Marcel Duchamp and Fine Art - Essay Example

Essay: Marcel Duchamp and Fine Art Customer’s Name Customer’s Course: Instructor’s Name May 21, 2013 Marcel Duchamp and Fine Art More often than not, people ask what makes up good art. Moreover, since time immemorial, people have been asking who decides whether or not a piece is art and whether it is good art or not.1 Marcel Duchamp challenged popular notions during his time about what art really is, and who decides what good art is.2 Duchamp, a French artist living in the United States of America at the turn of the 19th Century, believed that it was up to the artist to determine what art is.3 Due to this belief which he had, Duchamp introduced a new concept which he called “ready-mades”.4 According to Duchamp, a readymade can be defined as an everyday functional household item that has either been fixed to other objects, or chosen to stand alone as a sculpture, that has been selected and used as a piece of art by the artist.5 Duchamp had quite a number of readymades: for example, a jacket hanger nailed to the floor of his studio, a typewriter cover obscuring nothing, a bicycle wheel fixed on a wheel and the very famous urinal. More often than not, Duchamp modified the objects in a simple way, for example by rotating them on the side or by hanging them, and thus altering the original way the manufacturer had intended it to be placed. This was because he believed that the artist chooses an object to be a piece of art even if he/she did not physically manufacture it.6 The Fountain was one of Duchamp’s most controversial and legendary readymades. The fountain was initially introduced in April 1917 when Duchamp entered it into an art show that had been organized by the American Society of Independent Artistes.7 Ironically, Duchamp himself was a director in this society. He therefore entered the readymade into the exhibition under the name Richard Mutt by using an alias.8 By doing this, Duchamp turned the entry into a real and practical test for the society. Since the main aim of the exhibition was to provide a platform whereby all artists from different schools could display their work, there were no fees charged except the initiation fee and the annual dues; which totaled to six dollars. Duchamp sent his readymade with the six dollars, and since he had obliged to all the rules of the exhibition, his piece was to be accepted. However, since this readymade was purposefully manufactured to be a urinal, it was turned down because the society deemed it too controversial and inappropriate by the standards of this time. This was in the beginning of the 20th century and at this time the concept of “modern art” was reasonably new, thus the people during this time were not comfortable enough to be introduced to such artwork as presented by Duchamp.9 They considered items such as the urinal too inappropriate to the extent that it was regarded to be immoral and vulgar by some. Due to the culture of the time, the urinal was also viewed as a highly sexual piece.10 This is because as a urinal, it belongs to the environment, and at that time in history, it was common for men to meet in restrooms and undertake sanitary activities together. Without a doubt, Duchamp has had great influence on modern art, and has been referred to as the “founding father of the modern art era” on many occasions and by many art historians.11 This is mainly because of his capability to cross and challenge the boundaries of traditional art. His enthusiasm to expand the restrictions and importance of the art making approach influenced and continue to influence many artists.12 One of the contemporary artists who was inspired and influenced by Duchamp is Andy Warhol, and we can contrast his work with that of Duchamp. Just like Duchamp, Warhol utilized already made items as well as pieces in his readymades to create some of his artwork. Some of Warhol’s readymades included Marylyn Monroe and Mickey Mouse.13 Just like Duchamp, Warhol took already existing pictures and added his own personal modifications and touches on them to make them his own. However, unlike Duchamp, Warhol obtained most of his pictures from magazines.14 Moreover, instead of merely inserting any new individual touches to the pieces like Duchamp did, Warhol more often than not changed up the readymades mainly by changing the color patterns.15 Artists and designers, like Marcel Duchamp, who were involved in experimental, innovative and inventive artwork that is outside the norm, can be referred to as avant-garde.16 Avant-garde artists and designers involved themselves in crossing and challenging the boundaries of traditional art. Most avant-garde movements were popular in the late 19th century up to the 20th century and they include the Dada movement; which Marcel Duchamp is usually associated with, and the movements of Cubism and Surrealism.17 The political concerns of the avant-garde movement included the First World War and the Second World War, while social concerns included women’s rights and Inner City Slams during the progressive era, amongst others.18 The First World War started in 1914 and went on for four years, a period within which more than nine million people were killed and twenty one million more were wounded.19 When the Great War ended, the Versailles Treaty was enacted to offer harsh punishment to Germany. This created an environment which allowed Adolf Hitler to rise to power and trigger the Second World War. The Second World War was triggered in 1939 when Germany invaded Poland.20 The war lasted from 1939 to 1945, a period in which over 63 million casualties occurred.21 Most avant-garde movements, for example Dadaism, protested the barbarism of these wars as well as what they believed was harsh intellectual stringency in both art and everyday social life.22 Such social concerns included women’s rights and other social injustices. The avant-garde movements of the early 20th century include Cubism, Dadaism and Surrealism. Cubism began around 1908 and it was the most radical and influential avant-garde movement of the time.23 On the other hand, Dadaism started around 1916 as a result of the Great War while Surrealism started around 1924.24 One major similarity amongst the three is that they were all made up of poets, writers and a larger number of artists.25 Another similarity between Dada and Surrealism was on Found Object use. Both movements endorsed the idea of using everyday items to create works of art. Another similarity and perhaps the biggest similarities of these avant-garde movements is that they endeavored to unearth new ways to make art, away from the traditional.26 However, Dada and Surrealism differed in many ways. One difference is that there was no position of leadership in Dada. Dada was anti-authoritarian and thus could not have leaders, on the other hand, Surrealism had a leader; “Pope” Andre Breton.27 Another difference is that Dadaism emerged at a time of war, and thus Dadaism was full of anger and defiance. On the other hand, Surrealism emerged at a time of peace and when the war wounds had healed. Also, Dada was radical in nature while Surrealism was regressive in nature.28 Cubism also differs from Surrealism in the sense that objects are dismantled, analyzed and reorganized into an abstracted form with various view points.29 Manifestos were so popular among the avant-gardes and they were used for various purposes. One reason why manifestos were so popular among these movements is because it was where they summarized their major principles30. These principles summarized in the manifestos included a zealous dislike of past concepts, political and artistic traditions in particular.31 Manifestos were also very popular among avant-garde movements because they provided a means of express, conveying and publicizing ideas and concepts of the group in general.32 This means that, even if the manifestos were written by a handful of people, all the other members of the movement could relate to the manifesto.33 Thus, Manifestos were of significant importance because they were the medium through which the movements’ aims were publicly declared. Indeed, manifestos were so popular and important to avant-garde movements that some are still written in today’s world.34 In conclusion, it is important to acknowledge that Marcel Duchamp is accredited for introducing the concept of readymades in the field of art. According to Duchamp, a readymade can be defined an everyday functional household item that has either been fixed to other objects, or chosen to stand alone as a sculpture, that has been selected and used as a piece of art by the artist. An assisted readymade can be recognized where the artist has joined two such objects together. The Bicycle wheel, which comprised of a bicycle wheel attached on top of a stool, is a good example of an assisted readymade. On the other hand, there exists pure readymades, and they can be recognized where the artist has used one object. A good example is the Marcel Duchamp’s urinal entitled the fountain. Bibliography Buskirk, Martha and Nixon, Mignon. The Duchamp Effect. Cambridge: MIT Press, 1996. Cooper, Jennifer and Caumont, Jacques. Marcel Duchamp Work and Life. Cambridge: MIT Press, 1993. Hopkins, David. Dada and Surrealism: A Very Short Introduction (Very Short Introductions). New York: Oxford University Press USA, 2004. Kuenzli, Rudolf and Naumann, Francis. Marcel Duchamp: Artist of the Century. Cambridge: MIT Press, 1990. Raverty, Dennis. “A Split among the Moderns: Avant-Garde Paradigms at the Time of the Forum Exhibition of 1916.” Rutgers Art Review XV (1995): 59–63. Stokstad, Marilyn and Cothren, Michael. Art History, Volume 1 (4th Edition). Upper Saddle River: Pearson publishers, 2011. Read More

This was in the beginning of the 20th century and at this time the concept of “modern art” was reasonably new, thus the people during this time were not comfortable enough to be introduced to such artwork as presented by Duchamp.9 They considered items such as the urinal too inappropriate to the extent that it was regarded to be immoral and vulgar by some. Due to the culture of the time, the urinal was also viewed as a highly sexual piece.10 This is because as a urinal, it belongs to the environment, and at that time in history, it was common for men to meet in restrooms and undertake sanitary activities together.

Without a doubt, Duchamp has had great influence on modern art, and has been referred to as the “founding father of the modern art era” on many occasions and by many art historians.11 This is mainly because of his capability to cross and challenge the boundaries of traditional art. His enthusiasm to expand the restrictions and importance of the art making approach influenced and continue to influence many artists.12 One of the contemporary artists who was inspired and influenced by Duchamp is Andy Warhol, and we can contrast his work with that of Duchamp.

Just like Duchamp, Warhol utilized already made items as well as pieces in his readymades to create some of his artwork. Some of Warhol’s readymades included Marylyn Monroe and Mickey Mouse.13 Just like Duchamp, Warhol took already existing pictures and added his own personal modifications and touches on them to make them his own. However, unlike Duchamp, Warhol obtained most of his pictures from magazines.14 Moreover, instead of merely inserting any new individual touches to the pieces like Duchamp did, Warhol more often than not changed up the readymades mainly by changing the color patterns.

15 Artists and designers, like Marcel Duchamp, who were involved in experimental, innovative and inventive artwork that is outside the norm, can be referred to as avant-garde.16 Avant-garde artists and designers involved themselves in crossing and challenging the boundaries of traditional art. Most avant-garde movements were popular in the late 19th century up to the 20th century and they include the Dada movement; which Marcel Duchamp is usually associated with, and the movements of Cubism and Surrealism.

17 The political concerns of the avant-garde movement included the First World War and the Second World War, while social concerns included women’s rights and Inner City Slams during the progressive era, amongst others.18 The First World War started in 1914 and went on for four years, a period within which more than nine million people were killed and twenty one million more were wounded.19 When the Great War ended, the Versailles Treaty was enacted to offer harsh punishment to Germany. This created an environment which allowed Adolf Hitler to rise to power and trigger the Second World War.

The Second World War was triggered in 1939 when Germany invaded Poland.20 The war lasted from 1939 to 1945, a period in which over 63 million casualties occurred.21 Most avant-garde movements, for example Dadaism, protested the barbarism of these wars as well as what they believed was harsh intellectual stringency in both art and everyday social life.22 Such social concerns included women’s rights and other social injustices. The avant-garde movements of the early 20th century include Cubism, Dadaism and Surrealism.

Cubism began around 1908 and it was the most radical and influential avant-garde movement of the time.23 On the other hand, Dadaism started around 1916 as a result of the Great War while Surrealism started around 1924.24 One major similarity amongst the three is that they were all made up of poets, writers and a larger number of artists.25 Another similarity between Dada and Surrealism was on Found Object use. Both movements endorsed the idea of using everyday items to create works of art. Another similarity and perhaps the biggest similarities of these avant-garde movements is that they endeavored to unearth new ways to make art, away from the traditional.

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