Doesn’t it depend on what Girl means? If she means that all objects that are unnecessary are art, then it should read as it does. However, if she means that an object must be unnecessary to qualify as art, but that its unnecessary nature does not, ipso facto, cause it to be art, then it should read ‘It’s art only if it’s totally unnecessary’
Unless I too have got ‘if’ and ‘only if’ confused.
It is a commonly used abbreviated grammar that might be short for “It’s only going to be art…” or something similar. It does leave room for misreading, particularly by linguists.
It’s totally legit and means a thing can only qualify as art if it’s totally unnecessary – not all such things are necessarily art, though. Art is necessarily unnecessary, but unnecessities are not necessarily art. And somehow I find that comforting?
February 16, 2009
You mixed up your ‘if’s with your ‘only if’s. Damn critical theorists.
Great comic, though.
May 23, 2009
The ‘if’ and ‘only if’ are NOT mixed up, Edible.
September 28, 2009
Doesn’t it depend on what Girl means? If she means that all objects that are unnecessary are art, then it should read as it does. However, if she means that an object must be unnecessary to qualify as art, but that its unnecessary nature does not, ipso facto, cause it to be art, then it should read ‘It’s art only if it’s totally unnecessary’
Unless I too have got ‘if’ and ‘only if’ confused.
October 1, 2009
It is a commonly used abbreviated grammar that might be short for “It’s only going to be art…” or something similar. It does leave room for misreading, particularly by linguists.
October 4, 2009
Yuppers, I agree with JovoToys.
December 24, 2009
It’s totally legit and means a thing can only qualify as art if it’s totally unnecessary – not all such things are necessarily art, though. Art is necessarily unnecessary, but unnecessities are not necessarily art. And somehow I find that comforting?
March 10, 2010
Unecessary reply for aformentioned unecessary board.
I am the Warhol of RSS feeds.
November 18, 2010
fish have christmas?
May 9, 2012
“Women need men like fish need a bicycle.”
June 13, 2013
Wouldn’t the argument be that the sweatshirt isn’t art, but the bunny is art?
March 11, 2014
I think that’d be Wittgenstein’s argument, Tana :P