French playwright, comic librettist, poet, crack shot, cycling enthusiast, novelist, angler extraordinaire, book artist, and pre-eminent author of the Parisian avant-garde; Alfred Jarry, (1873-1907 vulg.)* coined the term ‘Pataphysics as:

 

 “...the science of that which is superinduced upon metaphysics, whether within or beyond the latter’s limitations, extending as far beyond metaphysics as the latter extends beyond physics. Ex: an epiphenomenon being often accidental, pataphysics will be, above all, the science of the particular, despite the common opinion that the only science is that of general. 'Pataphysics will examine the laws governing exceptions, and will explain the universe supplementary to this one; or, less ambitiously, will describe a universe which can be—and perhaps should be—envisaged in the place of the traditional one.”

 

“DEFINITION. 'Pataphysics is the science of imaginary solutions which symbolically attributes the properties of objects, described by their virtuality, to their lineaments.”**

 

By virtue of its unusual integration of infectious parody with an all-encompassing approach to the profundities of the universe, ‘Pataphysics has allowed us to unite a diverse body of work in numerous fields, ultimately culminating in the realization of an expressive language and a series of artifacts we call PATAMECHANICS.

 

Patamechanics is both the study and the manifestation of objects and effects which are designed to entice Pataphysical modes of inquiry. ***

 

The Musée Patamécanique - aka The Museum of Patamechanics, is a hybrid institution designed to provide a forum for exploring the meaning and possibilities of Patamechanics.

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* Musée Patamécanique utilizes Le Calendrier Pataphysique, a dating system originated by Alfred Jarry and employed by The Collège de ‘Pataphysique and The London Institute of Pataphysics. Julian or Vulgar (vulg) translations are offered when scheduling tours.

** This quotation and the one above are from Alfred Jarry’s Exploits and Opinions of Dr. Faustroll, 'Pataphysician..

*** While all modes of inquiry are ‘Pataphysical, few realize this. The text you are now reading is the product of Conscious ‘Pataphysics.