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| I shop therefore I am (1987) Barbara Kruger |
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| Face It (Green) 2007 Barbara Kruger |
1. Describe the 'style' that Kruger has used in the two presented works.
The styles that Kruger used in the two works are mainly the styles of an advertisement : bold font, a dominant image and simple borders and colors. It is very eye catching and easy to remember. Just by a glance, the image will give you a profound impression. The images definitely print into my mind.
2. What are some of the concepts and messages that Kruger is communicating in them?
I think that Kruger is trying to tell us that "shopping" is our lifestyle now and we can't live without shopping. To us, shopping is who we are and where we receive our so called "happiness". I think that was the first message that Kruger is trying to tell us. The second image is a complete oppisite meaning compare the first image. I think Kruger is trying to tell us that, shopping isn't our lifestyle and clothes can't buy happiness so we should ,"face it", face the fact.
3. Do these images communicate these ideas effectively? Explain your answer.
I think it communicates the ideas effectively, because the images are simple and straight forward. But the messages gives us a second thought before realizing what she is trying to tell us. Which I think she did it in purpose because for us to give it a second thought which means her design had grabbed our attention.
4. Define the concept of Mercantillism and explain how these two examples can connect with the concept.
Mercantillism is an economic policy in Europe during the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries. their theory was that national strength can increase by a preponderance of exports over imports. These includes the ideas that exports to foreign countries are preferable both to trade within a country and to imports; that the wealth of a nation depends on the possession of gold and silver. I think the two examples connects with merchantillism is that, in the old centuries they think to improve their wealth and national strength is to do lots of tradings. It equals to Kruger's work because to us, shopping is our property, the more shopping we do and the more things we buy, we think that can increase our wealth and our happiness.
