Dadaism and Surrealism

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DADAISM AND SURREALISM According to OxfordDictionaries.com (Definition of art in English), art is defined as “the expression or application of human creative skill and imagination, typically in a visual form such as painting or sculpture, producing works to be appreciated primarily for their beauty or emotional power.” If we accept this definition as accurate, then whenever we view art we should understand that it originated from the skill and imagination of the author and it has purpose. Whether something beautiful (with the attempt to “soothe” the pain of the surroundings) or something with emotional power (with the attempt to “move” the thought from what might be considered normal), the historical period in which it was created is likely to play a role in the finished product. To see whether the historical period has any influence on art, two historical art periods will be examined: Dadaism and Surrealism. DADAISM Initially introduced during the World War I era (1916 – 1924), Dada came during a time of difficulty. Many of the men who served in the war came back injured, and could not find employment. Some soldiers died while serving their country, thus leaving widows and their children to fend for themselves. Countries involved with the war were left to pay for the damages caused by the war, which caused inflation rates to rise, and poverty to increase. As a result of these difficult times, art was used to revolt against the culture and values which existed, with the intent to subvert and undermine those values. On the website Visual-Arts-Cork.com (Data Art Movement: History, Charicteristics, Artists), it is mentioned that Dada used outrageous tactics to attack the established traditions of art, and it used exhibitions of absurdist art deliberately designed to scandalize and shock both the authorities and the general public. On another website,

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