Purpose of Found Objects

Is a spoon a work of art? How about a telephone? I used to think these were ridiculous questions, but if you think about it, they're worth asking. Taking a telephone and sticking it on a wall, with the intention of the phone being "art", makes it art because it takes it out of its context. The purpose for that phone is no longer to call someone or receive calls. As an art piece, the phone becomes an object of observation and close scrutiny. The meaning changed. You can say the same thing about traditional artwork. A painting is no longer a work of art if you strip it of its purpose. For example, if a painting is no longer considered "art" by society, its "meaning" changes as well. The painting can be used to get someone's attention by throwing it at a person's head. This act would make the painting a medium of violence and communication. Of course, I wouldn't recommend doing this since you might end up with a bloody nose.