The Framework of European Weakness: Adam Pendleton’s Black Dada

Dear Adam Pendleton, I want to write about your Black Dada project but I have no idea how to connect it to Classics, the ancient cultures of Greece and Rome. Do you have any suggestions?

Black Dada is a way to talk about the future while talking about the past; it is our present moment.

Well that’s a good start. When talking about the past, does Black Dada say anything about, well, you know, Socrates and those kind of folks?

The Black Dada is neither madness, nor wisdom, nor irony.

Ah, ok. So that counts Socrates out. He was pretty crazy and loved his irony (although he did claim not to know anything). What about Plato? You know that he was once sold as a slave?

Black Dada: we are not naive

I didn’t say you were, I was just…

Black Dada: we are successive

Ok, but…

Black Dada: we are not exclusive

Fine, but back to Plato, he…

Black Dada: we abhor simpletons and a perfectly capable of an intelligent discussion!

Yes, I’m sorry, of course you, I only meant….

Black Dada’s Manifesto is both Form and Life

Now we’re getting somewhere. Does Black Dada think form is something immanent or transcendent?

Black Dada is a way to talk about the future while talking about the past

You already said that. Let me put it another way…

BLACK DADA

Um

BLACK DADA

Sure

BLA    K  DA  . B    DA. BLACK D   D  .

Is that from the Cratylus?

DA DA DA DA DA DA DA TK TK TK TK

Well, it was great chatting, I think there’s something burning in the kitchen. Better dash…

white dada remains within the framework of european weakness