Da da da
Dadaism. Let’s talk about Dadaism for a moment, shall we? Oh yes, let’s. I’ve been thinking about it a lot lately because it’s really jiving with many elements of the current state of development my own personal search. You know, THE search. search with a capital S.
So, I’m thinking about this concept at the moment. Of course, I realize that becoming something of a Dadaist is pretty much impossible, since the Dadaist movement ended seventy-five years ago, so I can really no more become a Dadaist than join the Whig party or become a phrenologist, but you get my meaning. For those unfamiliar with Dadaism, it’s a pretty simple concept: what does Dada mean?
Nothing. It’s gibberish. It’s the noise a baby might make. So here’s the syllogism of Dadaism – Life is idiotic and absurd. Idiotic and absurd stuff is great. Therefore, life is great. Like the gibberish of babies – it’s weird and crazy, yet it’s just about the best thing there is. Why? The purity? The sheer joy a baby gets in making burbly noises? The fact that there is no meaning in it, yet there is?
Okay, yes, there are conflicting theories on the origin of the name “dada”, but I feel it only fair to point out that the other theories are complete shit, so one must factor that in when judging. German for “yes yes”? What are you, kidding me? Yes, that does in fact make “da da” but come on. You might as well propose that the name means “District Attorney District Attorney” or ‘the first dad’ (dad A), or some other random confluence that makes the proper sound. French from the term ‘hobby-horse’? No. Sorry. It’s nonsensical, so that works, but it has no flair, lacks that certain je ne sais quois.
Of course, strict Dadaists rejected the term entirely because, like most artistic movements, the name was often used as an insult and the nature of the movement itself belied labels. By naming it you reduce it to something nameable and structured, which is impossible – similar in idea to the Taoist Uncarved Block, or Christian Jahweh. That which we call dada is not dada. But it really should be called something because otherwise you wind up in awkward conversations like:
“Hey, you know Greg? Yeah, he’s a (wink).”
“A what? A communist?”
“No, a (wink).”
“Gay?”
“No! (wink) (wink) (wink)”
“Oh God, are you have a seizure?!”
So anyway, at times when you find yourself muttering under your breath that the world is insane, it’s nice to be able to step back and feel like that it’s all okay, that this is part of the majesty. If our culture really is falling apart, how cool to get a front row seat! If it doesn’t collapse, even better! But watching a fire is entrancing. It is Shiva’s dance that destroys the world. Chaos or meaninglessness doesn’t mean a grim fatalism, or even meaninglessness itself, really. Rather the meaning, the profundity, is in the dissembling of convention. I really get the feeling sometimes that God has this amazing sense of humor, and our brains are just too small to get it. Here He is, firing off these hilarious bits, concept jokes, one-liners, and probably getting pretty frustrated that He can’t seem to dumb it down enough for us to get it. The cosmic farce, the joy if in the humor of it all. And that in this, there is an order, just one beyond our reckoning.
In closing, a scene for your theatrical pleasure. Copyright 2005, Byron MacLymont, all rights reserved including merchandising, sequels and remakes.
Frenchie: Aimes-tu mon dada?
Klaus: Da! Da! Das ist gut! Oh, ist jemand hier ein rechtsanwalt?
District Attorney: Yes! Me, me!
Aaaaaaaaand…scene.
So, I’m thinking about this concept at the moment. Of course, I realize that becoming something of a Dadaist is pretty much impossible, since the Dadaist movement ended seventy-five years ago, so I can really no more become a Dadaist than join the Whig party or become a phrenologist, but you get my meaning. For those unfamiliar with Dadaism, it’s a pretty simple concept: what does Dada mean?
Nothing. It’s gibberish. It’s the noise a baby might make. So here’s the syllogism of Dadaism – Life is idiotic and absurd. Idiotic and absurd stuff is great. Therefore, life is great. Like the gibberish of babies – it’s weird and crazy, yet it’s just about the best thing there is. Why? The purity? The sheer joy a baby gets in making burbly noises? The fact that there is no meaning in it, yet there is?
Okay, yes, there are conflicting theories on the origin of the name “dada”, but I feel it only fair to point out that the other theories are complete shit, so one must factor that in when judging. German for “yes yes”? What are you, kidding me? Yes, that does in fact make “da da” but come on. You might as well propose that the name means “District Attorney District Attorney” or ‘the first dad’ (dad A), or some other random confluence that makes the proper sound. French from the term ‘hobby-horse’? No. Sorry. It’s nonsensical, so that works, but it has no flair, lacks that certain je ne sais quois.
Of course, strict Dadaists rejected the term entirely because, like most artistic movements, the name was often used as an insult and the nature of the movement itself belied labels. By naming it you reduce it to something nameable and structured, which is impossible – similar in idea to the Taoist Uncarved Block, or Christian Jahweh. That which we call dada is not dada. But it really should be called something because otherwise you wind up in awkward conversations like:
“Hey, you know Greg? Yeah, he’s a (wink).”
“A what? A communist?”
“No, a (wink).”
“Gay?”
“No! (wink) (wink) (wink)”
“Oh God, are you have a seizure?!”
So anyway, at times when you find yourself muttering under your breath that the world is insane, it’s nice to be able to step back and feel like that it’s all okay, that this is part of the majesty. If our culture really is falling apart, how cool to get a front row seat! If it doesn’t collapse, even better! But watching a fire is entrancing. It is Shiva’s dance that destroys the world. Chaos or meaninglessness doesn’t mean a grim fatalism, or even meaninglessness itself, really. Rather the meaning, the profundity, is in the dissembling of convention. I really get the feeling sometimes that God has this amazing sense of humor, and our brains are just too small to get it. Here He is, firing off these hilarious bits, concept jokes, one-liners, and probably getting pretty frustrated that He can’t seem to dumb it down enough for us to get it. The cosmic farce, the joy if in the humor of it all. And that in this, there is an order, just one beyond our reckoning.
In closing, a scene for your theatrical pleasure. Copyright 2005, Byron MacLymont, all rights reserved including merchandising, sequels and remakes.
Frenchie: Aimes-tu mon dada?
Klaus: Da! Da! Das ist gut! Oh, ist jemand hier ein rechtsanwalt?
District Attorney: Yes! Me, me!
Aaaaaaaaand…scene.
posted by MacLymont at 10:38 AM
8 Comments:
the title of the posting, Da da da - isn't that a song? Like an old 80s song?
You come up with the weirdest stuff to write about! I have never heard of this before now. Did you write this during class the other day? Because I remember you asking someone how to say something in German...
Da Da Da is by a band called Trio.
Ich lieb dich nicht, Du liebst mich nicht. Aha.
Wow, finally... my computer hasn't been letting me on here for like the past week (it just showed a white page). I remember reading something about Dadaism, but I can't quite recall what it was about in general.
I've had this thought before as well! Many Dadaist art and poems actually contain the word dada, which, of course, birthed from the term of "dada." Here is a stanza from one Dadaist poem:
This is the song of a dadaist
Who had dada in his heart
He tore his motor apart
He had dada in his heart.
But they can't actually explain What data is in a sensable way, because Dada is more of a feeling, apparently. So dada really doesn't have a meaning at all. Like you said, it is complete gibberish. But it must be a very euphonious sounding word because it sparked an entire movement. I could understand if they were saying it as term for the artistic movement that emerged, but the participants of this movement actually use the term Dada to describe something... to describe a feeling. Yet they cannot explain in a comprehensible matter of what it really is. People can interpret "dada" as they wish, so that means that ANYTHING could be dada. Except for one key thing... that it contains or has to do with the term "dada." This "religion" or "belief" or whatever it can be called, is a rather flexible one if you ask me. Or maybe I just don't truly understand what it is, because it can't be explained. Maybe you have to be a part of it to really understand it, or have it better explained to you.
Wow, I didn't think anybody would catch the "da da da" reference, much less two people. Yeah, great, cheesy new-wave tune by a German band, Trio, using one of those old, crappy Casio keyboards.
don't get too excited. the song was used in a car commercial a few years back.
oh america...
Seriously? A car commercial? Sigh.
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