Dada and Surrealism Comparison

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Dada is an art form that began in the early 20th century. The movement was formed in Europe to protest the lack of social and moral values during World War I (www.artlex.com). Dadaism wasn’t really a style of art, but rather a way for the artist to share their rejection of capitalism, materialism, and progress. The art that was produced was whimsical and absurd, a “mirror of the absurdity in the world around them” (www.oxfordartonline.com), and a complete opposite of the high art that ruled at the time. Surrealism is an art form that started in Europe in the 1920s. It was actually in response to the Dada movement, a movement founded on the general disdain for war and living conditions. Surrealism was also a protest to the current lack social and moral values, but instead of the absurd, “anti-art” works seen in Dadaism, artists were to look into their dreams and subconscious for inspiration for their work. Surrealism was initially found in poetry and writings, but soon became part of the art world as well. Many Surrealists were inspired by Sigmund Freud and his work with the subconscious mind (www.moma.org). They used memories and dreams to create their art, with vivid colors and nonsensical subjects. Dadaism and Surrealism had some similarities. Dadaists created art by using everyday objects and calling them art, and in the process mocking true art. Some examples include Duchamp’s L.H.O.O.Q. (a postcard of the Mona Lisa with a mustache drawn on) and Fountain (a photograph of a urinal turned on its side). Surrealists also created nonsensical works, using free association and the subconscious for inspiration. Salvador Dali’s The Persistence of Memory (the melting watches) is an example of Surrealism that uses everyday objects just as in Dadaism. Dali also used Duchamp’s Mona Lisa idea, but drew his own mustache on the postcard, which “morphed” himself
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