Firebug Pug is ready to bring the Goldberg.
The statement in the headline was spoken by my imaginary new best friend ever ever. Below is a video of a Rube Goldberg machine which completes its task by setting itself on fire like a classic dadaist sculpture. Good show, I say.
Some might argue that this isn’t a real Rube Goldberg machine because there are noticeable edits, suggesting the run wasn’t completed in one take. However, there’s an awesome explanation. This video is a small excerpt from a 30-minute DVD in which “100 feet of physical interactions, chemical reactions, and precisely crafted chaos” self-destructs. The edits are simply in the interests of time, as some of the chemical reactions were very slow (but super effective).
The art installation, titled “The Way Things Go”, was created by Swiss artists Peter Fischli and David Weiss, who built kinetic installations together from 1979 until Weiss’ death this year. Yes, a Rube Goldberg machine which kills itself with fire was a work of art, and I will fight anyone who says otherwise. I will fight them in a kiddie pool filled with autographed headshots of Steve Guttenberg while we are both wearing Spider-Man pajamas because art.
R.I.P. David Weiss. *tips a 7 oz. of delicious Sterno*