Imagine walking into a gallery in 1917 and seeing… a urinal. Not in a restroom. Not in a hardware store. In the sacred, echoing temple of “taste.” The label reads: The Fountain. The artist: R. Mutt. And suddenly the art world makes that same sound you make when you bite into something that should not be crunchy.In this episode of Art Happens: The Divine Mess of Art History (presented by J-Squared Atelier), host James William Moore dives into Marcel Duchamp’s Fountain—the artwork that didn’t just start arguments… it industrialized them.Duchamp’s prank wasn’t really a prank. It was a trap: a philosophical tripwire that exposes how art is shaped by context, permission, and power. Because if a show claims “no jury, no gatekeeping,” why does the moment a porcelain urinal appears… a bouncer suddenly materialize?We unpack the birth of the readymade, the meaning behind the pseudonym R. Mutt, and the deliciously inconvenient truth that the “artwork” isn’t only the object—it’s the decision, the framing, and the argument it produces. Along the way, we follow the ripple effect across Dada, conceptual art, performance, installation, and basically the entire contemporary art world.And by the end, you’ll be left with one uncomfortable, beautiful question:If the world is full of frames… who controls the frame controls the meaning.J-Squared Atelier, LLCfor the love of artDisclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Send us a text Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. Follow & Subscribe to Art HappensStay inspired with new episodes every week! Don’t miss out on deep conversations with artists, curators, and creators exploring the vibrant world of contemporary art. Connect with Us:J-Squared Aterlier (J2Atelier)🌐 Website: J2 Atelier📸 Instagram: @J2AtelierJames William Moore🌐 Website: James William Moore📸 Instagram: @the_jwmartistLeave a Review:Love what you hear? Help us grow by leaving a review on your favorite podcast platform! Your feedback keeps us inspired. 🎙️☕

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“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.

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