Part I First write a short analysis of the form and meaning of Fresh Widow, a work (an “assisted Readymade”) by Marcel Duchamp in the collection of The Museum of Modern Art, NY. You might start by considering Fresh Widow in the context of Pepe Karmel’s essay, “Marcel Duchamp, 1917: The Not So Innocent Eye,” and the ways in which Fresh Widow resembles the form and content of Fountain and the ways in which it diverges from that Reaymade.
[250-350 words]
Part II Then research and write a paper entitled: “Duchamp, Readymades, Found Objects, and Contemporary Art in New York from the 1990s to the Present.” You must discuss three (3) of the following six artists:
Carl Andre
David Hammons
Sherrie Levine
Felix Gonzalez-Torres
Mike Bidlo
Rachel Harrison
Once you have chosen the artists who interest you most from your research on the internet, compare and contrast their work(s) to each other and to the pioneering “readymade” art of Marcel Duchamp. You might also research artists and works at the “Collection” portals at the websites of the Metropolitan Museum Art, the Whitney Museum of American Art, the Museum of Modern Art, The Guggenheim Museum, and the Brooklyn Museum, and any other museum with a good website.
Among the questions you might pose concerning the relationship of the work of these artists to Readymades and “found objects” are: What relationship or resemblance is there between the work of these contemporary artists and the Readymades of Duchamp? What do all three artists have in common in terms of form and content? And how does each artist distinguish her/his oeuvre (body of work) from the Readymade art of the others, i.e. what is distinctive or interesting about each artist’s work? Does the idea of beauty enter into the equation? Are there ‘art world’ jokes contained in the works? Are political or social ideas of any kind aspects of the work(s)? Are the themes of originality and/or reproducibility relevant to the work of the artists you have chosen?
Of course, there are many other observations, ideas, and thoughts you may have and you should pursue them, including offering your opinion about which works and artists you find most effective and which not. Although this is foremost an assignment in looking and analyzing, please provide citations (footnotes, endnotes) for all ‘big ideas’ you obtain from the internet or elsewhere, i.e. ideas which are not originally your own. You need not cite information concerning the most basic facts about the artists or works you discuss; but, at the end of the paper, you must provide a short bibliography, with at least five items, to indicate where you got most of your information. You may also cite Professor Silver’s lectures and any of the course readings (with citations). Please make sure your essay includes an introductory paragraph and a concluding paragraph. You must include illustrations for all works of art you discuss [1250-1500 words].
total word count: 1500-1850 words (exclusive of footnotes, endnotes, citations, or captions)
