Memoirs of a Dada Drummer (The Documents of Twentieth Century Art)

Rating:
Summary: Richard Huelsenbeck's "Memoirs of a Dada Drummer"
Review: This is essential reading for anyone seriously interested in the progression of 20th century Art. Living in New York City late in his life, Richard Huelsenbeck - a seminal member of the original Dada group formed at Zurich's Cabaret Voltaire - looks back upon his role in Dada and Art (or rather"Anti-Art"), and tries to make some sense of it all. Though highly opinionated (especially in regards to the role of Tristan Tzara), he manages to objectively de-mystify much of the Dada legend and examine some of the human interactions and political and social motivations which sparked the birth of Dada. Low points include the incessant ¡°plugging¡± of his own work and his role in the birth of Dada, but this by no means overshadows his comments and observations about other ¡°Dadaists¡± or the importance of the movement as a whole.