What is Art? Marcel Duchamp: Great Art Explained

Alternatively, every video has a "thanks" button under it- I appreciate it!

In 1917 Marcel Duchamp bought a mass-produced porcelain urinal from a plumbing suppliers, laid it on its side, signed it, and then put it in an exhibition and called it art.

The Fountain, as it was named, has cast a long shadow not only over the 20th century but also the 21st century. Over 100 years after it was created, it is still considered one of the most revolutionary works in art history. It is also one of the most contentious.

I would like to thank all my Patreon supporters, in particular Alan Stewart, Alexander Velser, Alyssa Phillips, AMSN, Anja Zeutschel, Bria Nicole Art, David Asabreu, Christa Sawyer, Eric Mann, Erique K, Francis Song, Griffin Evans, Hugo Moita, Jemma Theivendran, John Baer, Jon Hanzen, Julio Cardenas, Karim Hopper, Kibibi Shaw, Louise Tait, Monte St Johns, New Curiosity, Paul Ark, Paul Waterman, Sagar Saxena, Sean Welgemoed, Stefan Paisson, Stephen Beresford, Tanya Moore, Theresa Garfink, Toni Ko, Tyler Wittreich, and Will Dew's-Power.

"What a brilliant series this is" - Stephen Fry on Twitter (X)

SUBTITLES

CREDITS

Recording by Robert Lewis
Research Assistant: Jake Phillips
Thanks to Ben Street for your advice and suggestions

VIDEOS
All the videos, songs, images, and graphics used in the video belong to their respective owners and I or this channel do not claim any right over them.

MUSIC
Line Animation Screen HD Background - Gradient Color Series by A Galaxy Mix

BOOKS
Duchamp: A Biography by Calvin Tomkins
Duchamp by Janis Mink
Spellbound by Marcel: Duchamp, Love, and Art by Ruth Brandon

Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing.

[rafaelmonasterio]

For me, and I know that also for your long-time followers, your work is as much appreciated as the art pieces/books you explain in your videos. Thanks to you, I feel motivated to get off my house and visit museums, appreciating colours, seeing different perspectives, thinking beyond.

Art and this channel are not a spaces for hate.

Carry on doing what you doing. We got you.

[nowhereman]

Something I read about this a long time ago that has stuck with me: The urinal is actually an artistic work itself. Its designer put a lot of effort into making it look aesthetically pleasing instead of making some ugly thing that would fit its purpose. The way the bowl curves subtly, the grooves around the rim, the way that the drain forms a perfect triangle out of circles, the fact that it is a radiant porcelain white. None of these features had to be included, but we as humans choose to make our toilets beautiful.

[jainanandita]

"Both the artist and viewer are necessary to complete a work or art". What a seemingly obvious but profound observation. Thank you for sharing this film with us, just like all your previous works of art education. Your contribution to today's younger generation is monumental. This surely has to be one of my favorite channels on YouTube.

[DominicMunnellythisistheway]

Very few channels I want to stop what I’m doing and watch straight away. Thanks for your work and insights

[Gian_Valkiri]

One of the most important videos to understand modern art, thanks, continue with the great work

[j_clarkson]

I wasn't deemed worthy of learning about art while I was at school because I didn't seem to have any particular ability to create it, and most art (with the notable exception of Escher's work) left me nonplussed and unmoved. I'm not exaggerating when I say that your videos have opened my eyes and enriched my life by allowed me to appreciate art that I just didn't 'get' beforehand. Thank you.

[lenniewall]

"I didn't want to make it easy" perfect. Another amazing video!

[fhqwhgads]

bite-sized (and some times longer) bits of incredible instruction on Art History? YES, PLEASE. This channel is the literal best thing on YouTube. Thank You for making art more interesting and understandable.

[vivaldi]

"Nude Decanting a Stair Case" is one of my favorite works of art. I have a very inexpensive copy hanging on my living room wall.
Love this channel.

[nancybarrera]

Thank you for teaching us about art. My academic advisor suggested I stop consuming media that increases my anxiety and your channel has been the best substitute, relaxing and educational, it even helped me get an extra point on one of my exams.
Keep up the excellent work.
Love from Mexico.

[dezkarcy]

Can't wait to hear your essay on this! Admittedly, while I still understand the importance of this piece, I'm still a little hesitant to give it too much praise. lol. It redefined the "value" and accessibility of art (which is great) but it also gave birth to many generations of lazy snobs.

[gwendolyntruelove]

Thank you for the work you do on this channel. One doesn't have to appreciate every specific artist you cover to appreciate your mission. Educating the public on art is a wonderful endeavor, and you do it with grace and taste. Bravo!!

[rossrobbins]

Anyone calling Duchamp a charlatan needs to do more research. He was a genius. His "Nude Descending a Staircase" is one of the most incredible paintings!

[IK-ybrn]

The melancholic music playing while the toilet fades into the background is really getting to me

[jojobaggies]

Love your channel, it’s really made art more accessible to me. as someone who was never educated about art or art history, I am always unsure about “how” to go about appreciating and understanding art. I know that sounds like I am over thinking it, but it’s more that I felt overwhelmed in trying to think about it at all. Sometimes when I tried to just not think too hard, I would struggle to appreciate the art at all. Your approach to giving such multi faceted context to ALL forms of what people perceive to be art, in an unpretentious way, has helped me to begin appreciating a whole concept that I’ve basically ignored my entire life. I am excited about all the ways my broadening perspective will enrich my life, even if in small ways - from being able to use one of my senses in a whole new way, to paying more attention to details that might have formerly been mundane or overlooked, to seeking out other experiences while traveling. It seems particularly obvious to someone like me that it is important to discuss all forms and styles of art. I appreciate the opportunity to form my own opinions eventually, through exposure to information, not the opposite. Anyway, thank you, please keep up the amazing work!

[ivanatesic]

The quality of these videos is unmatched. Keep it going!

[MrGil]

On a side note first, Nude Descending a Staircase is such an outrageously great painting. The exploration by the artist into what is art was a very natural progression, at least in my opinion. The story within a piece is often as important as brush strokes or form - and I learned so much about this from this wonderful channel. Whether you like it or not is irrelevant. Whether you think it is art or not is also irrelevant. It is, as the video says, about ideas.

There is no other channel on YouTube that creates such excellent and absorbing videos as Great Art Explained. O have watched and rewatched so many videos. Thank you for this one and every other one. You are really leaving a positive stamp on the world, when unfortunately most others create negativity and divide.

[victoriamyst]

…it’s really hard to imagine there can be something truly revolutionary in modern art nowadays… but can there.

Your films always make me plunge into such philosophical mood and go back to favorite masterpieces and their meaning and value, or rethink the state of contemporary values, ideas and developments…. You always touch a special nerve, thank you for your films ❤️

[sanghmitrahitaishi]

One of the finest and the most essential videos I have watched on Modern art. Thank you for what you do. Your YouTube channel has taught me more about art than any other. Your insights and reflection on modern art has made me understand it with much more profundity today. Thank you.

[valeriefridson]

We need more videos like this. The explanation of modern art can make a huge difference in understanding how this part of art history was born and what were the reasons. Thank you very much for your work and input 🙏