Barbara Kruger and Social Commentary - Admission/Application Essay Example

Theory and the Artist: Barbara Kruger and Social Commentary Introduction In considering artistic theory in relationship with the work that an artist creates, it is important that the theory enhance the work, but not inhibit its progress. The work of Barbara Kruger, as an American artist and feminist, is conceptual in nature. Her work is usually designed around a black and white photo that has been cropped to enhance a graphically visual portion of the photo, then overlaid with a solid, sign-like space that is then imprinted with a textual message in white. Through this form of graphic recreation, Kruger is considered an artist who uses appropriation techniques in her work. The theories that her work represent are those which were expressed by Baudrillard when he looked at the way in which technological advancement can affect social change. Kruger used feminist ideas to also express her commentary on consumerism and the materialism of society. Barbara Kruger I Shop Therefore I Am Illus. 1 Theory and the Artist Relying on theory does not always allow for the broadest capacity for expression to be realized. Theory should influence the work in the way in which topics and content might be expressed, but it should never be a source of limitation. An example of this type of limiting influence would be that of a student who is taking courses at a university that is heavily impressed by one school of thought, such as the abstractionists and theories that are associated with the Modernists, while the student, himself, has technical skills of realism that are beyond that of the everyday artist and envisions commentary that is in conflict with these ideals. In this setting, an overwhelming sense of an expectation he could not fulfill detracted from this students ability to express his artistic needs because his artwork did not fit into the expectations of the school. This real life example shows how this can be a source of problem when theories are in conflict with the art itself. In the example provided, the theories that were imposed upon this student’s artwork inhibited his ability to create, setting his career back in progress and delaying his rise as an artist. It wasn’t until he found his own voice once again that he was able to create quality and meaningful work. While the technical theories of execution style was what inhibited his painting, the conceptual theories of subject matter that he sought to paint were within him until he could allow them to break out in his realistic style of work that combined surrealistic visions with bold imagery in which he could express his personal viewpoint and commentary on the social framework in which he lived. What is Good Art? In looking at Barbara Kruger’s work, the relevant commentary on the way in which culture views women is the artistic creation that is expressed through the use of graphic images that have been put together. The art is in the thought not in the technique. Good art uses materials to make an expression. A thought or concept can be the essence of the material that creates the expression, while the physical materials are not necessarily the art. How an artistic expression is realized is developed through the requirement of the concept. Some concepts require more technique, while others require selective, but minimal technique. When the concept affects the viewer and creates a connection, art is born from the connection between the artist and the response from the audience of the piece. Under these terms, Barbara Kruger creates good art. Her viewpoint is expressed in a way that engages the viewer and provokes a response. While her technique is simplistic, this allows for the message to be clear, even though the message that is received by the viewer can be perceived as far more complex. The work expresses these concepts in a new and original way, creating a strong point of view and voice from the artist. Barbara Kruger Your Body is a Battleground Illus. 2 How Theory Influences Kruger One of the feminist theories that Kruger explores is that of the ’male gaze’. “The male gaze, as much a theory of Western communication as anything else, refers to the way that in which the structure of representation is gendered. The subject (spectator) and the object (performer) - each assumed to have a stable position in their encounter - operate in two dimensions, on a linear basis of binary opposition”(Daly 2002; 306). In creating work that exemplifies this theory, her commentary takes on a dimension that has a depth that can be reduced to the image she creates. In other words, the complexity of the statement starts at a the point of her work, but expands well beyond the basic framework into a larger philosophical voice. Barbara Kruger Your gaze hits the side of my face Illus. 3 In Kruger’s piece, Your gaze hits the side of my face, she “disrupts hierarchical ’phallocentric’ modes of visual display. It defiantly challenges the ’ideal spectator’ in direct speech, while defacing the image of a sculpted female head in profile that might have been read as a representation of a patriarchal ideal”(McDonald 2001; 17). The multiple levels of commentary create a varied degree of theoretical participation between Kruger and her audience. Not all viewers will understand this concept, but all viewers can be provoked into a response by the piece. The way in which the base image is positioned and the chaotic nature of the text suggests a sense of violence and victimization, despite the way in which it could be interpreted from a more romantic point of view. This conflict is the compelling component to the piece that evokes an emotional response. One of the influential theorists on the work of Kruger was Jean Baudrillard. The theories put forth by Baudrillard in regard to consumerism are reflected in the way in which Kruger comments on consumerism. Baudrillard suggests that in the way in which consumerism dominates our society, the culture has adapted a sense of appropriation in the way in which advertising influences are adopted as signifiers within the identity. In other words, the life that is advertised in the media is the life that is pursued. In looking at Kruger’s I shop therefore I am, and Look like us, an opinion is expressed on the way in which materialism and conformity have created a domination within the cultural framework. As well, the fact that the art is a form of appropriation is a continuation of the theory of Baudrillard. Barbara Kruger Look like us Illus. 4 Conclusion Defining art is a tricky bit of work. Art can be described the materials and techniques used to comprise a composition. Art can be defined by the content of the message and the way in which the work provokes a response. Multi-media artists are sometimes considered artists, and sometimes considered crafters. The way in which theory is composed to create the foundation of a piece of art can be defined by philosophy or by technique. Therefore, the question remains, what is art? Tolstoy (1898) wrote an entire book on the topic, although aesthetic beauty was the basis of his interpretation. When a piece of art evokes an emotion within the viewer and creates a desire, whether negative or positive, the piece of art can be considered successful. The work of Barbara Kruger evokes strong emotions that hold a complexity of contextual cultural relevance. In the case of Kruger, philosophical theory is central to the success of the work. However, if the artist were to be constricted by theory, then the truth could not be found within the work. Theory can only be used by the artist, not bind the artist. Without freedom from this constraint, honesty cannot be attained. References Baudrillard, Jean. 1998. The consumer society: myths and structures. London: Sage. Daly, Ann. 2002. Critical gestures: writings on dance and culture. Middletown, Conn: Wesleyan University Press. Heller, Steven, and Marie Finamore. 1997. Design culture: an anthology of writing from the AIGA journal of graphic design. New York: Allworth Press. Kruger, Barbara. 1994. Remote control: power, cultures, and the world of appearances. Cambridge, Mass: MIT Press. McDonald, Helen. 2001. Erotic ambiguities: The female nude in art. New York, NY: Routledge. Tolstoy, Leo, and Aylmer Maude. 1898. What is art? New York: Crowell. List of Illustrations Illus. 1 Barbara Kruger. I Shop Therefore I Am. Available from http://en.wikipedia.org /w iki/File:Kruger_ishop.gif Illus. 2 Barbara Kruger. Your Body is a Battleground. Available from http://www.ar tburs t.com/barbarakruger/index16.html Illus. 3 Barbara Kruger. Your gaze hits the side of my face. Available from http://ww w.usc.edu/schools/annenberg/asc/projects/comm544/library/images/541bg.jpg Illus. 4 Barbara Kruger. Look like us. Available from http://www.artb urst.com/barbarakruger/index8.html Read More