Upon viewing Shock of the New, it was evident that the Dada movement arrived out of fed up writers and artists who were enraged that European modern society was tolerating and allowing a war to happen. From this, these writers and artists came up with an idea and plan of their own as they decided to not be connected to the war in any sense. This plan included an anti-war ideology that would be portrayed through the creation of an unique art form of which would intentionally ridicule and mock the modern world that was engulfed in a war-craze state of mind (Dada). Through these intentions, Dada and its followers purposely went against the cultural norms of society as this art rejected the standard and typical forms of art that were present at the time (Art History: Dada). Due to the fact that these writers and artists portrayed these anti-war sentiments, it was obvious that they would stir up controversy as well as have some sort of political impact.
Considering these writers and artists of Dada were using this unique and controversial form of art as protest to the modern society’s desire to partake in war, it stirred up controversy within the public and with those in power. With these writers and artists going against the cultural norm by often having grotesque obscenities in their pieces of work, it was obvious that Dada in itself was not in any way mimicking or appreciating modern tradition (Dadart). Rather, these artists and writers were trying to create their own legacy for which they were purposely creating non-art as they believed that modern society had essentially lost all its meaning and worth (Dadart). With having these beliefs, Dada and its respect to authority and tradition seemed to be nonexistent as these artists had intentions to ridicule those in power, those in high society and those who were so willingly able to accept war through their own means. Despite many sources saying that these writers and artists were unorganized, many of them seemed to be successful in portraying their anti-war sentiments while at the same time protesting to the society they believed had lost all of its virtue.
For example, one artist that portrayed the essence of Dada was Alfred Jarry in his creation of Ubu Rex. Through the many grotesque images and obscene language in this play, Jarry depicts his perceptions of modern society as it is a complete mockery of high society and the bourgeois. According to Wikipedia on discussion of Ubu Rex and Alfred Jarry, “Jarry satirizes power, greed and their evil practices.” Jarry satirizing power, greed and evil mimics the ideologies of the Dada movement as this play continually mocks and criticizes high society and their wrongful desire to only become more rich and powerful. In Ubu Rex, Jarry purposely creates a grotesque character named Pa Ubu to be the leading male role who tries to conquer Poland by any means necessary. The fact that throughout the play Pa Ubu does whatever it takes to become more powerful and rich such as killing the current king, killing all of the nobles, the magistrates and the financiers, etc., it is obvious that Jarry is mocking the European society around him as it believes dominance and wealth is everything.
Pa Ubu’s obscene language including repetition of words and sayings such as ‘Sheeyit,’ ‘Horny,’ ‘In the name of my green snot,’ and ‘Horny cornhole,’ portray Jarry’s desire to stem away from the traditional art form as using this profanity and sexual language seems to go against the norm for plays at the time. Considering Alfred Jarry stems away from the traditional views on language, characters and plot, it is obvious as to why he is considered the forerunner of Dada theater. Overall, Jarry seemed to have immersed himself in the Dada movement as he rejected the traditional and cultural norms for art at the time by satirically mocking high society through a unique and comical way.
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Sources Used:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dada - (Dada)
http://arthistory.about.com/cs/arthistory10one/a/dada.htm - (Art History: Dada)
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