Charles Haynes [15/05/08 09:32 +1000]:
Out of curiosity, what's your opinion of Gustave Courbet's "L 'Origine
du Monde?"
Given that primitive answers to that question mostly involved sex .. I
think the egyptian explanation for the milky way was Ra masturbating and
scattering his semen around the heavens. So Courbet isnt way off base.
Call me old fashioned but I dont think Duchamp (or let's say his urinal) is
art though. Subversive, certainly, on the same lines as that Sokol piece in
socialtext. The NYT judges back then certainly couldnt distinguish between
a urinal submitted to the contest under a pseudonym, and actual art.
Elevating a porcelain utensil to iconic art status seemed the best way to
save face, I imagine ..
srs
