Chance in Dadaism and Surrealism

Paper Summary:

This paper describes Dadaism and Surrealism, and the integration of the two known as the Dada Surrealist Movement. The writer explains how these movements arose during the World Wars and that the combined movement effectively demonstrated in various media of the visual arts and writing the end of "civilization" as it was manifest until the World Wars. The writer also discusses what is meant by the concept of "chance" in art, and how chance was viewed by Dada artists as minimally controlled randomness, and by the surrealists as a way to access the unconscious and let it merge with the conscious in order to create the superior reality it so revered. The writer concludes that in both art movements, chance therefore played an integral role in the emergence of their respective philosophies.

Outline:
Introduction
Chance in Dadaism
Surrealism
The Element of Chance

From the Paper:

"According to Harden, the Dada and Surrealist movements integrated to such an extent that they became known as the Dada Surrealist Movement. The initial aims of the Movement were far removed from the world of art, and were primarily political in nature. Being a response to the World Wars of the time, the Dada Surrealist Movement aimed to overthrow all that viewed itself as "civilized" . Indeed, this aim was focused primarily on art and the role its interpretation played in the civilized world. Ironically then, first Dada and then Surrealism sought a complete separation of art and its influences as it existed at the time. This can be seen as ironic, as both Dada and Surrealism are seen as recognized art forms today, with its influences and trappings for the contemporary artist; the very paradigm Dada Surrealism wished to overthrow."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Brecht, George. 2004. Chance-Imagery. UBU Classics. http://www.ubu.com/historical/gb/brecht_chance.pdf
• Brenneman, Kristin. 1995. Chance in Art. University of Leeds. http://www.dartmouth.edu/~chance/course/student_projects/Kristin/Kristin.html
• Buser, Thomas. 2005. Experiencing Art Around Us. Thomson Wadsworth.
• Carlson, Marvin A. 2003. Performance: A Critical Introduction. Routledge.
• Harden, Mark. Dada and Surrealism. The Artchive. http://www.artchive.com/artchive/surrealism.html

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