Kristen

In Alan Kaprow's essay, "Art Which Can't Be Art," analyzes what makes art true, and is art made into art depending on what type of environment its seen or placed in? Kaprow looks at the work of Duchamp and how nonart and everyday objects being exhibited in a gallery automatically gives the object all new context, beginning a search for art value. In the movie we viewed last Thursday, "Examined Life of What is Art," a quote stuck out to me that stated, "A work of art is a search for deeper values." This explains how artists such as Duchamp became successful, because he expressed modernistic qualities by using great depth in creativity and individuality, and finding a deeper meaning by appropriating objects. Now Kaprow began studying the simple act of brushing his teeth, focusing on all the human senses, he began to reflect on his routine activities and tendencies and traced it back to his early childhood years. He felt as though this was the first time he truly took a look at himself and the world which influenced him. Now I find this is something anyone can do, take one instance and trace the path or paths you took to get to where you were or how you got there in your life. But Kaprow believes there is a true parallel comparison in the act of toothbrushing and the type of modernized art scene in galleries that reflect the subject of humanity. By placing everyday objects in the galleries makes people analyze how that object makes an impact or has an importance in our lives.

Kaprow is in a search to find how his life became so routine. But whose life isn't at some point. I think the ever-going search for the answers regarding humanity will never come to an end. How I got here? What makes this important and this not important? Where will I end up? The quest to find yourself, and thats why people turn to art, they want to find answers or at least feel important. The act of brushing your teeth should be routine, mainly for hygiene sake and not meant to be looked at as a step by step art process.