Dennis+Brookner's

Dennis Brookner

Critique of “Critique of ‘Monkey Farter’”

The tone of ZeFrank’s analysis is sophisticated in a satirical way. He utilizes a sophisticated, art-critic tone to an extent that does not feel realistic, and thus the reader comes to the conclusion that ZeFrank intends to mock the art-critic voice. This tone is accomplished by the use of overly large and fancy words such as “assemblage.” ZeFrank also used a serious tone in a way that seems out-of-place with regards to such an informal work. Whereas a layman might say simply that Will has drawn three pictures recently, ZeFrank labels Monkey Farter as part of a “trio of works” from will. ZeFrank states that the drawing includes “textual and representational elements,” which, though sounding fancy, adds no meaning beyond that it has pictures and words. The viewer is “confronted” with the monkey farter, rather than just seeing it. The monkey farter is located “center stage,” rather than simply in the middle. The experience of analyzing the artwork is described as “deceptive and perhaps dangerous.” That is, by most approximations, a very serious way to interpret the scribbles of a preschooler, or, as ZeFrank would say, play the “game” that Will “invites” us to play. Overall, the theme is developed of incongruity between the lack of seriousness that can be reasonably associated with the drawing and the excessive amount of seriousness with which ZeFrank approaches his analysis. It is in this way that a humorous tone is achieved—through the use of incongruity. The serious diction and syntax are so mismatched with what is appropriate that the viewer can’t help but find it funny.