Marcel Duchamp's 'Fountain'—a standard urinal signed 'R. Mutt' and submitted to a 1917 art exhibition—challenged fundamental assumptions about what constitutes art. By placing an ordinary object in an art context, Duchamp argued that the artist's choice, not craftsmanship, defines art. A century later, debates continue: does everything become art when an artist designates it? Or was Duchamp's specific historical intervention the artwork, making copies and imitations categorically different?
The passage suggests that
Duchamp created 'Fountain' to demonstrate traditional artistic skills
challenges to artistic definitions may not have simple or permanent resolutions
all urinals are automatically considered art objects
art theory has not evolved since 1917
Correct Answer: B
Choice B is the best answer. Debates about what art is continue a century later.
- Context clues: "A century later, debates continue"; multiple unresolved questions remain.
- Meaning: The persistence of debate suggests no simple resolution.
- Verify: The two competing interpretations at the end remain unresolved.
💡 Strategy: When a question persists over very long time periods, infer it may not have a simple answer.
Choice A is incorrect because Duchamp emphasized "artist's choice, not craftsmanship." Choice C is incorrect because whether designation makes things art is the unresolved question. Choice D is incorrect because ongoing debate shows continued evolution of thinking.