I want to do a brief section on art. Barbara Kruger places words over images. Her artwork comments on issues in our society regarding topics such as women and consumerism. I just wanted to introduce students to yet another medium one can use to voice his or her opinion. One reason I like Barbara Kruger is because she uses words in her art. Her voice is conveyed through images and words. For example she places the words, "Your body is a battleground" over an image of a woman's face. The image is formatted as if it were an advertisement. The words are displayed over the image in an aesthetically pleasing way. She uses black and white photographic images with red and white words which create a stark juxtaposition within the image. In addition, she uses the photograph's negative image as well as the positive one. She uses a very civilized structure but the image itself is rather wild. The message is politically charged, commenting on the status of women's bodies in our society. She uses marketing, a whole language on its own, to develop a voice for her work. Students will discuss what kind of voice Kruger creates with her work.
The students will create their own collages where they select an image and place words over the image as Kruger does. As in the other assignments I would like the students to select an issue they feel is plaguing society and work from there. They can find a picture in a magazine or online. They can also draw the picture if they feel compelled. There must be text over the picture that makes a statement about the issue they are dealing with. The best piece will be used as the cover to the magazine.
In addition, students will select an advertisement to evaluate. They can analyze the voice of the ad. Who is the audience of the ad? What is the message? What strategies are used to convey that message?
