Dada

Fragments, incongruous elements, and unexpected juxtapositions may appear.

Visual traits

• fragments
• incongruous juxtaposition
• recontextualized objects

Expected changes

• Relations among incongruous elements are more likely
• Fragmented construction is more likely

Definition

Dada was an early twentieth-century international art movement that questioned established artistic and social conventions through chance, fragments, incongruous combinations, and recontextualized words or objects. It does not determine a particular artist, work, region, or political position.

In more detail

The historical movement is distinct from later work that uses incongruous combinations or chance. It is not for reproducing named works or generalizing a culture.

Includes

• The early twentieth-century Dada movement
• Visual tendencies questioning convention through fragments or chance

Excludes

• Imitation of an artist or work
• All work containing unrelated elements
• A particular political position

What this does not imply

• A particular artist
• work
• region
• or political claim

Variability

It does not guarantee direct recreation of the historical movement; degree of chance and juxtaposition can be adjusted.

Usage

• Show relations of fragments and juxtaposition
• Do not specify an artist or work

Distinguish similar expressions

• Specify period and medium separately for historical reconstruction

Typical uses

• Construct a frame by juxtaposing incongruous elements

Possible failure modes

• Result becomes merely cluttered and relations are unreadable
• Output resembles a named work too closely