How are women depicted in popular culture today? The expression “sex sells” can readily be validated by looking in virtually any advertisement or magazine, those geared for either men or women.

Barbara Kruger (born January 26, 1945) is an American conceptual artistLinks to an external site. and collagistLinks to an external site. associated with the Pictures GenerationLinks to an external site..[1]Links to an external site. She is most known for her collage style that consists of black-and-white photographs, overlaid with declarative captions, stated in white-on-red Futura Bold ObliqueLinks to an external site. or Helvetica Ultra CondensedLinks to an external site. text.[2]Links to an external site.

The phrases in her works often include pronouns such as “you”, “your”, “I”, “we”, and “they”, addressing cultural constructions of power, identity, consumerismLinks to an external site., and sexualityLinks to an external site.. Kruger’s artistic mediums include photography, sculpture, graphic design, architecture, as well as video and audio installations.

Addressing issues of language and sign, Kruger has often been grouped with such feminist postmodern artistsLinks to an external site. as Jenny HolzerLinks to an external site., Sherrie LevineLinks to an external site., Martha RoslerLinks to an external site., and Cindy ShermanLinks to an external site..[16]Links to an external site. Like Holzer and Sherman, in particular, she uses the techniques of mass communication and advertising to explore gender and identity.[18]Links to an external site. She discusses her interest in representing “how we are to one another”[19]Links to an external site. and the “broad sort of scope”[19]Links to an external site. this provides for her work. Kruger is considered to be part of the Pictures GenerationLinks to an external site..

Read pages 211-232 in the online textLinks to an external site..

How are women depicted in popular culture today? The expression “sex sells” can readily be validated by looking in virtually any advertisement or magazine, those geared for either men or women.

Look in five different types of media (ads, online, magazines, tv, etc) to find five images of how a woman is depicted. What is the purpose of the image/ad? How is the woman being depicted? What are the intentions of the figure? And how do you, the viewer, feel towards this woman and/or the intentions of the image/ad? 100-300 words.

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