Describe the 'style' that Kruger has used in the two presented works.
These works are simplistic ‘pop art’, magazine photographs with overlaid captions. The phrases make bold statements and use pronouns such as you and I. She places imagery with text containing criticism of cultural pressures and values.
What are some of the concepts and messages that Kruger is communicating in them?
Her phrases ask the viewer about consumerism, identity and self-worth. They explore the idea of attaining status by showing off wealth.
Do these images communicate these ideas effectively? Explain your answer.
The phrase, "I shop therefore I am", conveys effectively the extreme amount of value people often place on appearances and wealth, believing that it would be better to not exist than to be poor.
Define the concept of Mercantilism and explain how these two examples can connect with the concept.
The major trading companies in the 16th, 17th and 18th century began seeking trade for precious metals, an economic concept known as mercantilism. Because of this, merchants became very wealthy and were the first commoners to be rich. Thus began the trends of amassing wealth and showing it off to everyone else. Kruger’s work brings up the idea that owning valuable items (luxurious garment) will make YOU more valuable.
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?
"Twelve" [2004]
The work I have chosen, “Twelve,” is a 4-wall video installation showing short, often angry conversations among two, three or four people. Each character’s face fills a wall and they speak to one another in an insulting manner, using profanities and common phrases one might hear in an argument. There are words and phrases scrolling along the bottom of the screens showing the actor’s thoughts and internal dialog.
To experience this work might be like walking into a play, but on the stage. You are with the actors in the direct line of their emotions and experiencing the story first hand. It is said to be annoying and confusing. I think this would emphasise the points Kruger is trying to make about power, family values, art and money.
i agree with what you are saying about the two pieces shown i like how you said to maintain status buy showing wealth because i think that is exactly what her secong piece with the quote " this item wont make you rich or beautiful" discusses along with the culture that is around that you must have these materialistic itmes to be anyone. Barbara kruger can show the insecurity of people who feel they must buy these items. i wouldnt go as far to say it is better to not exist then to be poor i think people would just rather not have the status of not being able to present themselves well as it is the culture in western communities to look at someone and make first hand judgements and noone wants to be looked down on if they do not appear to be wealthy.
ReplyDeletevery nice, very smart link of her work to mechantalism. it could also be said that the concept of money links her work to the ideas of mechantalism, as this period not only saw amassing of wealth but a changing in what was considered as wealth. Before this period, a wealthy nation was one that was able to produce alot for itself, nations would barter goods for goods and wealth of a nation was measured basically by its output of goods and services. Mechantalism introduced the concept of precious metals as a means of deferred payment and a standard of value-something that people could compare their goods against and determine a value that was universally recgonised and accepted which was the beginning of the concept of money. people began to measure wealth in a medium of exchange such as gold, as apposed to 'how much stuff they had'
ReplyDeletei like that 4 wall video piece, very interesting how it woudn't actually be pleasant to experience, as art usually is, but that is the whole point of what she id trying to say.
I like your interpretation of “I shop therefore I am”, and I definitely agree with it, but I think there is a side to it speaking on feminism. I think she’s challenging the culture of women which was only to aspire to consume and be because they shopped. And I think it was also challenging the pressure to consume from man’s distorted view of beauty. I think her work had a greater emphasis on her feminist views than on materialism. Even though she uses materialism as the topic of her work often; I thought her main points came from her view of women and there place in culture at the time.
ReplyDeletei agree with your link from her work to mechantalism but i think it also goes further then just the acumulation of material possesions and also links to the concept of money.
ReplyDeleteBefore the period of Mechantalism, nations and peoples wealth was measured by what they were able to produce or what resourse they possesed. a wealthy nation was one with a high output and nations would barter goods for goods inorder to gain what they could not easily produce for themselves (the economic theory of comparative advantage). The Era of Mechantalism saw the introduction of precious metals as a medium of exchange and a universally accepted means of deferred payment which slowly replaced the system of barter and also provided a universal standard of value-something that people could compare their goods against the calculate a universally accepted measurement of value. Which is obviously the early beginnings of money, and this is a big aspect seen in Krugers work as modern day consumerism is completely based around money as a measure of wealth.
I agree with the statement “I shop therefore I am”, it is unfortunately sad but true. Take a homeless man for example, who sits on the corner of the street. People don’t notice him and some people may even cross the street to avoid him just because he is homeless and has no money. But he exists and he is still human. We choose not to see him. However if we see a wealthy person with expensive cloths and new accessories we notice them, we want to talk to them to be there friend, we even wish to be them just for the sake of money, That person could be horrible and shallow for all we know and the homeless could be kind and the complete opposite, but we notice them because they have money.
ReplyDeleteI like the way in which you weaved the concept of mercantillism well with the Kruger's works. It gave me the chance to think more about consumerism and conspicuous consumption, because these terms can be closely associated with me as im a big shopping-holic myself. Although I/we all know that judging people with just the outer appearance is extremely wrong, sometimes it is hard to reject the fact that in reality, we DO judge people first with their outer qualities: just because that's what everyone is doing. In my opinion, the main reason for this is because the world/ society that we live in now is mainly dominated by the materialistic concerns.
ReplyDeleteWants are gradually becoming needs now; I mean, Iphone is a want, new perfume collection of Dior is a want, a brand new Louis vuitton Bag is a want- but these, in fact, can be a need to some people nowadays.
Barbara Kruger has a unique style - conceptual and pop art style. I agree with you that she used simplicity and bold text to making strong statements for social, economical and political concerns. These images communicate ideas with viewers effectively. I like the way you described and you gave me more information about Barbara Kruger.
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