Dada and Surrealism\ The Impact of Cubism Videos

1.   Explain why you selected each of the TWO videos you choose from the selection listed above.

Dada and Surrealism:

I chose to watch this video because I have never heard of Dada before this class and it seemed interesting.

The Impact of Cubism

I chose this video because cubism is another art form that I am not very familiar with so I wanted to expand my understanding or the art.

 

2.   For each video list/discuss the key concepts you learned.

Dada and Surrealism:

-       Kurt Schwitter’s did not consider himself to be a Dadaist. He began using abstract objects in his art and began collages. He began in 1918.

-       Dada is all different forms of art put into one. It can be created by using fragments of different things.

-       Dada is said to be a state of mind.

-       Hannah Hoch used Dada as a way to detest the society she lived in.  In her photo collage Cut With the Kitchen Knife She used political figures faces and cut out new bodies for them. She made even the highest of authorities look obscure and silly.

-       George Grosz tried to show the evils of city life and society in his artwork. He was highly detested because of his art. He did a painting entitled “The Pillars of Society” that featured politicians, lawyers, soldiers and other people he did not like. He took out his anger by painting vulgar and in your face paintings.

The Impact of Cubism

-       Cubism is a strong contrast of light and shadow, vertical and diagonal lines.

-        It is described as a pattern replacing human reality.

-       Cubism is images and pictures dissected and reconstructed.

-       The elements used in the collages and paintings lose its own meaning and takes on new roles within the art.

-       In some ways it makes sense and in other ways it is not meant to make sense, but a lot of what is in the paintings is recognizable if you look closely enough.

 

 

 

3.   How do the videos relate to the readings in the text?

Dada and Surrealism: In the textbook it mentioned how Dada is more of an attitude then a coherent movement or art form, which was also reinforced in the video.

 

The Impact of Cubism

The video reinforced what was discussed in the book, and how cubism  takes shapes and forms and makes them abstract and fragmented. It was more of an in depth look into the art form.

 

 

 

4.   What is your opinion of the films? How do they add depth to understanding of the readings and art concepts?

Dada and Surrealism: This film was very informative, however it felt more like a lecture just because of the speaker and slideshow feel. There were many examples of art for each art form which was nice to see. I also liked how it zoomed in on different sections of the art to get an upclose look at different aspects of each piece of art.

 

            The Impact of Cubism

 This film looked at different artists that were not mentioned in the book and did an in depth review of their art, and how art took a new form in everyday life. It was interesting. It talked about how Sonia Delaunay took her work and began using it in fashion.