Nadaism on:
[Wikipedia]
[Google]
[Amazon]
Nadaism (, meaning "Nothing-ism" in English) was a Colombian artistic and philosophical counterculture movement active from 1958 to 1964. Founded by writer Gonzalo Arango, the movement was influenced by
Boceto biográfico
. Link retrieved on June 12, 2008. During this period, Arango worked as a journalist. However, the combined opposition of Conservative and Liberal party leaders led to Rojas Pinilla's fall on May 10, 1957. While the former dictator was exiled in
Arango initiated the Nadaist movement in 1958 with the publication of his 42-page "Nadaism Manifesto," signed "gonzaloarango," in the Medellín magazine ''Amistad'' (meaning "Friendship"). Arango and other writers subsequently explored their disillusionment with the government they had once supported.
Among the first to join the movement were Alberto Escobar and Amilkar Osorio. As an inaugural act in 1958, they publicly burned works of Colombian literature in the Plazuela de San Ignacio in Medellín, symbolizing their rejection of traditional Colombian literary canons. Works denounced included those from earlier literary movements like ''Los Nuevos''. One of the burned books was Arango's first work, "After the Man".
The movement largely dissolved with the deaths of its founding members. Toward the end of his life, Arango himself began to distance himself from some of the core tenets held by other Nadaist members.
nihilism
Nihilism () encompasses various views that reject certain aspects of existence. There have been different nihilist positions, including the views that Existential nihilism, life is meaningless, that Moral nihilism, moral values are baseless, and ...
, existentialism
Existentialism is a family of philosophical views and inquiry that explore the human individual's struggle to lead an authentic life despite the apparent absurdity or incomprehensibility of existence. In examining meaning, purpose, and valu ...
, and the works of Colombian writer and philosopher Fernando González Ochoa.
Nadaism emerged partly in reaction to '' La Violencia'' and represented a Colombian expression of the avant-garde movements in the poetry of the Americas during the 1950s and 60s, such as the Beat Generation
The Beat Generation was a literary subculture movement started by a group of authors whose work explored and influenced American culture and politics in the post-World War II era. The bulk of their work was published and popularized by members o ...
in the United States and the ''Tzanticos'' in Ecuador. The movement was largely anti-establishment and inspired works of literature
Literature is any collection of Writing, written work, but it is also used more narrowly for writings specifically considered to be an art form, especially novels, Play (theatre), plays, and poetry, poems. It includes both print and Electroni ...
, music, and film exploring Nadaist themes.
The term ''nadaísmo'' is a portmanteau of the Spanish word "''nada''" (meaning nothing) and "Dadaism
Dada () or Dadaism was an anti-establishment art movement that developed in 1915 in the context of the Great War and the earlier anti-art movement. Early centers for dadaism included Zürich and Berlin. Within a few years, the movement had s ...
" (). Nadaísmo has sometimes been described as "Colombian dadaism", a "Colombian Beat Generation", or "Colombian Futurism".
History
The violent events in Colombia during the 1940s and 1950s, such as '' La Violencia'' and the military government ofGustavo Rojas Pinilla
Gustavo Rojas Pinilla (12 March 1900 – 17 January 1975) was a Colombian National Army of Colombia, army general, civil engineer and politician who ruled as List of presidents of Colombia, 19th President of Colombia in a military dictatorship f ...
, alongside rapid urban expansion, significantly influenced the formation of the ''Nadaísta'' (Nothing-ist) movement. Arango initially supported Pinilla's rise to power, joining the ''Movimiento Amplio Nacional'' (Broad National Movement), which consisted of artists and young intellectuals who supported the dictator.Escobar, EduardoBoceto biográfico
. Link retrieved on June 12, 2008. During this period, Arango worked as a journalist. However, the combined opposition of Conservative and Liberal party leaders led to Rojas Pinilla's fall on May 10, 1957. While the former dictator was exiled in
Spain
Spain, or the Kingdom of Spain, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe with territories in North Africa. Featuring the Punta de Tarifa, southernmost point of continental Europe, it is the largest country in Southern Eur ...
, Gonzalo Arango eventually moved to Medellín
Medellín ( ; or ), officially the Special District of Science, Technology and Innovation of Medellín (), is the List of cities in Colombia, second-largest city in Colombia after Bogotá, and the capital of the department of Antioquia Departme ...
, Colombia.
Arango initiated the Nadaist movement in 1958 with the publication of his 42-page "Nadaism Manifesto," signed "gonzaloarango," in the Medellín magazine ''Amistad'' (meaning "Friendship"). Arango and other writers subsequently explored their disillusionment with the government they had once supported.
Among the first to join the movement were Alberto Escobar and Amilkar Osorio. As an inaugural act in 1958, they publicly burned works of Colombian literature in the Plazuela de San Ignacio in Medellín, symbolizing their rejection of traditional Colombian literary canons. Works denounced included those from earlier literary movements like ''Los Nuevos''. One of the burned books was Arango's first work, "After the Man".
The movement largely dissolved with the deaths of its founding members. Toward the end of his life, Arango himself began to distance himself from some of the core tenets held by other Nadaist members.
Prominent figures
Notable authors associated with this movement include: Associated rock bands includedLos Speakers
Los Speakers (the Speakers) from Bogotá, Colombia, were a beat and garage rock
Garage rock (sometimes called garage punk or 60s punk) is a raw and energetic style of rock music that flourished in the mid-1960s, most notably in the United St ...
, The Young Beats, and Los Yetis.
Notable works
* ''From Nothing to Nadaism'' () (1963), Gonzalo Arango, a poetry anthology * (1974), Gonzalo Arango, a poetry anthology selected by Jotamario Arbeláez * (1966), Mario Rivero * , Fanny Buitrago * ''Los ojos del basilisco'', Germán Espinosa * ''Nadaismo a Go-Go!'', Los Yetis, a CDSee also
* Stone and Sky * Colombian literature * Latin American BoomReferences
{{Authority control Culture of Colombia Literary movements Colombian literature