Duchamp's Fountain, Hitler and Art Essay

Duchamp's Fountain

Over the years, there has been an argument whether Duchamp fountain was art or not. The porcelain urinal was rejected by the society of independent artists. It has become a difficult artwork to explain. Philosopher John Passmore described it as a piece of mischief of the art world. Despite all criticism, the fountain artwork had a philosophical contribution. The urinal has inspired the modern artist to consider the traditional artwork in the modern society. Fountain has shown how art can shift from the aesthetics to an imaginary thought. Individuals enjoyed thinking of Duchamp's work without physically looking at it. From all perspective, the fountain was treated as an art but a mocking art. The fountain became what it is not. The fountain as an art ushered in conceptual art, which is a concept that should be considered as work of art that is not really a work of art.

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As a modern artist, I sought to exceed the limits set by the traditional artwork. I will deconstruct the traditional art in order to explore the cultural codes and social ideology that differentiate the traditional art and the modern art. The use of technology and media such as video and collage in putting together imaginary art to visual art. Putting all the old styles into the new context such as the feminist art, conceptual art, and the performance art. This concept brings together both aesthetic art and imaginary art.

Hitler and Art

Hitler was one of the great artists before he joined politics. He made a realistic painting of buildings and the landscapes. His artwork was dismissed by the art establishment in favor of the modern art styles. When Hitler came to power, he saw a chance to revenge. Hitler designed the German art exhibition that shows only the work approved by him. There was another exhibition that showed the modern art which was branded "degenerate." He made a speech saying that all the artwork that needed explanation or some instructions for it to be understood could not find their way to the German people. In his explanation, Hitler wanted the art that could speak for itself and needed no interpretation.

I think Hitler hated modern art for political reasons. From the first exhibition, it featured more than 650 works which were done by Jews. Hitler deemed them as "monstrosities of madness." He wanted to shame the artist and to prove to Germans that the modern art was created by the sick minds. Anti-Semitism was a center of it because most of the modern artist were Jews who had interest in modern art. At the same time, I feel Hitler wanted a simple art with the little complication that can easily be understood. I also feel Hitler did not promote modern art because he was a failed artist. When he was young, he applied twice to join Academy of fine art and got rejected in both scenarios. From the rejection, Hitler might have lived a life of resentment that leads to him hating on modern art. In the world today, the leaders are encouraging the individuals to take on art related courses. Leaders have recognized art as a career, and they have come up with programs that help students to develop their artistic ability. The government is also promoting art as part of the initiatives to nurture talents in the society.