DADAISM (DADA)
Consider the following about the 20th Century:
• The 20th C was a period of great change – Winston Churchill rode into battle on a horse and saw a
space rocket launch into space – this is how rapid technology progressed
• Speed transformed life with the invention of the car, and air travel. The first car was invented in
1908.
• Invention of electricity and atomic energy led to many inventions which made life easier
• Political systems ranged from democracy, communism and dictatorships. Lenin leads the October
Revolution in 1917 which establishes communism in Russia. Hitler leads Germany with his belief of a
superior race. His dictatorship gives rise to fascism in Europe
• Scientific discoveries grew – included splitting of the atom, organ transplants discovery of DNA and
the development of antibiotics
• Einstein developed theory of relativity
• Mass media becomes increasingly important with radio, newspapers, TV and movies
• Urbanisation occurred in most countries leading to a change in social structure
• Coco Channel, a French fashion designed freed women of their restrictive corsets and ntroduced the
little black number, and pants for women
Art in a changing society – the shock of the new:
Much of 20th Century art is about art (art for art’s sake) and not a picture of the world. The
viewer must have knowledge about the theory behind the work to understand it.
Modernism consists of a succession of styles. Style and the creation of new ways of
expression are important.
The separation between artist and society became very evident during the 20th C – most
people’s cultural needs are satisfied by mass media. The artist works for himself and an
informed viewership. Thus art often becomes and elitist activity and the artist was viewed as
alienated from the ordinary person.
To understand art in the 20th C, one much approach it with an open mind and get as much
knowledge possible about the style and its context in time and society.
, WORLD WAR ONE:
Fought between the Allies – France, Britain, Russia, Japan, Italy and the USA against the Central
Powers (Germany, Austria-Hungary and the Ottoman Empire(Turkey)
It was referred to as The Great War because it was the most destructive and widespread war the
world had ever seen
It was fought in the trenches, but also as a modern war with machine guns, planes and tanks. The
commanders still fought like in the 19th C, marching troops across open plains to be slaughtered
by machine guns
The use of poison gas added to the horrors of the war
Nearly 20 million people died, claiming a generation of young men
Its legacy of emotional, political and economic suffering haunted Europe and led to the start of the
2nd World War in 1939
DADAISM (DADA)
1916 – 1922
The origins of the name:
One version is that the word was discovered accidentally in a French-German
dictionary
Dada means hobbyhorse in French.
It is often the first word of a child. This is why the name caught on – because of its
childlike sound.
The name of the movement showed their search for freedom and a new beginning.
Dada was a protest against society of their time:
• Dada (and Surrealism, which followed) were born in revolt against World War I.
They both questioned the traditional values of society and had a major impact on
subsequent art movements.
Consider the following about the 20th Century:
• The 20th C was a period of great change – Winston Churchill rode into battle on a horse and saw a
space rocket launch into space – this is how rapid technology progressed
• Speed transformed life with the invention of the car, and air travel. The first car was invented in
1908.
• Invention of electricity and atomic energy led to many inventions which made life easier
• Political systems ranged from democracy, communism and dictatorships. Lenin leads the October
Revolution in 1917 which establishes communism in Russia. Hitler leads Germany with his belief of a
superior race. His dictatorship gives rise to fascism in Europe
• Scientific discoveries grew – included splitting of the atom, organ transplants discovery of DNA and
the development of antibiotics
• Einstein developed theory of relativity
• Mass media becomes increasingly important with radio, newspapers, TV and movies
• Urbanisation occurred in most countries leading to a change in social structure
• Coco Channel, a French fashion designed freed women of their restrictive corsets and ntroduced the
little black number, and pants for women
Art in a changing society – the shock of the new:
Much of 20th Century art is about art (art for art’s sake) and not a picture of the world. The
viewer must have knowledge about the theory behind the work to understand it.
Modernism consists of a succession of styles. Style and the creation of new ways of
expression are important.
The separation between artist and society became very evident during the 20th C – most
people’s cultural needs are satisfied by mass media. The artist works for himself and an
informed viewership. Thus art often becomes and elitist activity and the artist was viewed as
alienated from the ordinary person.
To understand art in the 20th C, one much approach it with an open mind and get as much
knowledge possible about the style and its context in time and society.
, WORLD WAR ONE:
Fought between the Allies – France, Britain, Russia, Japan, Italy and the USA against the Central
Powers (Germany, Austria-Hungary and the Ottoman Empire(Turkey)
It was referred to as The Great War because it was the most destructive and widespread war the
world had ever seen
It was fought in the trenches, but also as a modern war with machine guns, planes and tanks. The
commanders still fought like in the 19th C, marching troops across open plains to be slaughtered
by machine guns
The use of poison gas added to the horrors of the war
Nearly 20 million people died, claiming a generation of young men
Its legacy of emotional, political and economic suffering haunted Europe and led to the start of the
2nd World War in 1939
DADAISM (DADA)
1916 – 1922
The origins of the name:
One version is that the word was discovered accidentally in a French-German
dictionary
Dada means hobbyhorse in French.
It is often the first word of a child. This is why the name caught on – because of its
childlike sound.
The name of the movement showed their search for freedom and a new beginning.
Dada was a protest against society of their time:
• Dada (and Surrealism, which followed) were born in revolt against World War I.
They both questioned the traditional values of society and had a major impact on
subsequent art movements.
