At work
Katrina, one of my co-workers at the Library, asked me today what I wanted to do with my M.A. She had asked me because I am running a drawing activity for some of the kids at the library. Anyway some how my answer ended up revolving around the subject of old Marcel Duchamp again. I explained that instead of making and publishing a comic book of a story that a friend of mine had written some time ago, I had become ensnared and obsessed with the work of Marcel Duchamp and made work out of this. So.....anyway, there I was trying to explain why I was so enchanted with Duchamp with somebody that had no knowledge of Duchamp or his work and I said “well the thing is, you don't really need to go and see his work, I mean most of his work is in Philadelphia, but it would be ridiculous to travel all that way just to look at a urinal!!! when I can look at a urinal every time I use a public rest room!!” and I suddenly thought, Shit why didn't I think of this before? I mean that's it, the whole thing right there, you don't need to go and worship the thing itself because the thing is an idea. An idea that doesn't exist in any one original form. It is a multiple idea, one that has evolved through time and space and which continues to live in my head. Any time that I see a specific ready-made Coatrack, hatrack, urinal, snow-shovel or bottlerack, I am reminded of Duchamps general ready-made. Can something be specific and general at the same time? The main thing is..........don't forget you've been Duchamped!!! Also I think that Katrina wished she had never bothered to ask me about the M.A!!! She said although it sounded interesting, it seemed very complicated!!
posted by olliebetts at 9:02 AM
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