Both images have used image and text to present a message and almost manipulate the viewers of the imagery to do as they say. Another similarity is the time at which they were created, they where both created during the war but for different reasons. Kruger created her manipulative posters to address current issues in 1945 society, like being gay and females rights, where as war propaganda was created to persuade people to leave their jobs and join the army, as that is what all men had to do. The target audience for both posters is different, Kruger’s work was aimed at anyone as she wanted to ensure that as many people are aware of these issues as possible, where as war propaganda was mainly aimed at men, as men where the gender who went and joined an army to fight in the war. Visually, both images are in black and white with colored text, which creates a color juxtaposition emphasizing the message within the message. In Kruger’s work the photograph of the man takes up the whole frame, leaving no sense of space, which reinforces the idea that we should do what the poster says. Where as, in the war propaganda we see Lord Kitchener in the center of the frame quite small, leaving a lot of space, which showcases the Lord’s importance making his message seem important. Conceptually, the two images are alike as they are both persuading viewers to do as they say, making them both successful pieces of propaganda. Both images have used male figures, as men where seen as more powerful and people where more likely to obey men during those days which justifies why the subject are that gender. In Kruger’s work she has used a chiaroscuro effect on the man to showcase how he wants to speak out but is still in doubt and scared, which emphasizes the text within the image. Where as, on the subject of the war propaganda it seems that one point or two point lighting was used on Kitchener as he is completely lit up, which may be because of his position within the war. Technically, the two images have some similarities with camera settings but also differ. One similarity is that a wide depth of field has been used as the model is completely in focus, and the models in both images are the only thing captures, making them the main focus point. In Kruger’s work there is intended noise in the model which suggests a higher ISO was used. Where as in the war propaganda there is no intended noise suggesting a low ISO. Both images have a quick shutter speed which captures the images as there is no blur on the models faces. As mentioned before both have used artificial lighting to capture the models allowing the different light up techniques to be made. In addition, the syntax of the sentences are very manipulative as it persuades and almost forces viewers to do as they say. In mu opinion I prefer Kruger’s work due to the lighting technique used, chiaroscuro, and the messages can still be utalized today. However, war propaganda has closer link to my project of the Journey of Jersey through the Second World War.
Andrew Wyeth was a US painter who was considered a realist painter, and worked in a regionalist style. He tended to paint landscapes and people, due the enjoyment it brung when he did this. Wyeth was often referred to as the man who paints his life, as he tended to paint the landscapes and people who has been apart of had an impact on his life. Age 20 was when Wyeth’s career as a painter took off as he put on the first one man exhibit in New York, where all of his work was made out of water colours. After that moment many took love to his work, as he continued painting what he enjoyed in the style he enjoyed. During his career he won many awards for the paintings he created and has many honours degrees, representing his intelligence and passion towards art.
In this simplistic painting we are presented with a young woman, in the foreground of the image, who is looking at the old and isolated buildings, located in the background, which presents an emotional connection between the girl and the building. The female seems to be wearing a pink dress, which reminds me of the time period of the 1930 – 40’s. Her hair is in a bun, which presents her as a working class citizen, which starts to present the contextual factor of the painting. She is located in a field, where the grass does not look healthy, which presents the ideology that the location has been left isolated for many years. Conceptually, I believe the painting it attempting to tell the story of the young girl who has a strong connection to the buildings, as she gases back at them to remember her past or experiences with the building. The actual conceptual meaning he wanted to portray was the story of him watching a young female, from the house which is seen in the background, crawl along the field due to her muscle disability, which outlines how fortunate we are to be the way we are. The painting almost creates tension as it almost feels like something bad is about to happen, and as spectators we are unable to do anything. The landscape painting was painted in 1948, so contextually his father had just recently passed away which made his art work more plaintive which presents his inner feelings towards the death of his father. Due to this, it helps to suggest why he decided to paint a woman with a muscle deficit and create the feeling that something bad is about to happen. Technically, Wyeth successfully presents the formal elements of space, shape, texture and tone through the highly realistic tableaux. Space is showcased by the use of proxemics of the girls and the isolated buildings. Texture and tone are shown through the detailed grass, the girl and buildings. It stands to reason that Wyeth used natural lighting, from the sun, as his light source as the location of the image is outside. The image is quite dark which foreshadows the terrible things that are about to happen to the woman. The main focus point is the young woman, due to her being in close proxemic, which builds an emotional relationship between her and the viewer. The closest building is also in focus, but the far building is out of focus, which suggests that a wide depth of field is being showcased in Wyeth’s work. If this was taken as a photograph it would Stand to reason that a quick shutter speed will be used and a low ISO as no intended blur or noise are being presented. Moreover, it makes sense that the white balance is set to an outdoor light mode, as the image does not seem to be ‘off’ in colour. Wyeth’s painting clearly outlines the criteria of a tableaux image, he has presented an in-depth story and message through the use of people and props, considered location and positioning of people and props and has carefully decided upon the way he creates the image.
Propaganda:
Propaganda Mood Board
The image above showcases one of Britains most popular pieces of propaganda during war time. Contextually, this poster was made in order to threaten and persuade many British men to join the army and fight for their country. Due to the poster, it lead to many of these men being killed at war as they listened to the subliminal message. Conceptually, the image was created to almost scare men into joining the army. Moreover, the way it’s worded makes the viewer feel important and that the country is relying on them which makes the message clear that that army will not be able to cope without you joining. We are presented with a portrait of Lord Kitchener, who was a senior British Army member, who is pointing towards the audience. His facial expressions is serious and can be considered threatening, which begins to position us to believe that we have to do what the poster is telling us otherwise there will be consequences. We are then presented with the word “Britons” at the top of the page in red. This makes the word seem important which makes us feel valued towards Briton, which again tricks us to believe and do what the poster is telling us. It then goes on to say “wants you” which again addresses us as someone important to Briton, tricking us into believe what is false. At the bottom, the text becomes very demanding due to the imperative sentences. “Join your country’s army”, forces us to do what it says. At the very bottom it says “God save the King”, which makes us believe that if we do what this poster is saying it will help the King and that we may be recognised, which again tricks us into doing what the poster is telling us to do. Technically speaking, the poster uses many techniques which makes it successful in what it does. The main focus point is of Kitchener who is pointing, which makes our eyes drawn to there first, so it makes us feel recognised and starts to build a relationship between us and the image. The producer also presents the main formal elements of space, texture through the layout of the poster. It seems very carefully thought out which presents the idea that the army is well thought out along side the plans, making it seem safer. Moreover, there is a use of colour the important parts are in colour with the less important parts in black and white, which helps to move our eyes around the frame of the image. The background is plane, which means there is nothing to distract us from the message being told by the poster. Everything in the poster is in clear focus which informs us that a wide depth of field is being used, along side a normal shutter speed. In addition, the image does not present noise which tells us the ISO is low as well as the aperture. The lighting used to capture Kitchener is unknown, but I believe that artificial lighting is used as his face showcases high tonal contrast and clear detail (further reinforced with the portrait being in black and white), which is not always achievable by natural lighting. Analysing this piece of propaganda has outlined how thought out the posters are, in order to manipulate people into doing what the message is telling them to do.
Barbara Kruger:
Kruger, born in 1945, is an American photographer/artist who enjoys experimenting with the idea of concept art and collagist. She enjoys working with black and white images and adding declarative captions in red and white. When studying she took a clear liking to graphic design for magazines which has inspired her style of her work. Kruger has strong political views and tended to implement them into her work to express her feeling towards issues in American society at that time. Her work has been very successful throughout her carrier and have been showcased in many exhibitions around the world.
Mood Board Showcasing Kruger’s work
When I first look at the photograph above my eye is drawn the the man, who is located in the centre of the frame, making him the main focus point of the image. The man is found having his hand covering his mouth and his eyes looking directly at the lens of the camera, making it seem as if he is trying to hide something. My eyes are then drawn the text which is located at the top and bottom of the frame, which begins to give detail into what he is trying to hide. At the top it says “your silence”, the pronoun your addresses the viewer making them connected to the message that is coming across, it is then followed by “silence” which makes us intrigued as to why some people are silent and that people are hiding something and we want to know what they are hiding. It is then followed by “will not” which is located just below the centre, due to it being close to the centre makes it the most important words which informs us that staying silent is not doing us any good. The final words are “protect you” which tells us that we need to speak up and address the issues. It ends in the same way it starts with direct address which helps to reinforce the relationship between us and the image. Overall, the image and text tricks us into speaking up as it is apparently going to do us good, which makes it more of a modern day piece of propaganda. Conceptually, Kruger is trying to address the issue that it is Okay to be gay and keeping quiet will only hurt you. This conceptual message was considered highly unacceptable in society in America at that time as only same sex marriage was prohibited in the country, clearly Kruger disagreed with this and wanted to showcase that it is okay to love who you want. Technically, the image showcases many camera techniques which makes it successful. The main thing I noticed is that Kruger has used a chiaroscuro technique to capture the face of the man. This tells us that one point artificial studio lighting was used to capture the image. The technique allows the tonal areas of the man to be clearly outlines and shows detailed facial structure. The man himself is in black and white and the background is plain, which makes the text seem more important, but helps to reinforce the message being told. The photograph seems to have noise which suggests that the ISO must have been high, which suggests that the aperture was slightly increased. All of the boy is in focus which tells us Kruger has used a wide depth of field, along side a quick shutter speed in order to capture the image. In addition, the text is presented in colour which creates a sense of entrapment and that the man is trapped in the dark and needs to get out. The colour is also used to attract viewers and make them actually read the text. This image could be considered a form of propaganda as it is an image trying to manipulate us to do something which was not accepted in society when it was first created. In my opinion I like the style of Kruger’s work as she clearly presents a strong message and has useful applications even in todays society.
Action Plan:
As an action plan I am now going to conduct a photoshoot where I am going to capture war propaganda but in the style of tableaux photography, in order to present another stage of Jersey’s Journey through the second world war. I intend to use different techniques which have been showcases in all three artists piece of work, in order to create successful imagery.
