When Duchamp prsented a urinal as art, entitled "Fountain" he turned the very nature of art on its head. He reasoned, "the creative act is not performed by the artist alone; the spectator brings the work in contact with the external world by deciphering and interpreting its inner qualifications and thus adds his own contribution to the creative act."
To follow this reasoning we are all culpable in the modern art movement. We are metaphorical accessories, by even addressing the work, be it with disdain or disapproval you are validating it. This may sound crazy but it carries a certain truth.
Duchamp's "Fountain" has logically lead to art becoming heavily conceptualised. By placing the emphasis upon the viewer and claiming that their own personal psychological take is a prerequisite for the art's validation, modern art has flattered at every possible turn and has pathed the way for its own extrordinary success. "I get it, you don't. I get it, I love it. That's all that matters! The artist and me... genius." Like some tripped out God complex!
McCarthy is probably the man who has taken Duchamp's trangession into the realms of true bad taste. Birth, death, sodomy, mastarbation- the taboo is no longer taboo when you're hangin' with McCarthy. One piece entitled "Class Fool" lead to McCarthy knocking himself out and violently throwing up having thrown himself around a room filled with ketchup... the performance did not end until everyone had left the room! McCarthy is said to wish to undermime "the myth of artistic greatness".
Anyway, here's a video and some pics for you to gross out to and work out whether he's a genius or not... but a word of warning; by so much as thinking about it, it no longers matters- you're already involved... butt plug and all!
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