“I have given a pretty faithful version of progress, law,
morality and all other fine qualities that various highly intelligent men have discussed
in so many books, only to conclude that after all everyone dances to his own
personal boomboom, and that the writer is entitled to his boomboom: the satisfaction
of pathological curiosity; a private bell for inexplicable needs….”
The
above quote from Tzara’s manifestos represent a clear paradox and similarly
comment on the social world in an interesting way.
As Tzara has mentioned, he has laid out what he believes is a “pretty faithful version of progress, law, morality…” These are all aspects of society that relate to humans interacting with one another in a generally judgmental way. For example, laws are arbitrarily set up by humans by establishing what they believe is best for society in general. Laws are not inherent, but rather certain actions are decided by social context to be “right” or “wrong.” This idea is similar to morality. People have different morals and while one could argue that certain concepts are innate, in reality they are not. Everyone has a different viewpoint and ideas about what is or is not moral. In each of the above aspects of society, people judge one another and yet everyone believes that his way is the only “right” way. For example, while in one culture it is the law that women must wear certain articles of clothing for religious reasons, citizens of a different country look at those types of laws as sexist and wrong.
However, what makes this quote paradoxical is when one compares the first half, as explained above, with the latter half. This second section states that after analyzing and understanding law, morality, and “other fine qualities that various highly intelligent men have discussed in so many books,” everyone must dance to his own “boomboom.” While the reader is unaware exactly of what Tzara means by “boomboom” the point is still clear that he is making the point that everyone is unique and has a right to act as such. In this regard, Tzara is making a paradox between the supposedly objective ideas of morality and law, at least in terms of society’s laws and morals, and the subjective idea of everyone’s own “boomboom.”
Tzara goes on to explain a boomboom as “a private bell for inexplicable needs…” What is interesting about that explanation is that in some ways, it would seem as though a “boomboom” must be done privately and that it cannot be explained. Hence, while everyone needs one, a “boomboom” should be something that no one else knows and is unexplainable. This idea must also be juxtaposed to the concept of law and morality, which are two societal aspects that are flaunted and extremely public. Part of the reason for that is because, as mentioned before, people believe that there is a “right” and a “wrong” in those situations. However, in regards to a “boomboom,” everyone has their own and cannot be judged for it even by “various highly intelligent men” who discuss morals and law.
While people do and have both of these two aspects of society, they are paradoxical in the way that society deals with them. Law and morality and other such aspects of society are objective and people are judged all the time for them-whether they follow them, what they believe the laws or morals of society should be, etc. However, in terms of a “boomboom,” while everyone has one, they are subjective and cannot be judged by others. “Boombooms” are a way for individuals to have their own say in society and their own lives, unlike in regards to much else in society.
As Tzara has mentioned, he has laid out what he believes is a “pretty faithful version of progress, law, morality…” These are all aspects of society that relate to humans interacting with one another in a generally judgmental way. For example, laws are arbitrarily set up by humans by establishing what they believe is best for society in general. Laws are not inherent, but rather certain actions are decided by social context to be “right” or “wrong.” This idea is similar to morality. People have different morals and while one could argue that certain concepts are innate, in reality they are not. Everyone has a different viewpoint and ideas about what is or is not moral. In each of the above aspects of society, people judge one another and yet everyone believes that his way is the only “right” way. For example, while in one culture it is the law that women must wear certain articles of clothing for religious reasons, citizens of a different country look at those types of laws as sexist and wrong.
However, what makes this quote paradoxical is when one compares the first half, as explained above, with the latter half. This second section states that after analyzing and understanding law, morality, and “other fine qualities that various highly intelligent men have discussed in so many books,” everyone must dance to his own “boomboom.” While the reader is unaware exactly of what Tzara means by “boomboom” the point is still clear that he is making the point that everyone is unique and has a right to act as such. In this regard, Tzara is making a paradox between the supposedly objective ideas of morality and law, at least in terms of society’s laws and morals, and the subjective idea of everyone’s own “boomboom.”
Tzara goes on to explain a boomboom as “a private bell for inexplicable needs…” What is interesting about that explanation is that in some ways, it would seem as though a “boomboom” must be done privately and that it cannot be explained. Hence, while everyone needs one, a “boomboom” should be something that no one else knows and is unexplainable. This idea must also be juxtaposed to the concept of law and morality, which are two societal aspects that are flaunted and extremely public. Part of the reason for that is because, as mentioned before, people believe that there is a “right” and a “wrong” in those situations. However, in regards to a “boomboom,” everyone has their own and cannot be judged for it even by “various highly intelligent men” who discuss morals and law.
While people do and have both of these two aspects of society, they are paradoxical in the way that society deals with them. Law and morality and other such aspects of society are objective and people are judged all the time for them-whether they follow them, what they believe the laws or morals of society should be, etc. However, in terms of a “boomboom,” while everyone has one, they are subjective and cannot be judged by others. “Boombooms” are a way for individuals to have their own say in society and their own lives, unlike in regards to much else in society.
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