Ready-made

Definition

A ready-made is an everyday object that is transformed into art simply by being designated as such by the artist. This concept challenges traditional notions of art and aesthetics, often blurring the lines between functional objects and artistic expression. It emphasizes the idea that the context and the artist's intention can redefine the value and meaning of ordinary items.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Marcel Duchamp is credited with popularizing the ready-made concept in the early 20th century, particularly with his piece 'Fountain,' which was a urinal presented as art.
2. Ready-mades challenge traditional artistic techniques by utilizing mass-produced items, forcing viewers to reconsider what constitutes art.
3. The ready-made approach became a pivotal element of the Dada movement, embracing absurdity and anti-art sentiments to reject conventional standards of beauty.
4. Man Ray, an influential figure in both Dada and Surrealism, incorporated ready-mades into his work, emphasizing the playful and experimental nature of this art form.
5. The impact of ready-mades can be seen across various artistic practices, including collage and photomontage, where found objects are recombined to create new meanings.

Review Questions

• How did Marcel Duchamp's introduction of ready-mades influence the Dada movement and its stance on traditional art?
  • Marcel Duchamp's introduction of ready-mades significantly influenced the Dada movement by challenging established artistic norms and aesthetics. By presenting ordinary objects as art, Duchamp questioned what could be considered art and who gets to decide its value. This radical approach aligned with Dada's anti-art sentiments, encouraging artists to embrace absurdity and reject conventional standards in favor of spontaneity and provocation.
• Discuss how the concept of ready-mades intersects with absurdism and irrationality in early 20th-century art movements.
  • The concept of ready-mades intersects with absurdism and irrationality by promoting a rejection of logical reasoning in favor of spontaneity and randomness. This aligns closely with Dada's philosophy, where artists utilized everyday objects to disrupt traditional artistic practices and provoke thought. By designating mundane items as art, ready-mades not only embrace absurdity but also encourage viewers to question their perceptions and assumptions about creativity and meaning.
• Evaluate the lasting impact of ready-mades on contemporary art practices, particularly in advertising and popular culture.
  • The lasting impact of ready-mades on contemporary art practices is profound, especially in advertising and popular culture. The idea that everyday objects can be elevated to art status has led to innovative marketing strategies that blur the lines between commercial goods and artistic expression. This has resulted in a culture where branding often employs aesthetic choices similar to those found in fine art, compelling consumers to engage with products on a deeper emotional level while challenging their preconceived notions about both art and consumerism.

Related terms

Dada:

An art movement of the early 20th century that rejected logic and embraced chaos, often using absurdity and irrationality as a form of protest against established norms.

Conceptual Art: An art movement where the idea or concept behind the work is more important than the finished art object itself, aligning closely with the principles of ready-mades.

Installation Art: A genre of contemporary art that involves creating an immersive environment or experience, often incorporating ready-made objects to convey complex ideas.