Dada

The root of this word in art is unknown, however, many stories exist. Dada is not an art style, but an attitude. It came out of the period just after World War I, starting in Zurich and New York, and later in Berlin and Paris. It was a reaction to the destruction of which man was now capable through technology. It took on the form of sculpture and painting by such artists as Marcel Duchamp, Man Ray, and Jean Arp. It was also expressed in actions such as the programs at the famous Cabaret Voltaire in Zurich. The art works were to show that maybe all this new technology was not necessarily for the good. Some of the paintings showed man as a machine. These works were not met with enthusiasm at the time, but now are considered some of the most important works of twentieth century art.