Category:
1960s

The First Living Work of Art

In 1961, German artist Timm Ulrichs put himself on display inside a glass case and called himself the "first living work of art" (erstes lebendes Kunstwerk). He repeated this performance at various times throughout his career.



Artmap.com explains: "Instead of found objects, Ulrichs uses his own body. A simple and simultaneously great idea: whereas with Duchamp the producer and the work were still separated, in the case of Timm Ulrichs, the artist and the work are one and the same."

A "great idea" is one way to describe it.

Some more examples of Ulrich's art:

In 1962, Timm Ulrichs signed his own body. His name was engraved as a tattoo on his upper arm.
In 1963, he tracked his heartbeat with a stethoscope. He broadcast it on a loudspeaker and exhibited the medical record as a musical score.
In 1966, Timm Ulrichs showed the tanning of his skin as a filmic process for the first time. The covered, untanned areas of his back, in contrast to the tanned areas, slowly reveal the word “Hautfilm” [skin film].
In 1969, Timm Ulrichs became a sperm donor at the Bremen sperm bank – ironically referring to Walter Benjamin’s essay “The Work of Art in the Age of its Technological Reproducibility”.
In 1973, Timm Ulrichs ate for one year according to the average consumption of Germans, precisely observing the consumption of milk, bread, and cigarettes. Four cigarettes a day.
In 1978, using professional police equipment, Timm Ulrichs had a facial composite of his own face made.

Posted By: Alex - Mon Oct 28, 2024 - Comments (2)
Category: Art, Body, 1960s

The Ding Dong Dog of Cuminestone

Newport News Daily Press - Dec 15, 1963

Posted By: Alex - Fri Oct 25, 2024 - Comments (0)
Category: School, Dogs, 1960s

George Carl—“French Pantomimist”—on The Ed Sullivan Show

Prime time humor was really different, way back when.

Posted By: Paul - Wed Oct 23, 2024 - Comments (0)
Category: Human Marvels, Humor, Television, 1960s, Europe

Fish Advertising

In 1961, the French patent office granted Robert-Oropei Martino a patent for a method of placing advertisements on fish. From his patent (translated via Google Translate):

It is known that the effect of advertising is largely determined by the medium chosen for it. It is recognized that advertising carried out on a mobile medium, in particular rotating, attracts much more attention than the same advertising on a fixed medium. Similarly, advertising on a medium not previously used is more effective than that carried by the usual media. According to the present invention, a particularly effective advertisement is produced by having it carried by fish in an aquarium, pond or other...

It is obviously possible to imagine many ways of having advertising carried by fish. According to the invention, a corset is preferably used, made to the dimensions of the subject in a material that is sufficiently flexible not to hinder it, and which is closed on it by any appropriate means. Such a corset can advantageously be made of plastic and it is possible to conform it to any profile deemed desirable. Preferably, to allow the fish complete freedom to flex its body around a vertical axis, the corset itself is provided with a very small width and is extended towards the rear or towards the front by panels or strips that are entirely free from each other and on which any desired printing or design can be provided. The attached drawing, given as an example, will allow a better understanding of the invention, the characteristics that it presents and the advantages that it is likely to provide...

It is understood that many corset conformations can be imagined, in particular depending on the anatomical conditions of the fish. Instead of using a complete corset properly speaking, it would obviously be possible to arrange a half corset visible on one side only and fixed in place in any appropriate manner, or even a simple panel suitably attached to the body of the fish.

On the other hand, although it seems advantageous to present the fish in an aquarium, the invention could also be implemented with fish placed in a pond or a body of water, the important thing being simply that the fish is perfectly visible and that the corset or other support that it carries can be clearly distinguished and detailed by the spectators.

More info: Patent No. FR1258965 (espacenet.com)

Posted By: Alex - Tue Oct 22, 2024 - Comments (0)
Category: Advertising, Fish, 1960s

The Letkiss

One of the weirder life-of-a-mayfly dance trends of the 1960s.









Posted By: Paul - Sat Oct 19, 2024 - Comments (1)
Category: Fads, 1960s, Dance, Europe

46 reasons not to use LSD

The "46 reasons" were actually one reason based on flawed science.

A 1967 study had shown that LSD could cause a two-fold increase in chromosomal breaks in cell cultures. But subsequent studies showed that the breaks were a result of the concentrations of the drug being used — and that pretty much ANY substance, in similar concentrations, would cause chromosomal breaks. In fact, there was no evidence that LSD caused significant chromosomal breaks or was a carcinogen.

More info: Science News

March of Dimes - 1968

Posted By: Alex - Sat Oct 12, 2024 - Comments (1)
Category: Drugs, Psychedelic, Science, Advertising, 1960s

Air-Conditioning the Outdoors

House Beautiful - Oct 1966

Posted By: Alex - Fri Oct 11, 2024 - Comments (0)
Category: Advertising, 1960s

Mr. President Game

Just in case you have not gotten your fill of politics this year, why not search out a copy of the Mr. President Game and play a few rounds?

Visit Board Game Geek for details.



Posted By: Paul - Tue Oct 01, 2024 - Comments (0)
Category: Games, Politics, 1960s

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Alex is the creator and curator of the Museum of Hoaxes. He's also the author of various weird, non-fiction, science-themed books such as Elephants on Acid and Psychedelic Apes.

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