Conceptual Art Questions

1. The viewer is an important element in conceptual art because conceptual art depends on the view to give it meaning. It is in the concept or idea that the meaning lies, not the form itself. The concept only exists in the mind of the viewer.

2. Mnay people find it hard to accept DuChamps Fountain as art because of the preconceived notions of what they are looking at, a toilet flipped on its side. They see only a toilet because that is what their mind tells them it is due to past experience. It is also hard for people to accept because Du Chanmp hasn't really created anything new. He has simply taken a "found" object and reinventing is context. Traditionally, people consider art as something created by someone.

3. DuChamp, with his readymades, is asking : "Could this be art?" or "Could this be accepted as art?" He is trying to get us to stretch our minds. His best posing of this question is the Fountain, as it is something usually thought of as necessary but repulsive and dirty, mass produced, with no unique beauty. Could this be art?

4. It is hard to categorize conceptual art because it lacks many of the featurs of traditional art such as form, color, value, etc. The meaning lies in the idea not the product, and traditional art the meaning is in the product.