Thomas Girst's 'The Duchamp Dictionary' Offers Playful, Accessible Guide to Marcel Duchamp's Life and Work

Published in May 2014, Thomas Girst's 'The Duchamp Dictionary' provides a unique perspective on the life and artwork of Marcel Duchamp. Girst challenges the notion of 'slack scholarship' that interprets Duchamp's creations as mere puzzles, highlighting the contradictions inherent in his artistic style. The dictionary format portrays Duchamp's existence as a 'teasing jigsaw puzzle,' featuring entries ranging from 'Abstract Expressionism' to 'Young Man and Girl in Spring' (1911). Notable anecdotes include Duchamp's accidental LSD experience and his admiration for chess player Aron Nimzowitsch. A 1913 'Bicycle Wheel,' which was stolen, was returned to MoMA in 1995. The book also touches on Duchamp's connections to Philadelphia and Sylvester Stallone, along with his cameo in William Gibson's 'Neuromancer' (1984). Despite its 'terrible, crass, collaged illustrations,' it is deemed 'surprisingly absorbing.'