NIHILISM IN GERMANY
How Dadaism does relate to Nihilism?
Research shows that Dadaism has no real meaning. It is an artistic movement begins in the 19th century. Dadaism revolts against traditional unfair societal movements of hypocrisy and satire of socialism and militarism. Dadaism seems to uphold principles of freedom and utilitarianism. Dadaism forces artist to declare openly their position. Dadaist believe that it do not matter whether a do good or bad.
George Grosz a Dadaist expresses his thought, inner emotions and feelings of events that took place in the period of World War One. The aesthetical side of his work depicts nudes, still life and street scenes. Others reflect tone of political and religious scenes that depict a collection of disgust with German nationalism in the struggling post war. Some of his painting shows victims of the world war, such as crippled, mutilated and rotten skeletal corpses. In addition, his drawing portrays the collapse of the capitalist society. Like nihilism, Dadaism rejects the authority of the state, church and family. They are both lacking of rules and are indirect conflict with many contemporary values. Nihilism is denial of traditional and religious and moral principles. Dadaism is the protest against bourgeois society, religion, socialism and militarism.
DADAISM; DADA MANIFESTO (1916, HUGO BALL)
Dada
“An International word. Just a word, and the word a movement. Very easy to understand. Quite terribly simple. To make of it an artistic tendency must mean that one is anticipating complications. Dada psychology, dada Germany cum indigestion and fog paroxysm, dada literature, dada bourgeoisie, and yourselves, honoured poets, who are always writing with words but never writing the word itself, who are always writing around the actual point. Dada world war without end, dada revolution without beginning, dada, you friends and also-poets, esteemed sirs, manufacturers, and evangelists. Dada Tzara, dada Huelsenbeck, dada m'dada, dada m'dada dada mhm, dada dera dada, dada Hue, dada Tza”. http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Dada_Manifesto_(1916,_Hugo_Ball)
Dada George Grosz Research shows that George Grosz is known for his “savagely caricature drawings of Berlin life in 1920s”. He is a well-known member of the Berlin Dada and New Objectivity Group. Grosz was born in Berlin Germany on July 26 1893; his birth name was George Ehrenfried Grob. His father was a tavern owner. His mother became a house keeper when his father died. Grosz cousin encouraged him to attend drawing class. His skill develops as he continues drawing. From 1909 to 1911 he studied at the Dresden Academy of Fine Art. In addition, he studied at the Berlin college of Art and Crafts. Grosz made his first oil painting in 1912. Some of his drawings are of drinking and imaginary battle scenes.
In1914, he volunteered in the military and was discharged in 1915 for sinusitis. In 1916, he changed the spelling of his birth name to George Grosz as a protest against German nationalism. In 1917, he tried to commit suicide. He was diagnosed as suffering from shell-shock and was dismissed from the German army. In 1921, Grosz was accused of insulting the army and was charged 300 marks. He was an antagonist of the war and was released as unsuitable for his duty. Later, he joined the Dada Group. He used his paintings to attack members of the Government and important business leaders. In 1920s through 1930s, Grosz directs his attacks against Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party. He gains his reputation as apolitically committed Artist. He was forced to leave Nazi German in 1932, he then settled in the United States where he became a naturalized citizen. He died in 1959. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Grosz
Here is one of his paintings. This piece is entitled “Germany a Winter’s Tale” and was completed between 1917 and 1919. This painting depicts some of vivid grotesque portrayal of those who control society. It shows the political man, clergy, and businessman, general. When look at these portrait, their facial expression reflect a vicious, selfish and uncaring one. Grosz uses his skill as caricaturist to express to produce this painting. Other portraits in the drawing are of nude pregnant woman, this may signify prostitution; man dining by himself, indication of selfishness; there is many things shown in this picture such as pyramids, cathedrals pollution lantern lamp, crosses, skeleton, man pulling wagon of crosses and a hungry or sick dog on top of a building.
Cited List
Dada Manifesto (1916, Hugo Ball)
http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Dada_Manifesto_(1916,_Hugo_Ball)
