question for you lenin junkies

[which doctor]

When Lenin was living in Zurich did he live really close to the Caberet Voltaire?

Did he associate with any of the dadaists at the time?

[CCCPneubauten]

Hmmm, interesting, although I wouldn't expect it. Dadaism is close to nihilism. Lenin doesn't seem like a fan of nihilism.

At the same time that the Zürich Dadaists made noise and spectacle at the Cabaret Voltaire, Vladimir Lenin wrote his revolutionary plans for Russia in a nearby apartment. He was unappreciative of the artistic revolutionary activity near him. Tom Stoppard used this coincidence as a premise for his play Travesties (1974), which includes Tzara, Lenin, and James Joyce as characters.

Seems like they didn't do much together, except co-exist close together. So your first questions would be yes, yes they did.

Second question...I'm not sure, but I'd say no.

PS isn't it 'Cabaret' Voltaire?

[Wanted Man]

Didn't he live like right opposite the Voltaire?

[CCCPneubauten]

Originally posted by [email protected] 15 2006, 01:26 PM
Didn't he live like right opposite the Voltaire?
From what I've read it was pretty much right next door. :)

[which doctor]

Damn Lenin, shoulda made friends with those dang DaDaists.

[kaaos_af]

"Why turn our backs on what is truly beautiful, abandon it is as the point of departure for further development solely because is it 'old'? Why worship the new as a god compelling submission merely because it is 'new'? Nonsense! Bosh and nonsense! Here much is pure hypocricy and of course unconscious deference to the art fashions ruling in the West. We are good revolutionaries but somehow we feel obliged to prove that we are also 'up to the mark in modern culture'. I however make bold to declare myself a 'barbarian'. It is beyond me to consider the products of expressionism, futurism, cubism and other such 'isms' the highest manifestation of artistic genius. I do not undertand them. I experience no joy from them."

~Lenin quoted in My Recollections of Lenin by Clara Zetkin, quoted in V.I. Lenin on Culture and Cultural Revolution, Progress Publishers, Moscow, 1978.

Phew- that took a while to type out. In short, Lenin didn't have good taste in art ;)

[CCCPneubauten]

Like I was saying, I don't think Socialist Realism and the Nihilism of Dadaism mix.

[Ander]

Why do you capitalize the second D? It's just Dadaism.

[chebol]

Lived right opposite. The cops used to come by regularly and close down the cabaret and arrest those frequenting it. For some reason they had no idea who lived just across the road. :marx: :hammer:
To be honest, Lenin wasn't entirely impressed by his neighbours anyway. Probably kept him awake.

[which doctor]

Originally posted by [email protected] 16 2006, 12:20 PM
Why do you capitalize the second D? It's just Dadaism.
It's whatever you want it to be.