along may I suggest you check out HBO's John From Cincinnatti before it disappears into the ether. Or you can re-visit the DVD of Homicide Life on the Streets: "Don't lie to me like I'm Montel Williams."

[rmreddicks]

Cincinnati is the death knell of a nation. John can do what he wishes.

"Don't lie to me like I'm from Cincinnati­."

[CARTERJ]

Well said. World War One wiped away the old world. It should have made even the idea of war obsolete. Then we got Hitler and Japan.

But there is absolutely no excuse for the inxtricable mess that Bush and Cheney have gotten the world into.

All standards have been erased.

Where have all the young men gone?
Gone to graveyards every one.
When will they ever learn?
When will they ever learn?

[mpower1952]

Thanks Mr. Belzer. I never knew what Dada meant.

Isn't it a shame that people who are anti-war are denigrated? Why is that?

We need to call all those in favor of war with Iraq or now Iran, warmongers or perhaps you know a more erudite phrase. And nastier too.

[godlessclif]

I still don't know what Dada means.

Marsden Hartley's painting, "Portrait of a German Officer is kind of cool.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marsden_Hartley

How can you tell it is Dada? The Flags?

[Rescisco]

As I understand it, Dadaists believed that the “reason” and “logic” of bourgeois (capitalist) society had led people into the insanity of war. They rejected that ideology in artistic expressions that rejected the “rationality” of bourgeois society. George Grosz stated that his Dadaist art was intended as a protest "against this world of mutual destructio­n.” Iraq (a war for oil?) and the values our policy seems to signify demonstrate a very destructive and dangerous “rationali­ty.” I second the motion by Mr. Belzer

[backhandpath]

Dada ditto...

[godlessclif]

http://igw.tuwien.ac.at/christian/marcuse/odm.html

Marcuse told us in 1964 that corporate thinking was flawed and anti-humanistic. I did not call it Dadaism. Corporations engage in one dimensional thinking. Resistance is futile.

But the Yeats said the same thing

Turning and turning in the widening gyre
The falcon cannot hear the falconer;
Things fall apart; the centre cannot HOLD;
Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,
The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere
The ceremony of innocence is drowned;
Democrats lacks all conviction,while
Cheney is full of passionate intensity

Cheney is full of something.

[Tubby]

The group you are referring to was the "Lost Generation", was it not? Those folks did little to change anything about the resurgent culture of militarism darkening their horizon.

[Drill]

Fantastic article Belz! I know I constantly look to Striesand! Sean Penn! and Susan Sarrandon for political guidance. This is my dada!

[godlessclif]

More like Emo Morales
http://boliviatransitionproject.blogspot.com/

[poopdeck]

Dada, how interesting. Your view is confirmed by the diatribes against war by the notorious dadaist Tristan Tzara in the play "Travesties" by Tom Stoppard. Do you know that play?

[godlessclif]

They advertise "Travesties" on Air America all the time.

[jaycg9]

What was so fascinating about the Dada movement was the anger in it. For all the humor, for all the intentional ridiculousness of it, Dada was created as a protest. Seeing the art now, 90 years later, it's hard to appreciate the conditions that inspired it.

[CitizenE]

"A cripple goes by giving his arm to a child.
After that, I'm going to read Andre Breton?"
"A Man Passes By," Cesar Vallejo

[SensibleAmerican]

"The senseless decimation of virtually all the young men who -- with fervor and patriotism -- eagerly enlisted to "defend" their nation so repelled a group of artists and writers that they felt compelled to question the very meaning and purpose of artistic and cultural values"?!

Isn't that what they always do no matter what the times?! It is the raison-de-etre for their existence. What's different now?

[godlessclif]

"We always made alcohol" said the yeast, "What is different now"

At some point the concentration of alcohol in the barrel kills the yeast.