Chindōgu 珍道具, 57

The Japanese are an amazing culture where they have coined the term Chindogu which means an odd or distorted tool or the literal translation is un-useless. So conceptually speaking, the Japanese were trying to devise a word meaning extremely useless, however the prefix of un means not, so essentially un-useless is an oxymoron meaning not useless or otherwise useful. This could be interpreted as brilliant irony or a loss in translation? The motivation was to design objects that are more convenient yet paradoxical, so ridiculously pointless and the opposite of anything purposeful or useful. However they'er something we long for, bringing the gap between what we are what we could be, nevertheless they fail. So for something that is so impracticable and impossibly useless, the Japanese still valued it and designated a word to describe it. This reminds me of the Germans and their use of the word lebenskunst meaning life-art or carefree enjoyment of live as a work of art, and then Gesamtkunstwerk meaning a total work of art, syntheses of arts. As for the french  Jacques Carelman he reinvented and reimagined the everyday. saying “Personally, I prefer to strip common objects of their normal use. It’s less dangerous, more honest and infinitely  more fun!  My objects, as opposed to objects worshipped by our consumer  society, are perfectly useless. “

They've even developed a ten commandments a Chindogu, ranging from the object cannot exist in real life to its sole purpose being humor. From an artistic standpoint Chindogus are similar to the Dada Movement's Readymades, where Duchamp mounted a bicycle wheel to a stool, thus creating something that served no purpose as it was neither a functioning stool or a bike. So technically speaking, the Japanese Chindogus are in fact art and a reflection of our materialistic culture. The photos above display a tongue, a microphone shaped sponge, picture frames for corners, a skateboard with wheels in opposite direction,a glasses headband to use while laying down, glasses with funnels for eyedrops, a cigarette with no end, a cane with wheels, an arm holder, clothing protector for the bathtub, fake hand for chopping veggies, a toothbrush for your finger, fly swatter slippers with extended handle, solar flashlight, shared napkin/table cloth, and a faux ab maker. Obviously these objects are not the world's greatest inventions, but they are nonetheless brilliant. 

Which brings me back to the entire premise of this blog, just because you think it doesn't mean it has to exist. I'm not saying don't make it, because if these objects ceased to exist, I would loose a lot of writing material and a lot of joy from my life. I'm just questioning our consumer tendancies and crziness. I want to make and buy all of these things like a connected shoes, two fans blowing at on another, stickers or fake tattoos that make it look like you're awake, a clock that grows thyme. So whatever you do don't listen to me, keep making and buying crap, never say never.