Response to Jenny Holzer

Gawsh, who doesn't love truisms? After reading through Jenny Holzer's extensive, alphabetically ordered list of phrases there were many I discovered to be particularly intriguing. I will highlight my favorite ones or pairs:

(1) A strong sense of duty imprisons you

I found this one to be intense and hard to wrap my brain around at first. Eventually I could relate it to how a duty creates responsibility and choices that trap you in your need to meet the expectations set.

(2) All things are delicately interconnected

This one is very similar to my own philosophy, and is oddly peaceful and hopeful in contrast to many of its surrounding truisms that speak of war and parenting. Her reference to the delicacy of all things is very careful and calm.

(3) Children are the most cruel of all, Children are the hope of the future

I love how these two truisms follow each other in the list. Contrasting truisms is something Holzer does a lot in this list. Perhaps what she's trying to say is that life is far more complex than what simple phrases can sum about it? In the world, contradictory things are going to be believed and thought regardless. Why she chooses to say that children are the most cruel of all intrigues me, mainly because it's not something society is used to seeing. Maybe she's trying to provoke a reaction from the viewer, a mistrust of sorts. Usually children are defined in a much more sacred, perfect sense both in literature and in art.

(4) Go all out in romance and let the chips fall where they may, Going with the flow is soothing but risky

These two made me laugh out loud. The woes of love are never answered. I think what Holzer is trying to show with these two truisms is that it's always going to be risky to follow your instincts and let things happen, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't. She plays the role of the romantic and the mother. The writer and the therapist. Warning her viewer while also encouraging them.

I chose the picture above because it is a piece of work of hers that stood out to me, mainly because it's so daring and accusatory.

Chloe Stagaman