Physical Images Research Notes

Barbara Kruger

Barbara Kruger is a feminist photographer who's work is in black and white and consists of a bright slogan across the image to draw the attention of viewers. her slogans and quotes, often have a meaning behind them. Usually they refer to women, or the stereotypes that are expected between the sexuality, and how men and women shouldn't be what society expects them to be like and that they should be themselves. She also critiques the economy, politics, gender, and culture, as well as society as a whole.

Kruger concentrates on expressing herself to the viewers and get her opinions out and try to change ones views on society rather than trying to sell her product. 

To do her work she chooses appropriate images from their original context in magazines and sets them as the background against which she embraces confrontational phrases. From her use of clearly legible font to her jarring palette of red, white, and black, each element of the final artwork is crucial to its effectiveness as both an artistic expression and a protest against facets of postmodern life.

This is one of Kruger's Images;

Your Body Is A Battleground;

Kruger designed this print for the 1989 reproductive rights protest, the March for Women's Lives, in Washington, D.C. Utilizing her signature red, black, and white palette, the woman's face is split along a vertical axis, showing the photographic positive and negative sides, suggesting a highly simplified inner struggle of good versus evil. The political and social implications of the work are self evident, but Kruger emphasizes the directness of her sentiment by having her subject stare straight ahead through the print, frankly addressing the viewer through both her gaze and the words emblazoned across her face. The message unequivocally addresses the issue of the continued feminist struggle, connecting the physical body of female viewers to the contemporary conditions that necessitate the feminist protest. Kruger's slick graphic aesthetic and use of dramatic found imagery also place this work within the purview of postmodernism, tying it not only to contemporary critique, but to the larger social and cultural responses within the period.

Some more of her images

I like this image as I look at it in the perspective that, men don't have to be a hero, and go along with the stereotypes and that they are able to be themselves. I think its a powerful image as it is able to show people that they are allowed to be themselves and do what they want to do and not go along with societies expectations. There are plenty of heroes, men and women, who are nurses, midwifes, vets etc. The fact that the woman is pointing at the young lads biceps show that he thinks that having muscles makes you a hero. Which is completely wrong. 

I like this image as is argues against stereo types and the fact that all violence isn't just men and that women can be violent too. The fact that Kruger calls stereotypes 'pathetic' shows her feelings towards who society expects things to be. Additionally this image is different as the main slogan is in the typical red and white it is infact in black and white surrounded by red and white words that are complicated to read.