Dada's Manifestos and Peter Bürger's Theory of the Avant-garde

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This essay, written in 2010 for a course at the University of Amsterdam, explores the avant-garde's challenge to autonomous art, as articulated by Peter Bürger in his influential work. Bürger argues for the integration of art into everyday life, using examples like René Magritte and Marcel Duchamp to support his theory. The essay critically examines whether specific avant-garde works align with Bürger's ideas, focusing on the manifestos of the early Dadaists in Zürich. These manifestos, which have not yet been canonized, influenced later Dadaist movements across various countries. The Dadaists produced numerous manifestos outlining their ideals, but their texts often lack clarity, embracing absurdity and contradiction. Tristan Tzara's manifestos exemplify this complexity, and the analysis also considers contributions from Walter Serner, Marcel Janco, and Hugo Ball. The central question posed is whether Bürger's Theory of the Avant-garde can effectively interpret Dadaist texts or if these manifestos transcend his framework, potentially challenging or disproving his assertions. Through this examination, the essay aims to uncover the relationship between avant-garde art and its theoretical underpinnings.