Metaphysics of Shit

Jean Fisher, “Towards a Metaphysics of Shit,” in Documenta 11 Platform 5 The Catalog, Ostfildern-Ruit: Hajte Cantz, 2002, pp. 63-70.


Jean Fisher is a freelance writer on post-colonialism and contemporary art. She is an art theorist and professor of Fine Art and Transcultural studies at Middlesex University.

With the highly nihilistic title ‘Towards a Metaphysics of Shit’, Fisher questions the potential for art to effect in society in relationship to ethics and justice. Fisher considers weather art can function more than mere commodity dependent from capitalist market. Fisher (65) questions, ‘can art function as an effective mediator of change or resistance to hegemonic power, or is it doomed to be a decorative and irrelevant footnote to the more powerful than its capacity to confront?’ In addition, Fisher questions whether art or artist could operate as trickster to offer hope for protest art.

Fisher credits the tricksters in varied cultures around the world for their ability to present a lie that leads to the ultimate truth. Fisher (68) noted that trickster could articulate them through humour and joke. Trickster’s roles are often played out as a form of resistance. Therefore, Fisher is suggesting that art may contribute to the revolution of ethics through taking the position of the trickster.

I found Fisher’s view very interesting and convincing. Natalie Robertson, New Zealand artist and educator also proposed that artist and trickster shares common ideas from her article, ‘The 10 Predicaments of Maui: Notes on Tricksters’. Fisher and Robertson is dealing with similar idea that tricksters demonstrate the kind of attitude that contemporary artists can learn from. Robertson (20) argues trickster Maui from the Maori legends, could be seen as ‘example of the artist who challenges the norms of his culture; demonstrating inquisitiveness, curiosity and enquiry through his actions, he tests the boundaries of his world, all qualities associated with innovative creative practice’.


Robertson, Natalie. "The 10 Predicaments of Maui: Notes on Tricksters." Ed. Brian Butler. Volume 1. Auckland: Artspace & Clouds, 2008. 16-28.