* Rejection of Logic and Reason: Dada was a direct reaction against the horrors of World War I and the perceived meaninglessness of the world. Dadaists saw logic and reason as tools that led to destruction and wanted to dismantle them.
* Embrace of Chaos and Absurdity: They believed that art should be chaotic, unpredictable, and nonsensical, reflecting the absurdity of life. Sound poetry, with its random arrangement of sounds and lack of traditional meaning, embodied this chaotic spirit.
* Attack on Language: Language was a key target for Dadaists. They saw it as a tool of control and manipulation. By distorting language, using nonsense words, and creating sound poems, they aimed to break down its power and expose its inherent arbitrariness.
* Shock and Discomfort: Dadaists wanted to provoke and shock audiences, pushing them out of their comfort zones and challenging their expectations of what art should be. The strangeness and disorientation of sound poetry contributed to this goal.
* Anti-Art: Dada was not about creating beautiful or meaningful art. It was about anti-art, a deliberate rejection of traditional aesthetic values. Sound poems, with their disregard for coherence and meaning, embodied this anti-art ethos.
Important Note: While sound poems were a prominent aspect of Dada, it wasn't their only form. Dadaists employed a vast array of techniques, including:
* Collage: Combining disparate images and materials to create jarring and absurd visual compositions.
* Performance Art: Dadaists often used performance as a way to challenge conventional notions of art and behavior.
* Political Satire: Dadaists used humor and absurdity to critique societal norms and political systems.
Overall, Dada's use of sound poetry and other nonsensical techniques was not simply about creating gibberish. It was a deliberate and provocative artistic strategy aimed at dismantling established norms, exposing the absurdity of existence, and forcing audiences to confront their own preconceived notions of art and the world.