Terry Barrett’s Criticizing Photographs: An Introduction to Understanding Images, provides an explanation for not only Barbara Kruger’s art, but an entire category of art as well. That is, Barrett explains how the use of non-original pictures and the use of words found their way into the fine art world. More specifically, Barrett explained why Barbara Kruger adopted this artistic style as her own. Barrett quotes Barbara Kruger as saying, “I grew up looking at not at art but at pictures. I’m not saying it’s wrong to read art-history books. But the spectators who view my work don’t have to understand that language”. Here Barbara is making two statements. The first statement is obviously why she makes the type of art that she does, being because it was what she grew up with and understands. The latter concerns who she intends to speak to through her art. This statement reveals that Kruger hopes to speak strongest to the common man, common man meaning those that are not trained or educated in the world of fine art.
Kruger uses words in her art to add a layer of depth, interest, and even accusation. When mentioning that Kruger uses words in her art, it is important to note that not only the words that are said are important, but the way in which they are written as well. Labeling herself as a feminist, a lot of Barbara Kruger’s art attempts to make statements about gender roles in society. Her art is open to interpretation, meaning it is the viewer’s power to assign their own personal meaning to the piece.
I like how you said that the way the words are written is equally as important as what the words are. It would be great if you could have elaborated on this, but I think I understand what you mean. The bright red letters force the viewer to focus on the message, not just the photograph. In some cases, her lettering makes the photograph almost ugly, which I think is an intentional way of showing the photograph in a way that makes it undesirable to her audience.
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