Assignment Number 1-

1) "How does one achieve eternal bliss? By saying dada. How does one become famous? By saying dada. With a noble gesture and delicate propriety. Till one goes crazy. Till one loses consciousness. How can one get rid of everything that smacks of journalism, worms, everything nice and right, blinkered, moralistic, europeanised, enervated? By saying dada. Dada is the world soul, dada is the pawnshop. Dada is the world's best lily-milk soap."(taken from 'Dada Manifesto' by Hugo Ball)

My interpretation of this quote is it was a way of willing freedom. It almost seems as if the author thought the term itself had the power to make the reader become something or someone that's honest and true in being who and what they are or what they were meant to be. When one is free to be who they are and express themselves in a manner that is true to them as an individual, then it reaps its own reward. I think this quote expresses that because it's enlightening to the socio-political climate for both the oppressed and the spectator. The expressions in art is such a vibrant, unique and creative way for one person to communicate and connect to another beyond standard or conventional dialogue. In a time when prejudices and class was highly valued in a society that used those mainstream ideals to suppress (i.e. the Nazi's main in Germany) individuals or groups dada art was necessary. Art influences and  inspires. Dada Manifesto was encouraging uniquity and creativity in the art in the 1914 European climate and encouraging drawing inspiration from these unconventional expressions. I loved this quote simply for its beautiful metaphors, this quote shows that when a mind is free and accepting it can posess the most beautiful visions and collectively paints a great message within the picture of writing. I definitely agree with the writer because he has given a meaning to a necessary revolution of souls. This can also be applied to what's going on in countries in the middle eastern region such as Syria  . I am not sure how art trends in the region affect the current democratic movements but the oppression and freedom fighting theme from 'Dada manifesto' is paralell to that of the region.


2) John Heartfield was born in 1891. He lost both parents at the age of 7. He worked as an apprentice and as a bookseller between his Pre- pubescent and early teenage years. He was inducted into the German army as an active serviceman in1915 to 1916 when the first World War broke out. He was born Helmut Herzfelde but changed his name to John Heartfield in protest to the anti-Brititsh movement in Germany. He founded a publishing company with his brother for which he was in charge of the graphics of its publications. He became a follower of hte Dada movement in 1917 and joined the German Communist Party the same year. His drawings and graphics became a voice for the movement as he was very close with many important figures in the party.

According to google translator (http://translate.google.com/) the sentence or term "Kleiner Mann Bittet um große Gaben" translates in English to "Little Man Asks for great gifts." The term "Der Sinn Des " translates to "The Meaning Of Hitler salute" The picture seems to imply that Hitler was blindly supported financially by those that were bigger in stature than he was. It seems to imply a sort of backdoor deal where money passed from those hands to Hitler's but was never directly adressed upfront or face to face. The Hitler salute seemed to signify that misplaced power at the time. The man giving Hitler all this money remains faceless to imply secrecy and he is also much bigger in stature and yet he was giving Hitler this money. The suits and tone are dark colored, the bigger man is wearing a well taylored suit while Hitler is drawn in uniform. The lighter grey areas of the image seem to be included to highlight these details while the darkness is to symbolize the overall tone.

The image seems to depict a man in formal trousers, however what seems to represent this mans presence is him bent over as if to make a rude gesture and his ears are attached. I think this was how an individual of a certain social standing (whichever social standing the person in this image is suppsoed to represent) was seen. It seems as if to say, that people of this social standing were seeing as people with out brains to use and  eyes to see, they were only expected to listen to instruction and be able to walk around. The tone of this picture is equal dots of grey and white, equivalent to that of pixels to keep the tone balanced. This picture seems to use a humorous element to lighten the tone of the backstory.

I think this picture was to mock Hitler and his movement, in such a way as that social scene at the time was prejudiced and elitist but I think Heartfield's humor was such that it was saying the BIGGEST neanderthal was on top of the world laying his sword on the land. Hitler's head was used to depict who the neanderthal was . I do love that the sun illuminates in what seems to be the world's body of water. It sort of seems to encourage hope, encouragement and it deodeppicts that Hitler was infact vulnerable. There's a light glare in this black and whitre picture. It makes the statement of: even in these seemingly dark times, light exists.