Fred Rednor wrote <That's exactly the point. The idea of Duchamp's "ready-mades" was to make the viewer consider the inherent beauty in everyday objects, even if they don't have the imprimatur of the the people who claim to be the arbiters of taste/worthiness of "salon art.">
Mitch Harris wrote: <Duchamp's goal may have less to do with the casual beauty of found objects and more to do with making a point about the power and authority of the artist to declare an art function for those found objects.>
I'm not arguing with either of you. I personally fall on the plus side of the bicycle, associated components, and tools as art, and ready-made and usable art at that. I remember my co-worker Ned from Hearn's, who was also an art student at UNC-Asheville, assembling a mobile from rims, sprockets, chainrings, etc which was very cool indeed (mid-70's timeframe, on topic!). Art, as defined by beauty and function, is certainly in the eye of the beholder.
John Wilson
Greensburg, PA