What is Art? Marcel Duchamp: Great Art Explained

My other channel, Great Books Explained here - / @greatbooksexplained371
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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.
IMPORTANT! Subscribe and click the bell icon to be notified! www.youtube.co....
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
I input the English subtitles myself but I rely on volunteers to do subtitles for other languages and I really appreciate it - just contact me at [e-mail]
Spanish subtitles by Alma Perdomo (Gracias!)
CREDITS
Opening Animation and Title Sequence by Brian Adsit (instagram .... and Behance www.behance.com/badsit88)
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.

[@jdinnen1]

One of the best channels on KZbin

[@GreatArtExplained]

Thank you 🙏

[@lehpares]

Agree

[@7abigel]

Agree!!!

[@rancerants]

Agree!!!!

[@PhysioAl1]

Yup, Great episode

[@rafaelmonasterio3719]

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.

[@GreatArtExplained]

Thanks so much Rafael 🙏

[@chevgr]

This

[@jainanandita287]

"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 KZbin.

[@GreatArtExplained]

Thank so much 🙏

[@stellviahohenheim]

Dude gets rejected once and he gave up painting lol

[@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.

[@GreatArtExplained]

Oh that is so cool - thanks for the comment 🙏

[@GreatArtExplained]

Please don’t forget to ‘like’ and leave a comment (however short), as it REALLY helps promote the channel. My other channel, Great BOOKS Explained can be found here - www.youtube.com/@greatbooksexplained371 - thanks so much for your amazing support - James

[@israeldiegoriveragenius2th164]

Don't tell me this is great art, it is the start of the great art con. What is art? is a stupid question, a better question is what is good art.

[@GreatArtExplained]

@@israeldiegoriveragenius2th164 you haven’t even given the video a chance before you made a judgement 🤷‍♂️

[@israeldiegoriveragenius2th164]

@@GreatArtExplained I watched it all.

[@stephaniehendricks3537]

There is a channel on youtube called crashcourse and it is currently doing a series on art history which is very interesting as well.

[@piccalillipit9211]

@@israeldiegoriveragenius2th164 "a better question is what is good art." that is not a better question - its subjective. I think your comment is dum6, you think its clever. You see, its subjective.

[@lenniewall]

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

[@isasnz786]

Best ending

[@GreatArtExplained]

Thank you!

[@BellBouvier]

i love that saying!

[@floccinaucinihilipilifications]

Brilliant comeback

[@DominicMunnellythisistheway]

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

[@GreatArtExplained]

Thanks 🙏

[@sm8081sc]

Same!

[@nowhereman6019]

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.

[@GreatArtExplained]

I ❤️ this comment thanks 🙏

[@pooyataleb2514]

so he took someone else's work and signed it and now it's his work. and people complain about AI

[@dahlia_dazol]

​@@pooyataleb2514 did you saw the video before commenting? Please watch it first

[@chevgr]

@@pooyataleb2514no. It's called concept. Conceptual art. Watch the video...

[@bodawei425]

Right. Then every engineered object is art. Anything in Nature is art. The emptiness of the Universe is art.

[@vivaldi1948]

"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.

[@GreatArtExplained]

Thank you 🙏

[@bhm6677]

Decanting?

[@danl6634]

Can't help but think of Calvin & Hobbes myself

[@dustydesert1674]

Heart some critic say - “well, something is descending something”.

[@Gian_Valkiri]

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

[@GreatArtExplained]

Wow, thank you! 🙏

[@eucitizen78]

true

[@rossrobbins7707]

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!

[@nancybarrera137]

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.

[@fhqwhgads1670]

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

[@jimmyzbike]

One of my favorite museums is the American Folk Art Museum . Their commitment to art in its base form is astounding. The act of art takes so many forms.

[@MrGil78]

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 KZbin 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.

[@GreatArtExplained]

This comment has made my day - thank you 🙏

[@MrGil78]

@@GreatArtExplained I don’t think that you know the profoundness in bringing the art to the people. I left London about twenty years ago and now live in a culturally desolate corner of Asia. The fact that I can engage with this stuff that used to be on my doorstep, fundamentally brings joy to life. And for that, I will always be enormously grateful.

[@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!

[@GreatArtExplained]

That comment has made my day - thank you so much 🙏

[@kjjohnson24]

I did a high school humanities project on conceptual art and fell in love with Marcel DuChamp’s artwork. He’s the original badass modern artist. A print of “Fountain” hangs in my bathroom to this day.

[@GreatArtExplained]

He really was the original punk rocker

[@roffelomat4643]

The first time i ever went to go to an art exibition, was an Duchamp exhibition. I didn't knew him or his body of work. I only stumbled into art via this channel during the pandemic. I was blewn away. The exibition was chronological. During my visit I felt connected to him in a way i only knew from bookcharacters. It was the final push for me to get into creating. At that time I was a depressed programmer for an insurance company. Now im studying to become an occupational therapist. I like to believe that this channel and Duchamp had a part in the changes I made for a better life :) 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 🙏

[@GreatArtExplained]

Thanks

[@skye2192]

Something I find really interesting is in my art-friend circles, those who chose to create this style of modern art are great artists in other techniques, like here. It's a very active decision to present something different and there's often lots of thought into it, rather than what I think a lot of people perceive as 'easy'. Technically, these pieces aren't difficult, but I've always seen the creative process as very intricate and not at all easy - all the way from learning to draw up until the final modern art project. This channel is one of my favourites on KZbin

[@GreatArtExplained]

Thank you for your wonderfully considered comment 🙏

[@skye2192]

​@@GreatArtExplained That's so sweet! Thank you for your wonderfully considered video!!

[@Daughterofminerva]

Hi. I put forward my experience. I totally agree with you , and the work that really conveyed to me the concept that art isn't just technique but the idea behind the creative process is the work of an Italian painter called Piero Manzoni called "artist's shit". Literally. The artist put some faeces in a can and signed his name on the can . When I read about this work on my art book I immediately understood that it was a critic against the art world, ready to pay huge sums for a piece just because it was made by a famous artist, regardless of the value of the work. But it can also mean a critic to consider art as a relics , placing it on a pedestal surrounded by an halo of sacredness. So , even if the work itself ( shit in a can) is really far from the traditional idea of "art" , I really appreciated the idea behind it. Tbh I am usually not into modern art, my artistic preferences are definitely on the figurative side rather than the conceptual-abstract side, but I appreciate a good idea .

[@MagusFlorren]

Ive been making art my entire life, and for the last 9 years I’ve taken it seriously. However I did not expect this video to completely and utterly destroy my perspective of Art. From this video I learned that Marcel Duchamp was great at conceptual thinking and creative execution. And also want to point out your skills at delivering this information to us in such a beautiful and inspiring way. Thank you for doing what you’re doing. My art will never be same after this.

[@GreatArtExplained]

That’s so interesting - do you have an instagram account with your art?

[@amyd9295]

Yet another fantastic deep dive of an artist and tackling the extremely difficult question, 'what is art?' you break everything down in a way that anyone can understand without being pretentious or using artist exclusive language. And I appreciate that so much and I have come to love art history because of your channel.

[@GreatArtExplained]

Oh thank you for the lovely comment 🙏

[@IK-yb5rn]

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

[@gwendolyntruelove3462]

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!!

[@GreatArtExplained]

So kind - I appreciate that!

[@sanghmitrahitaishi]

One of the finest and the most essential videos I have watched on Modern art. Thank you for what you do. Your KZbin 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.

[@GreatArtExplained]

You are very welcome 🙏

[@MariaVosa]

While my personal feelings as a "viewer" is less than taken with this art work, it cannot be denied how seminal it is in understanding the 20th century - and the 21st. Idea over skill. Provocation over beauty. Subversiveness over authority. Love it or hate it, it is in many ways the perfect encapsulation of post modernity. I will say I respect Duchamp himself as an artist as he had the skills himself that he liked to challenge and mock. Nude descending a staircase is one of my favourite paintings.

[@andreaandrea6716]

I am always thrilled when I see you've put together another video. Below, someone said they stop doing whatever it is they are doing to watch. Me, I squirrel it away and save it for dessert. And halfway through, I pause it... to remind myself that I've only part of it left... and thus, I savour it. Sometimes I am so moved by the depth of what you've come up with, I cry. I'm moved. All my life, friends have been involved with music... but few with Art. It feels like a sacred, secret club... I worry that people care less and less about it. When I come HERE, I have half an hour of happiness. Please, never stop making these. They feed the Soul. And I, and the others here, NEED you. James, Thank you so much!

[@GreatArtExplained]

That’s such a nice thing to say - thank you 🙏

[@humanDNA]

This channel literally changed my life. I didn't care much about art until I saw the Basquiat video. Who knows, maybe this video will change someone's life too

[@BeantownMrs]

While not all of the art you feature is to my personal taste, I always come away from your videos having learned something important about the art and why I might or might not like it based on the historical and artist's circumstances. Thank you!

[@GreatArtExplained]

Wow, thank you for keeping an open mind!

[@janetatuniquerawfoods2361]

They also reflect on the attitude of society through different manifestations of ourselves here on earth.

[@victoriamyst4742]

…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 ❤️

[@GreatArtExplained]

Thanks 🙏

[@DammitBobby]

Would love to see a sort of followup video about dadaism and Elsa Von Freytag-Loringhoven. So interesting.

[@ivanatesic5921]

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

[@GreatArtExplained]

Glad you like them!

[@stephaniehendricks3537]

​@@GreatArtExplained one of my favorite youtube channels!

[@isasnz786]

His work is impeccable 🤌✨

[@ivanatesic5921]

@@isasnz786 agreed

[@spliffedtothegallows7337]

I wasn’t aware that Duchamp didn’t consider the work art until much later. I love that you ended it with the idea of the viewer. I’d always thought the crucial thing that he created was the re-contextualisation via putting it into a gallery (and the cheeky 2 fingers up at their curators) but you’ve made me reconsider. It wasn’t art when it was accepted by the gallery but not shown, it became art when the public saw it and albeit less crucially were inspired by it. Well written and carefully considered, thank you.

[@GreatArtExplained]

Thanks 🙏

[@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.

[@artsygal112]

Lol same. Remember learning about it in one of my art classes. It's interesting in its concept...but some works that have come after and derive inspiration from it? Questionable....

[@jack_rabbit]

marcel duchamp was the greatest troll artist ... and also a genuinely great artist. i love that he inhabited both the shit-poster mentality LONG before such a thing existed, and could also create large dynamic pieces that conveyed time, space, and movement in 2d and sometimes 3d simultaneously. absolute genius.

[@alexhussey1308]

If we think about art as being a collaborative process in which the viewer brings the work to the external world, you could say that providing a new framework for critiquing and appreciating art is the value of his work and these lazy venture capitalists remaking movies and selling hypebeast merchandise are an unfortunate but natural byproduct. By broadening the scope of what qualifies as art we can discern for ourselves what makes for succesful, enjoyable, or impactful art and find beauty in that process itself, rather than be confined to a narrow traditional standard of art which predetermines for us what is art and what is not.

[@AckzaTV]

No. Art always had lazy snobs especially before 1900s. You kidding me?

[@EricaHolthausen]

I was familiar with The Fountain before this video, but didn't have any real context from which to look at the piece, and I knew very little about Duchamp. I now see this piece differently, and absolutely love that it inspires so many passionate conversations about what is and what is not art (and who gets to decide).

[@GreatArtExplained]

Excellent!

[@davethetrumpeter]

James’s channels, “Great Art” and “Great Books” are two of the great channels ever on KZbin. As he walks us through his content, it’s like having a seat in one of the world’s great institutions of art and word craft. “What is art?” is a question parallel to “how much does ____ cost?”, if one must ask… The question discriminates visionaries from those stuck with the disease of “we’ve always done it this way.” Thank you, James, for your wonderful creations!!

[@GreatArtExplained]

Dave - that’s such a nice thing to say - I appreciate it!

[@garyofthegary]

Another superb video! It’s easy for ideas like Duchamp’s to be misunderstood or misrepresented by people who aren’t fully informed of his work and its context. Yet again you do a beautiful job of providing those.

[@GreatArtExplained]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@shivasgirl1609]

Wow, I don't know how to thank you enough for creating these films, so informative, interesting, thought provoking yet providing answers at the same time, they're always so beautifully edited & once "Play" is pressed, engrossing so much so that clock time disappears. There's so much more I'd like to say but comments on YT are usually limited to bite sized bits & pieces of opinions & such. So, I'll just say I'm very much obliged for these films & to you for making & sharing them in such an unselfish way.

[@GreatArtExplained]

Nice comment thanks 🙏

[@OfTheGaps]

A long lost love of art rediscovered. Thanks.

[@GreatArtExplained]

That’s so pleasing - thanks 🙏

[@tollertyp7230]

I've learned something today. It isn't about the urinal as an provoking object, but the radical consequences of calling it art.

[@yunwahlam7456]

"Nude Descending a Staircase" was shown in the first slide of my first art lecture. It started my life-long fascination of modern art. Thank you, for the 1000th times, for making these wonderful videos.

[@germanforyou4860]

We cannot express enough our gratitude towards the creator of this channel! You help common people of the overloaded 21st century to escape from the limited reality of scrolling. You build a bridge to the understanding of the world of art! Thank you for so many evenings you saved us from not knowing what to watch. After eagerly waiting for one of your newly published, detailed and passionate videos we can't stop to think of the depth of thoughts and the context of the artist you help us to connect. We send you the kindest greetings from the beautiful Black Forest in Germany.

[@GreatArtExplained]

Danke! I appreciate it - and you live in a beautiful part of the world! 🇩🇪

[@life.with.vishal]

"This explanation of Duchamp’s work is both insightful and thought-provoking. It's incredible how this video breaks down the complexities of what constitutes art in such a concise and engaging way. Great Art Explained truly lives up to its name!"

[@GreatArtExplained]

Thanks 🙏

[@careyezra]

This is one of the best installments yet, the summary ( both the artists and the viewer are necessary to complete a work of art) is so incredibly profound

[@stringy00]

Through watching your videos I have developed not only a deeper understanding of Art and great art works but a real love of Art. Something I'd previously seen as, kind of, out of my league, boring and snooty, has been made interesting, accessable and exciting. Since I started watching your videos I have been to visit some of the greatest artworks in the world, changing and enriching my life. Thanks James. Please don't stop!

[@GreatArtExplained]

Thank you so much 😀

[@GreatArtExplained]

Thank you so much!

[@cynosure516]

Being able to communicate these important concepts in such an accessible and informative way is a crucial and rare talent. What you do is meaningful and important, please keep up the good work!

[@GreatArtExplained]

Oh thank you 🙏

[@paintedportraits3037]

You should definitely do a video about how you research so good and in-depth for learning purposes

[@GreatArtExplained]

That's a good idea!

[@811smash]

It’s always a positive surprise in my day when I receive a notification that a new video has been posted. Major respect and admiration for James and his channels for bringing art and literature to younger audiences in such an informative way. Fan for life.

[@GreatArtExplained]

Wow, thank you!

[@jelejacques]

"Why did you make it so difficult? Well, because I didnt wanted to make it easy,." lol Thanks for your work.

[@StanleyFlinn]

The thing I love about the fountain is that even today it gets pulled out by people trying to discredit modern art, they'll point at it and say "you call this art?" and in doing so they have, despite their best efforts, engaged with it.

[@ashipper8223]

I thoroughly enjoyed this. Years ago, I took a modern art history class and Duchamp was an absolute favorite of mine. I haven’t thought about him in a long time. Thanks.

[@coitnorris9273]

“Humor is the only reason to live.” M. Duchamp🎭

[@Beryllahawk]

I deeply appreciate all your videos. You do such an excellent job of explaining and giving context to the pieces, the people - I've been brought to tears and more than once as I've worked my way through your work. Thank you!

[@GreatArtExplained]

Wow, thank you!

[@warriorlink8612]

8:37 quote is really sticking with me... that hits hard...

[@secr3t7]

Thought-provoking and wonderfully presented. Thank you!

[@GreatArtExplained]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@angusmclaren9726]

Really amazing video. Showing the background, context and impact of this piece and making it as approachable as you do is brilliant. Thanks very much

[@GreatArtExplained]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@kidmohair8151]

I frequently have to stop and go back to recover something in all of your dissertations. (books and art). thank you. the Da Vinci quote, "if you look upon an old wall covered with dirt..." struck a chord with me. it is something I often find happening to me.

[@MarielaCaro]

Duschamp brought discussion to themes like reproduction in art and the value of signing so early. Truly a vanguardist. Thank you for your awesome videos! (:

[@GreatArtExplained]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@Aigsup]

This channel opens up why I love art so much in my mind. Puts thoughts to words. Love it

[@mariaholz]

I think in art as in life it is important to confront yourself with opinions and concepts you don’t agree with or like. It forces you to rethink, consider different perspectives and focuses your argument. As always a very informative film

[@GreatArtExplained]

I agree

[@tayque_kun]

One of the greatest KZbin channels out there. Definitely a unique and relaxing experience everytime, thank you

[@GreatArtExplained]

Thanks 🙏

[@maxcollis2751]

Super cool, in depth, thought provoking film. Love it!

[@GreatArtExplained]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@MatthewPrise]

Another great video about a work of art I didn’t understand before.

[@GreatArtExplained]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@WTFSt0n3d]

You can't unthink an idea

[@Lynnievlogs]

Your channel is one of my favorite channels related to art and books , the way you explain art is clear and accessible, not only the classic but also modern, not only the technical aspects but also the concepts. This channel is really a great way to learn about art.

[@giulia86lotr]

As usual, great documentary, so informative, well produced, rich and captivating. I personally love Duchamp, Ray and the Dada movement. The bride stripped naked by her bachelors even it's one of my fav pieces. Duchamp was a genius, a philosopher, an artist, truly holding a mirror to society, showing the true nature of mankind, pointing to our shadows and insecurities, as brutal as a true artist can be. He is timeless. Thanks for making this video!

[@SikandarKashfi]

A great work of art has the power to provoke questions or challenge our perceptions. Duchamp’s Fountain does just that by posing one of the most profound questions: “What is art?” This, I believe, is why it stands as one of the greatest works of art. Great video James as always. 💛🌼

[@danag812]

Amazing work. Thank you so much for all of your hard work on this. ❤

[@GreatArtExplained]

Thank you too!

[@juliamartinez7466]

Outstanding. How talented you are, Mr. Payne!

[@jjd13579]

What a gift your channels are! Every one of your videos is exceptionally thoughtful and masterfully produced. It's literally a highlight of my day to see a new video from Great Art or Great Books Explained in my feed.

[@SarastistheSerpent]

Ooo I love me some art controversy! Can’t wait to watch!

[@jenniferbarnaby177]

Finally some context to Duchamp. I’ve struggled with his work and understanding the concept of “ready mades” but your video explains Duchamp and his artistic vision brilliantly. Thank you.

[@GreatArtExplained]

Great to hear!

[@samsung8310]

The best Art channel on KZbin.

[@wernerpfennig770]

As a fan of conceptual art, I love love love how you presented Duchamp’s work in this video. Your channel is easily one of my most favorite out here! Thank you so much for your work! ❤

[@GreatArtExplained]

Happy to hear that!

[@seriouslywhatever1031]

The only channel that'd persuade me to click on a video about toilets 😂

[@AcbTyson]

The first time I went to the Tate Modern I saw (a replica of) Fountain. Another patron was really upset by the work, almost shouting "that's not art". When I pointed out it was a really famous artwork, that just made her angrier. And yet, I think this is the sort of reaction that Duchamp wanted.

[@Sarah-jd7zv]

I'VE BEEN WAITING SO LONG FOR THIS VIDEO I AM SO EXCITED!!!!!!!!!!!

[@williamheadland5533]

Love Duchamp and this channel, studied Duchamp for college and I love this soooo much

[@sakuranokunoichi]

Glad to see your thorough coverage on this. Really inspired by Étant donnés.

[@SaraCrowder]

Some of the best content on KZbin. Succinct, important, well produced videos that educate you on a wide variety of artistic topics. Another great one here! Thanks, James.

[@GreatArtExplained]

Thanks 🙏

[@BriManeely]

Thank you for yet another beautiful and challenging video! I wonder what Duchamp would have thought about this video, but over all else, I think he would approve of you breaking your early conventions you made for this channel. In true Duchamp fashion, you've done away with the rules in order to do what is right. Thank you!

[@Retrochick330]

I will be forever thankful to you for creating this channel. Love all of it

[@atakarimzadeh5853]

Perfect channel for art lovers who want to get a better understanding of origins of great art pieces and moments. Love your content and approach to different subjects ❤❤❤

[@GreatArtExplained]

Thank you so much 😀

[@brendavidigal4656]

One of the best channels on KZbin. Keep on the great work. Love from Brazil

[@ryllharu]

The end of this really made me think about the similar conceptual discussion in writing, "death of the author." It's not the work itself that becomes lasting in isolation, it is the conversation of a thousand-thousand individual interpretations of the work as a whole that makes a text a work of art. The author is one voice within that conversation, and can either remain silent deliberately or shock the conversation into motion again with a reveal of their own position. Duchamp seemed to understand this inherently and take great personal joy in inciting these conversations.

[@GreatArtExplained]

That is a fantastic comment

[@victoriancuddler]

Duchamp is one of the masters to deconstruct art as an elitist form and make the thought construction of creativity to be accessible for ALL. I will always favor artists that deem their work and the work of those before them to be known across the social spectrum. Knowledge gives us the opportunity to better our lives and the communities we live in, it shouldn't be gatekept. This is why I appreciate your channel deeply and why Duchamp is one of the patriarchs of accessibility of Art History. Thank you both for your work.

[@farhangbook1]

Fantastic - for the first time, and I have watched numerous docs about Duchamp, I feel closer to his later work. Thank you for that.

[@rubenrathgeber458]

Your videos are something special. I love watching them so much. Back in high school, i was never good at arts, but i was quite interested in the art history part. Your channel truly showed me how much i love art and how much there is to it. I'll never forget when i watched your videos on the garden of earthly delights and las meninas while being in the prado with these pictures in front of me. Keep going and thank you so much.

[@GreatArtExplained]

Thanks for the kind words - I appreciate them!

[@romuald5198]

I didn't really know the details of Duchamp and the Foutain's history. Brilliant work as always, thank you!

[@GreatArtExplained]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@hache9626]

This is probably my new favorite video on the channel, you've done it again James! I've always liked Duchamp's urinal and all the questions it provokes in the viewer. For me, that fact that it still infuriates people and keeps the conversation about "what's art" alive is proof enough of Duchamp's genius. I know wherever he is, he's laughing haha.

[@lisbetmatz2248]

Great to have even more challenging work explained and in a way, which makes it all seem so easy. Thanks James !

[@GreatArtExplained]

Thanks Lisbet! 🙏

[@aquatark]

Wonderful video, as always! I hope that this video opens more people up to contemporary art - speaking from experience, discussions about it often seem intimidating and inaccessible. But once you get a grip on the central concepts and start to engage with the work on its terms, a new world of intellectual discussion is revealed. You make it more accessible than ever! Even once Duchamp's Fountain becomes completely ordinary to everyone (if that ever happens), it will still be an incredibly important work, and a good one at that. What a perfect way to bust the art world wide open!

[@GreatArtExplained]

Lovely comment thanks 🙏

[@TDAWXG]

I'll always be exited for a new episode on this channel, genuinely such incredible research, writing and creation. Dont let stupid comments slow you down! HUGE fan, thank you so much!!!

[@GreatArtExplained]

Thank you 🙏

[@catiasilva821]

Seriously, this is the best channel on KZbin. Thank you so much for your work.

[@lucas2mazini]

The human arrogance will always try to put an end to discussions about what is art or what is not. Fortunately, as long as there is debate about this, the art will remain alive. There will always be people who disagree with such "absolute truths", and we're here for it.

[@user-pz6mc2oj3f]

Meh, anything can be called Art but that does not make it interesting or any good. Simple Art for simple people. Leonardo would just laugh

[@LoisAGrimm]

I absolutely love this channel. It is thoughtful, provocative, and sophisticated. Thank you for every video you create.

[@かりん-h5r1o]

英語をすべて理解するのは難しいので、自動翻訳で楽しんでいます。いつも素晴らしいビデオをありがとうございます！ Thank you!

[@victornetto9566]

James, you are incredible! My absolute favorite art channel! Thank you!!

[@GreatArtExplained]

Wow, thank you!

[@paladenleah]

Thank you very much for this wonderful film. It makes me contemplate things I often overlooked or have cared for but forgotten. Art indeed is what makes us human. Duchamp is the champ.

[@Eels1989]

As a piece it means nothing to me, but I think it means a lot to the art world as a whole because it inspires endless discussion. Art is a very personal thing to me, both in its importance and how I respond to it, but I have to appreciate somebody doing something that promotes conversation, positive or negative. Good? As with all art, it's of course entirely subjective. Meaningful? Inherently, no. As a statement, without a doubt. Important? Undoubtedly. What's interesting to me is how I don't care enough about it to think about it in a deeper sense, but I do think about it and doubt I'll forget it, and that has to mean something. And as I read back what I've just written I feel that it's almost like the piece itself. Thinking I'm saying a lot while also not really saying anything. But for a short time, it had your attention.