Popular Culture/Visual Culture Activity
Title:
The Influence of Duchamp

Theme:
Sources and Resources

Age:
Grades 9–Adult

Overview:
Tour participants find and discuss artworks that they think have been influenced by the ideas of Marcel Duchamp. This activity could be used in the Walker Art Center galleries, Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, or in the classroom with a selection of images from Art Collector. The artworks included in the activity are suggestions only and instructors may choose different artworks to accompany the discussion questions.


Procedure:
Setting the Scene
Discuss Marcel Duchamp and give a brief synopsis of some of his main ideas.
You may also want to show examples of his work.

Begin Looking
Divide participants into groups of two or three and give out cards that assign the groups to a specific gallery. The back of each card will read:

1. Find a work by a contemporary artist whom you think might have been influenced by the work and ideas of Marcel Duchamp. Note the artist, the title, the date it was made, and the materials it is made from.
2. In what ways do you think the artwork you have chosen reflects the work and ideas of Marcel Duchamp?
3. Do you like the work you chose? Why or why not? What ideas do you think this piece of art conveys?

Give the teams up to 10 minutes. Arrange for the group to meet in one of the galleries.  Ask each group to explain its choice of artwork. Initiate a discussion by using the answers to the questions on the cards.
   
Conclusion
Duchamp occupied a unique place in modern art and culture. His range of influence extends through the arts in painting, sculpture, found objects, photography, installations, video, computer art, and more. He answered to no one and through his work led an attack against established aesthetic values. His successors in both Europe and the United States created a revolution in the world of art by incorporating his ideas into their work.

Props:
Cards with questions and gallery assignments
Photographs of works by Marcel Duchamp

Tips:
None