“The Fountain” by Marcel Duchamp is a sculptor that was one of the most shocking pieces of art in the early modern period. Marcel Duchamp was one of the artists in the Dada movements, so this meant that his goal as an artist was to rebel against all the traditional values of art in the early modern period. The Dada artists believed that tradition had caused the WWl, therefor tradition had to be kicked to the curb. Marcel Duchamp sculpted a porcelen urinal that he named ” The Fountain.” This was a blunt attack on tradition, but who is to say it was the wrong move, this type of art is still being done today. His intentions were to reveal the objects taken out of their everyday traditional contexts. He hoped that his piece of art would someday be thought of as an accepted piece of art if it was framed as art. In 1917 Duchamp put his sculpture in and independant exibition in New York city. I think he is a genius for doing this, who is to say that people can’t change things up a bit. If it was not for him and his Dada movement this type of art may not be here today, which would be a shame 
The reason this sculpture was done was because of the Dada movement, and the Dada movement was because of WWl. WWl caused a group of artists to get together and rebel against tradition and this is why pieces of art like ” the fountain” were created.
-Ashley
jessecox Said:
on October 30, 2009 at 7:41 pm
Very informitive blog on the Dada movement. I still don’t quite understand the reason for calling it “Dada”. Maybe they were considered babies or whiners…who knows. I agree that this form was a rebellion against the war and that tradition helped cause the war. I like how it is anti-everything and that the art style is radical. I also see how this piece has influenced art today (like you said, it is still being done). I think when there is war or other economic crisis like the Depression it is a responsibility of artists to poke fun or disagree with the current ideals. It can help influence people to change views or just have some fun when times are hard. Great blog.
Jo LaBelle Said:
on November 3, 2009 at 5:47 pm
This is indeed a fun piece and I agree with the connections you draw between Duchamp’s The Fountain, Dadaism and World War I. The Fountain was considered to be a rather shocking piece back then and a blatant attack on tradition brought about by the atrocities of World War I. I do have a few comments to make regarding improvements, however. Your photograph of the piece is lacking the factual information; perhaps you could include a tag underneath it? Also you haven’t referenced any outside sources to reinforce your argument; it would strengthen your blog (although it is already very well done).
I agree that this art style is amusing and I too appreciate the wit with which it was constructed. I think Duchamp probably would have fit in well in our modern times and that he probably would have created a whole host of amusing pieces inspired by the current war in Iraq!
rachelsmusings Said:
on November 3, 2009 at 11:30 pm
I liked your blog. this is indeed an interesting sculture. I did not know that he actually SCLUPTED it though. I thought he may have just ripped it off the wall somewhere and wrote on it. silly me!
You blog was informative about not only the piece but the Dada movement. I always appreciate it when people give background about their chosen peices. I like how you linked the Dada movement and thus the sculpture to World War 1.
It seems that Duchamp’s style IS indeed still around today all you have to do is go to a college town and see some “shocking” art. You can also find the same in big cities. Duchamp really set a trend with his shock value art. Thanks for blogging!
Lisa Kljaich Said:
on November 11, 2009 at 3:01 am
Fountain wasn’t “sculpted.” It was a ready made urinal. Rachel’s first impression was correct.