Research - Barbara Kruger

Barbara Kruger

Barbara Kruger is an American artist who produced a large amount of her work in the 70’s and after. Most of her work uses black and white photographs overloaded with declarative captions in white on a red background. I think she uses the red as a warning sign maybe because her work is very powerful. She makes a bold statement about the western culture and that we don’t shop for things we need, but to fit into certain groups within society. We feel that we need an identity and we also look for role models. A lot of young people are influenced and it shapes the way we are but as we get older we tend to make our own decisions on how we want to live and are less influenced.

Consumerism is a social and economic order that encourages the purchase of goods and services in ever-greater amounts. The term is often associated with criticisms of consumption starting with Thorstein Veblen. Verblen’s subject of examination, the newly emergent middle class arising at the turn of the twentieth century, comes to full fruition by the end of the twentieth century through the process of globalization. In this sense, consumerism is usually considered a part of media culture.*

*Reference from Barbarakrugerart.wordpress.com