Fallen and Flawed

Nurturing Fame: Marcel Duchamp’s Unorthodox Approach

 

 

Stranger things have happened. 

On Tuesday social media consultant Chris Brogan challenged us to think out loud with him on his idea of microfame.

If I’ve got Brogan right, microfame is nothing more than popularity within a small context.

High school, for example. Or maybe church.

Brogan’s example was a business network. And niche bloggers.

He asked some challenging questions. And was looking for profound debate. 

I, however, after reading Brogan’s post, couldn’t get the French artist Marcel Duchamp out of my head. And the comical, unorthodox methods he used to nurture fame.  

See, a couple of years ago I read a number of biographies and articles on Duchamp’s life. But it didn’t take me long to notice something stunning about Duchamp: he used obscurity to promote his career.

So, in honor of Marcel, Brogan, you, and all our tiny little quests for micro fame, let me share with you some of the more unconventional methods Duchamp used to nurture his fame. 

Make Obscure Statements

Duchamp excelled in obscure art. He also excelled in obscure statements. Case in point:

“I have forced myself to contradict myself in order to avoid conforming to my own taste.”

You sort of kind of know what he’s talking about. But not really. Yet, no doubt a little cottage industry of Duchamp junkies have deconstructed this statement ad infinitum.

Take Away: Mumble. Don’t look people in the eye when you speak. And for goodness sake never say anything the common person can understand. 

Be (Slightly) Unpredictable

You. Me. Chris Brogan. Archie Mckinlay. Were all bewitched by the loose cannon.

Marcel Duchamp–who was an aspiring painter at this time–submitted a urinal into an art competition with the words “R. Mutt” painted in black on the side. 

That’s something the committee didn’t expect. 

Take Away: Now, it’s debatable whether our fascination with unpredictability is a healthy fascination or not. And seriously questionable whether you should cultivate such a habit.

But look at it this way. What if you surprised your wife by taking the day off of work and pampering her with a day of shopping? My wife would need a few minutes to recover from the shock.

Avoid Media Exposure, Interviews

Naturally, a recluse who refuses interviews and publicity is mysterious and compelling. Weird. Especially if he’s famous.  

Just look at J. D. Salinger.

On a micro level, when Merlin Marvin kicked off his Twitter sabbatical, I was drawn curiously to his Twitter page ten times more often just to see if he’d come back. And I was on his blog more than I was before.

Absurd, I know. 

Take Away: Well, I think you actually need to be famous have people calling you for interviews first for this to work. I’m not there. I have no advice for you. 

Don’t Comment on Your Own Work

Duchamp had a personal policy to avoid explaining his art to others. His reason? He didn’t want to interfere with their interpretation.

What always happened was an enormous firestorm of combative discussions erupted. And his reputation, on each new piece of art, spread rapidly. 

Take Away: Refuse to explain yourself. Say things like, “I said what I said.” In addition, launch books, papers or blog posts on half-baked ideas–just like Brogan did–and let the people run with it.  

Grant Small-Time, Occasional Interviews

Duchamp liked to frustrate the elite. The stuffy. He said of the typical artist:

The individual, man as a man, man as a brain, if you like, interests me more than what he makes, because I’ve noticed that most artists only repeat themselves.

He also demonstrated this snobbery to the media. Shunning the big papers, Duchamp would surprise the press–thus employing unpredictability–by allowing a small, no-name magazine to interview him. 

Take Away: If you’re like me–with little to no micro-fame–small-time interviews is about all you can grant. In truth, I’d be grateful for an interview with a warm body. 

The Larger Take-Away: Duchamp Is Dead

You’re probably wondering why a blog devoted to living a vivid, meaningful Christian life is toying with ideas like fame and people like Marcel Duchamp.  

Here’s where I’m going with this: Humility is a core virtue for Christianity. And at odds with fame. Brogan summed it up well: 

“So for anyone kind enough to call me famous, I appreciate the mindset, but I’m hoping to be trusted, respected, and to be worthy of your time. That’s my daily goal.”

Listen: A servant’s heart and an attitude of humility are the true measures we should be after. Because microfame–in fact, all fame–is fleeting in a perishing world.

Duchamp died. People pretty much say he’s weird. You will die. What is it you want people to say about you?  Now get back to work.

Tags: Duchamp, Fame, Reputation