Abstract
This critical Independent Study examines Devo—the seminal northeast Ohio new wave band which began in the 1970s and continues on to this day—and how they stood apart from their musical peers by using different elements such as costumes, music videos, elaborate stage shows, and manifesto-like songs to present the De-Evolutionary Philosophy they developed to the masses. In this work, I consider Devo’s artistic parallels to the Dada art movement, active during the 1910s and 20s, which discarded many artistic conventions that were dominant at the time in favor of robust experimentation and disruption of cultural norms. Dadaists disseminated their art and philosophy through paintings, journals, poems, and stage performances. Members of Devo have previously credited Dadaists as influences in their artistic development, so I sought to examine how the band used a similar approach to the Dadaists.
Advisor
Kang, Christopher
Department
English
Recommended Citation
Williams, Ursula, "Are We Not Men? We Are Dada: Devo and the Intersection of Music and Performance Art" (2024). Senior Independent Study Theses. Paper 10926.
https://openworks.wooster.edu/independentstudy/10926
Keywords
Music, Devo, Punk, Dada
Publication Date
2024
Degree Granted
Bachelor of Arts
Document Type
Senior Independent Study Thesis
© Copyright 2024 Ursula Williams