Film was a major artistic direction of the Dadaist movement. During the 1920s, Cinematography had first started to develop as a major form of public entertainment. The earliest artist associated with the Dadist Movement started to see the major advantages of using film as a means of delivery their artistic message. After doing a bit of research, I came across one of the earliest Dadaist films from 1928. I was impressed by the quality of film and editing considering that the video was created very early on in the history of film technology. The philosophies of the Dadaist movement are clearly apparent through this video, and it is very interesting to see an earky account of the movement, before  it had really taken off as a major art movement.

I like how there seems to be no direction or meaning towards any theme in particular. Almost as if the subconscious mind of the film maker has played an unfiltered part, not allowing the constraints of the conscious mind to affect the outcome of the piece. The lack of narrative progression or story line, immediately draws me to the concept of subversion through the sense of structural disorder that is established. The lack of structural process contrasts greatly against themes of order and efficiently, which in context hints at the idea that a protest of this theme relates to war and military, a classic symbolization of structure and conformity. Considering that the film was made in 1928, this may therefore be a subtle hint of the film-makers protest towards the events of WWI (1914-1918). The lack of clear intent is in itself a theme of the Dadaist movement. The lack of meaning behind the film relates to the Dadaist concept that art has no direct meaning or relevance in society.

Comedy of this piece is created from the sense of subversion and confusion established by the absurdity of the performance. The filmmaker uses the comical technique known as farce, through the use of visual effects to create crude characterizations, such as the man’s loose head turning; and improbable, surreal situations; such as the flying hats. Farce works in the genre of silent film because the absence of verbal communication allows for communication and expression to be greatly exaggerated in order to make up for the silence. In the context of comedy, this is known a physical comedy. These visual effects help to add an already established sense of chaos and disorder.Therefore the confusion of such effects is what enhances the Dadaist principles of the video.