Why did Dada artists try to shock middle-class audiences?

Dada artists sought to shock middle-class audiences—often described by the phrase épater les bourgeois—as a direct form of protest against the societal values they held responsible for the devastation of World War I.12

The movement was born out of deep disillusionment and despair. Dadaists viewed the rational thought, nationalist politics, and social structures of the time as corrupt and inherently violent. By employing nihilistic, anti-aesthetic, and irrational tactics, they aimed to:13

• Challenge Bourgeois Values: Their public antics and provocative works were intended to express disgust for the status quo and the elitist art establishment.13
• Redefine Art: By presenting everyday objects—such as Marcel Duchamp’s Fountain, a porcelain urinal—as art, they forced audiences to confront and debate the very definition of artistic creation.12
• Critique Society: Through photomontage, collage, and public performances, they used absurdity as a tool to criticize repressive institutions and political corruption.13

Ultimately, the Dadaists did not see art as an end in itself, but rather as a necessary means to perceive and critique the chaos of their era.3