Reader Email: Dada

Name Withheld by Request wrote to ask if, perhaps, a key characteristic of Dada had been overlooked. Specifically, that Dada was intended to provoke shock/outrage/disgust/anger in the viewer. This email was somewhat surprising, as I knew that point was written in the article. Yes, well ... no! No! As with a Maypole, it had been danced all around, that point, but never clearly stated. To make matters worse, neither was there mention of those infamous manifestoes Tristan Tzara labored to fill with obscenities - another element that was definitely in the article. Humph. So, a small addition has been made, under "Key Characteristics". It reads:

" • Dada was intended to provoke an emotional reaction from the viewer (typically shock or outrage). If its art failed to offend traditionalists, Dada writing - particularly Tristan Tzara's manifestoes - proved a fine, nose-thumbing Plan B."

This is a prime example of the beauty in many eyes reading and caring about Art History. Dear Name Withheld, many thanks for writing. You seem like the sort of friend who would gently tell a body that her lost reading glasses were perched on top of her head, and I appreciate your kind help.