When Art Stopped Caring About Humanity (Dada)

National Review Online ^ | February 25, 2015 | David Pryce-Jones

[C19fan]

The centenary of the artistic movement known as Dada is coming up in 1916 and it ought to produce a lot of nonsense. The word “Dada” is supposed to come from the Kru language in Africa, and refers to the tail of a sacred cow. Up till then, the purpose of art had been to say something about humanity, and how to be a human being. Dada had the contrary purpose that there is nothing to say about human beings. The artist’s mockery and nihilism is supposed to be proof of his superiority to the stupid public.

[Republicanprofessor]

No, I am not familiar with this. Sounds fascinating.

[notted]

Dada has always reminded me of a high school prank, and although I will agree, that; “the purpose of art had been to say something about humanity, and how to be a human being.” It seems to me that this idea is of a description of the proper function of art, rather than the actual information lacking in art.

I think that the visual arts have many purposes depending on the audience. I do not think the general public has any reason to care about the visual arts anymore, considering, that most contemporary artists seem to be subversive infantile Marxists, and this in a country ruled by the Lord of the Flies.