Take it to the Banksy Dept

This flows from the same logic as Duchamp's toilet bowls. Which is why I love it.

Allow me to expand on this thesis. I'll start with some E-Z Art History. Those who didn't sleep through art survey class will know this stuff. Forgive me if I state the obvious. Just laying a foundation for argumentative bricks and mortar, and all. Feel free to skip it.

Duchamp's original "Fountain" was a two-sided sword (or urinal). I think it's implying (and simultaneously skewering) a nominalist definition of art. I.e.: "It's art if I, the artist, say it is." The other side of the sword: Critics, galleries and museums. I.e.: "It's art if you buy it." Literally. And I know R. Mutt's cheeky readymades were controversial, and the first one vanished, etc. But the Art Establishment eventually bought it. Here, I think Duchamp aimed his sword at Capitalism. The art crowd (at least back then) like to pretend that Art was in a realm above commerce -- and the artists within flittered about like angels in a non-material plane of pure ideas, forms, images. But, c'mon. It's all buying and selling. There's an official circle of officially sanctioned artists, and their work (good or not) commands big bucks. Artists outside the circle starve, even if they're good. (And forgery is a crime!) So it's all about agreement. A piece of paper is money, if we agree it is. I'll exchange mass quantities of that paper for a toilet, if we agree it's art. It's a game! 

Duchamp, chessmaster that he was, pointed that out. He flipped over the board and knocked the pieces on the floor. Then walked away from the art game to devote his time to playing chess. 

So what the f**k do artists do now? (Speaking specifically of artists who want to follow in Duchamp's footsteps.) 

Basically, only two options remain: Sell out. Send a message. Or play games and pull pranks.

The Conceptual Artists, obviously, seized on the notion that it's the idea, not the execution that counts. (The idea behind the toilet makes it art!) Hell, you don't even need an art object. It can be a happening, performance art, whatever. Pop Art played the game of "We're taking commercial art gimmicks that the critics agree ain't art and making art with it. F*** you.") Most of 'em danced around the whole art/money continuum. Except for Warhol. Who boldly proclaimed, "I'm in it for the money."

Banksy played at good one on the high art crowd. And he made a shitload of money in the process. Yeah, it's been done. But, like the pie fight, whoopie cushion or blast from a seltzer bottle, it never gets old if you do it right. And Banksy did.