You are here:

Dada

Name: Dada
Director: Ted Nemeth, Mary Ellen Bute
Released: 1936
Duration: 2 min

No Poster Available

Representation Score

7.2/10

Good

1936

Director

Ted Nemeth, Mary Ellen Bute

Runtime

2 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

New Showbiz Analysis

Dada is a foundational experimental work that achieves neutrality through abstraction. By avoiding human subjects, the film sidesteps systemic biases and stereotypes common in 1930s cinema. While the film cannot explicitly develop multi-layered characters due to its abstract nature, its narrative structure prioritizes rhythmic form over social categorization, providing a non-hierarchical experience. The work functions as a 'color-blind' abstraction. Although this is a result of the medium's limitations rather than intentional casting, it avoids the straight-centered and racial clichés of the era.

Watch this, not that →

Category Breakdown

Does Dada have LGBTQ+ representation?

Fair

The film features geometric shapes such as lines and circles against a black background. Since there are no sentient characters, there is no depiction of sexual orientation.

How does Dada portray gender?

Fair

This non-human animation uses mathematical and rhythmic forms. It avoids traditional gender hierarchies by not depicting domesticity or social roles.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Dada?

Fair

The visual elements consist of monochromatic patterns and kaleidoscopic light. Without human subjects, the film does not address racial or ethnic representation.

How does Dada represent religion and culture?

Good

The work adheres to Dadaist principles by challenging traditional aesthetics. The inclusion of a Yin and Yang symbol indicates a move away from singular Western moralities.

Does Dada include disability representation?

Fair

There are no characters depicted in this short. Therefore, the film does not represent physical or neurodivergent identities.

Present on Screen

The abstract nature of the film avoids reinforcing traditional gender hierarchies.
The rejection of narrative structures creates a neutral space free from straight-centered clichés.
The use of the Yin and Yang symbol introduces non-Western spiritual symbolism.

Limited or Absent

The lack of human subjects prevents any explicit representation of racial or ethnic identities.
The absence of characters means there is no representation of disabilities or neurodivergence.
The film's focus on geometry limits its ability to engage in storytelling that reflects multiple aspects of identity.

Official Synopsis

A (barely) two minute short is that it was made specially for a Paramount newsreel segment on Bute and Nemeth making films in their teensy New York apartment. Paramount apparently never got round to including the filmmakers in any newsreel, but their own film survived in the Bute-Nemeth Archive. (weirdwildrealm.com) To the rhythm of music that sounds a bit like a Busby Berkeley tune, lines and circles appear against a black background. Then triangles, in groups. Black and white squares move in tandem. Sparkling forms turn in kaleidoscopic patterns. Then cubes appear, white against the background, bouncing; a yin and yang rotate a few times before the film ends with an quick burst of scattering light.

How are these scores produced? →