1. Describe the 'style' that Kruger has used in the two presented works.
Barbara Kruger has used a contemporary/ collage style in these two works. “Kruger began to employ found images in her art, mostly from mid-American print-media sources” (http://www.arthistoryarchive.com) she used these images along with her graphic design skills to convey a message to her audience about the consumer culture.
2. What are some of the concepts and messages that Kruger is communicating in them?
Her art portrays very prominent messages which are generally on the topics of religion, sex, stereotypes, power, consumerism and corporate greed.
Kruger’s image “I shop therefore I am” is influenced by the well- known “I think therefore I am” phrase. This phrase was first said by Rene Descartes, a natural philosopher. The philosophical statement simply means “that if someone wonders whether or not he exists, that is…proof that he does exist (because, at the very least, there is an “I” who does the thinking)" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cogito_ergo_sum). Barbara Kruger’s take on the common phrase implies that consumerism is such a big part of life now that we do not “think” but “shop” instead, therefore we exist.
Her second image “Face it” also express’s a harsh message about the consumer culture. The small text saying “this luxurious garment won’t make you rich or beautiful” defines how women spend so much on beautiful things that no matter how much they buy it doesn’t enhance their natural self or their fortune. The big text “FACE IT” is just the “icing on the cake” as Kruger is telling her audience to suck it up and accept that these are the facts.
3. Do these images communicate these ideas effectively? Explain your answer.
The messages in the images are very black and white in their meanings.
I think the image “I shop therefore I am” carry’s a very strong message not just in the text but in the composition too. The hand in the image creates the idea that they are holding up a label which acts as a sort of name-tag for people and underlines our needs for material things.
“Face it”, communicates its ideas effectively as the bold text overlaying the image is striking and gets your attention which then leads you to the fine print “this luxurious garment won’t make you rich or beautiful”. The small text represents the idea that people do not often acknowledge this when consuming material things.
4. Define the concept of Mercantilism and explain how these two examples can connect with the concept.
Mercantilism is the idea that a state prospers by the amount of money and precious metals they accumulate by exporting a considerably larger amount of products than they import. Kruger’s two images can connect to this concept as Mercantilism is a similar idea to consumerism which is the subject of her art.
5. Upload a more recent example of Kruger's work where she has used a new medium that is not graphic design. Title your image of the chosen work and comment on your response to the work. How do you think the audience would experience this work?
"Untitled/Chess Board"
Barbara Kruger paired up with the UK specialists “Machine shop” to create an electronic chess set that Kruger designed and they brought to life. The set features talking pieces which say things like “don’t argue with me” and “you’re good” when they are moved. So while you are playing a game of chess you are captivated as the pieces are having an intriguing conversation right in front of you. This 3d work of Kruger’s would trigger a different type of response from her audience compared to her 2d art. The audience would be more engaged in the work as it is a popular game and would provoke much conversation between players. The chess set is aesthetically a typical Kruger piece as it is covered in her bold black, white and red distinctive style.
http://www.lovingadgets.com/barbara-kruger-computerized-chess-set-isn%E2%80%99t-tender-by-your-bishop-video-201012/
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeletei agree that the message that lays within these images of Barbara Kruger are "black and white" and are also easy to read in many of her other works. however Barbara Kruger has a VERY vast range of art and saying that wouldn't represent all of her works. there are also many of her art works that aren't so easy to read. for an example, her works "We" and or "Longer" could be depicted in many ways and have many different meanings to different viewers. the composition and text play a major part in the readability of the messages within her artworks.
ReplyDeleteI am agree your opnion as well. I really like the second image of Barbara Kruger, because she used the label as that is what most consumers today look at before the price tag. This way is more easy to directing attention and reflct the main idea clearly. Her work always make you to think something. For second image, I will think about what doI really need to buy when I understand the meaning.
ReplyDeleteHey Madi! I too agree with the majority of your answers. I’d also like to note her combination of text and imagery. Both of these works portray her ideas clearly and effectively and are also very thought-provoking. They make us re-think the way we shop and act as consumers. I don’t entirely agree that mercantilism is a similar idea to consumerism. Consumerism is a social and economic order which seeks to protect and inform consumers by requiring such practices as honest packaging and advertising, product guarantees, and improved safety standards. Whereas the mercantilism system was based on a city or nation states fixation with accumulating national wealth and increasing its economic power.
ReplyDeleteHey,yea me too, I totally agree with your whole blog and all the above stuff. And I honestly looked at Barbara Kruger's work too, I didn't just play playstation 3 all week and then come and look for the blog with the most comments so that I wouldn't have to actually do any research myself. So yeah, her work is totally thought provoking stuff, and it really made me think heaps about how her work is like, all about society and about how people buy stuff. And yeah, mercantilsm. Absolutely. I fully agree. It's like, really in there, in her work and stuff.
ReplyDeleteBy the way you got some really nice wallpaper here.
agreed, nice wall paper madi!
ReplyDelete