Cultural Appropriation as Archives : Media and Cultural Analysis Assignment C

History of Cultural Appropriation

"The Dada Movement", an artistic and literary changing period that lasted from 1914-1918 challenged traditional artistic practices and social values with the way art was being made. The name Dada was formed as a mocking response to the nationalism that caused World War I. One of the main pioneers and supporters of the movement, renowned French artist Marcel Duchamp, played with the notion of art as an idea. His notable work included showcasing objects as art themselves, indirectly enabling him to become one of the most famous users of cultural appropriation. 

Marcel Duchamp's "Readymades" were a group of his artwork that were created with mass-produced objects, taken from their original purpose and created into art. One example of this is his "Bicycle Wheel" piece, which uses a wheel and a stool to create a piece of art that has been analysed by the public to this day. 

Another common piece that has been raved about over time is his "Fountain". For this artwork, Duchamp used a common urinal signed with the fictitious name of "R.Mutt", turned it upside down placed it as a showcase piece. Nothing major was altered about the object, however automatically, the urinal increased in value as it was deemed as a piece of art. 

 

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