Barbara
Kruger
BIOGRAPHY / HISTORY - (http://www.barbarakruger.com/biography.shtml)
Barbara Kruger was born in Newark, New Jersey, in 1945. After attending Syracuse University, the School of Visual Arts, and studying art and design with Diane Arbus at Parson’s School of Design in New York, Kruger obtained a design job at Condé Nast Publications. Working for Mademoiselle Magazine, she was quickly promoted to head designer. Later, she worked as a graphic designer, art director, and picture editor in the art departments at House and Garden, Aperture, and other publications. This background in design is evident in the work for which she is now internationally renowned. She layers found photographs from existing sources with pithy and aggressive text that involves the viewer in the struggle for power and control that her captions speak to. In their trademark black letters against a slash of red background, some of her instantly recognizable slogans read “I shop therefore I am,” and “Your body is a battleground." Much of her text questions the viewer about feminism, classicism, consumerism, and individual autonomy and desire, although her black-and-white images are culled from the mainstream magazines that sell the very ideas she is disputing. As well as appearing in museums and galleries worldwide, Kruger’s work has appeared on billboards, buscards, posters, a public park, a train station platform in Strasbourg, France, and in other public commissions. She has taught at the California Institute of Art, The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and the University of California, Berkeley. She lives in New York and Los Angeles.
Barbara Kruger was born in Newark, New Jersey, in 1945. After attending Syracuse University, the School of Visual Arts, and studying art and design with Diane Arbus at Parson’s School of Design in New York, Kruger obtained a design job at Condé Nast Publications. Working for Mademoiselle Magazine, she was quickly promoted to head designer. Later, she worked as a graphic designer, art director, and picture editor in the art departments at House and Garden, Aperture, and other publications. This background in design is evident in the work for which she is now internationally renowned. She layers found photographs from existing sources with pithy and aggressive text that involves the viewer in the struggle for power and control that her captions speak to. In their trademark black letters against a slash of red background, some of her instantly recognizable slogans read “I shop therefore I am,” and “Your body is a battleground." Much of her text questions the viewer about feminism, classicism, consumerism, and individual autonomy and desire, although her black-and-white images are culled from the mainstream magazines that sell the very ideas she is disputing. As well as appearing in museums and galleries worldwide, Kruger’s work has appeared on billboards, buscards, posters, a public park, a train station platform in Strasbourg, France, and in other public commissions. She has taught at the California Institute of Art, The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and the University of California, Berkeley. She lives in New York and Los Angeles.
Advertising Image Manipulation
Barbra Kruger was a feminist who took images that already existed and manipulated them by adding quotes she made to portray a powerful message. This first image is of a powerful, evil leader with the text; "If you don't controll you mind someone else will" This message is very powerful to audience members who have a shared knowledge of the Nazi leader. He was believed to use mind control to have his way. He also manipulated many people. With this in mind, the message she portrayed holds more meaning and power when partnered with this leader. Kruger is telling people to be their own person and believe what you believe because you believe it, not because others who are famous do.
This second image is of a young, pretty girl looking into a mirror. The image is partnered with the quote "Who's the fairest of them all" which is from a well known fairy tale: Snow White. This phrase is all about beauty and how females in particular should look. The quote stemmed from the evil queen who wanted to be the fairest of them all but couldn't because someone else was prettier than her. This made her fill with envy and made her try to kill Snow White in order to be the prettiest. This shows the battle that women have with the media and how they are pressured to look a certain way that is acceptable for the media. The quote also shows how women are obsessed with beauty and will do anything to be beautiful and be accepted by the media. The quote also reminds us of the story which shows the audience how dangerous it is to envy over others and to not love yourself for who you are. The image itself doesn't say as much as the quote does and therefore the quote is the focal point of this art.
This final image is another feminist view much like the previous image. Instead of focusing on women however, this branches over all genders. This image is very powerful compared to the previous image in my opinion. This image is telling the audience that everyone should be equal and that gender stereotypes are only there because the media is catagorising people. This image is encouraging everyone to be themselves with the male half natural and half made up in make up.
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