“nothing can be invented without reference to something else. scientists build upon theories based...

“Nothing can be invented without reference to something else. Scientists build upon theories based on previous discoveries, as do artists and inventors. Strictly speaking, progress in art stems in part from

the artist’s knowledge of art history and world events. It is therefore not an uncommon practice for artists to borrow, paraphrase, quote, or “reinvent”

images from past art. The borrowings by contemporary artists are often direct and

undisguised, and frequently clothed in impudent humor, satire, and parody.”

  -Nicholas Roukes, Humor in Art

Master Copy – A historical teaching

technique of which students tried to copy professional

works as closely as their skills would allow.

Reinventing the Masters

Appropriation – Applying aspects – e.g., images, style, overall design – of previously

created work to a new creation.

Analogy- A comparison between things that are unlike. A means for making humorous

relationships between dissimilar subjects.

Anthropomorphism- Giving animals or objects human traits.

Burlesque- Mockery by ridicule or caricature; imitation in a humorous or

mocking manner.

MichelangeloStatue of David

Original and Modern Day

Alexander the Great Triumphant statue

Hyperbole- An exaggeration, often to a ridiculous degree.

Metaphor- An idea expressed by some form of substitution. A metaphor may contain

contradiction but of a logical nature.

Oxymoron- A self-contradictory figure of speech or image. The term “loud silence” is a literally oxymoron; the image

self-drawing hand, by M.C. Escher, is a visual oxymoron.

Paradox- That which is self-contradictory, beyond

belief, or which seems to hide its meaning.

Parody- A humorous spoof

or take-off. Mimicry or comic

imitation of a

selected subject.

Pun- Humorous word play or image/word play that surprises with sound alike substitutions to achieve

funny and inconsistent meaning.

I'm reading a book about anti-gravity. It's impossible to put down.