Both Websites given about Jenny Holzer, clearly show what Holzer's thoughts, values, ideas, and views were on life in general. But she commented not only on how someone is to live life, she commented on war, women, men, children, enemies, feelings, and the mind. From what I noticed in her works of art, she ideas on life seem to have a correlation of themes: (these are what I feel like she is saying) let loose, be free, follow your heart, believe in yourself, help others to help yourself, don't depend on others to get you where you want in life, be strong, and use your brain..the right way. In a way she also states the obvious that we really don't take into consideration, until someone else puts the words in front of our face, and I think that is Jenny Holzer's goal with her art pieces. For example: "you are the past present and future" and "freedom is a luxury not a necessity."
What really caught my eye as it pertained to more personal feelings and thoughts were these two truisms: "when something terrible happens people wake up" and "ignoring enemies is the best way to fight." I think that Jenny Holzer also wants to get on the same "level" as her audience and be able to connect with them, so they could realize that life is something truly special. One could say that Jenny Holzer is a teacher, a philosopher, a rabbi, a priest, or even a psychiatrist. She tells, what she believes is the godd**n truth. Even though some of her views may not be the same as mine, I gained a little bit of respect for this woman because she tried to push through the stereotypes about society today, and tries to tell what the world is really all about.
The picture I have chosen comes from a feminist website by Danielle LaPorte, and I feel like this statement is something Holzer could have said as well. It's most likely something that sparked Holzer's mind and led her to produce the type of art that she produced.
I completely agree with you: Holzer is doing what truisms are supposed to do...she is stating truths about life. She is, as your image states, "vandaliz[ing] the world with truth". But these truths are not anything that we could not have come up with ourselves. They are things, like you said, that we know but don't realize until they are projected onto a river, a building, or a window.
ReplyDeleteI really like and agree with your response to Holzer's truisms. It definitely is about telling the godd**n truth. I like how you came up with your own messages for what she is trying to convey. They portray the truth in a lighter way.
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