Text and image Blogger post

What I learned About Text and Image

    What I learned about Text and Image is that it is a method of using two vague ideas combining them to create a vivid coherent piece. And that pieces made via this method while lacking their own emotional impact can be more specific in either the emotion or reaction the view has.

How Contemporary Artists Use Text and Image in Their Works

    Contemporary artists use Text and image in their works mostly to represent either some belief or an opinion. It could be political like Shepard Fairey or it could be about society as a whole like Banksy. The reason Text and image is used more often than other methods is because it lets the artist be more specific in what their art represents. Where a piece that uses more abstract methods can end up being vague and up for interpretation by the view, a piece with text and images, while still up for interpretation, can narrow down the possible meanings therefore having an easier time making the desired emotion felt. However while text and image can get a specific response from the view easier it does not excel at intense response on its own. Other methods can have a dramatic look to them or some way to draw out more intense emotions on its own for topics that don’t appeal to strong emotion, while text and image must rely on the subjects appeal to strong emotion in order to have the same impact.

How Shepard Fairey Uses Text and Image

    Shepard uses Text and image in his street art in order to stir conversations between people. He says that, 

"At first I was only thinking about the response from my clique of art school and skateboard friends. The fact that a larger segment of the public would not only notice, but investigate, the unexplained appearance of the stickers was something I had not contemplated. When I started to see reactions and consider the sociological forces at work surrounding the use of public space and the insertion of a very eye-catching but ambiguous image, I began to think there was the potential to create a phenomenon"(Wikipedia).

    Since Shepard is only trying to make people think it means he can fully rely on the subject's appeal to emotion because his pieces are purely to make the viewer think, therefore the use of text and image is the best method for Shepard to use to reach his goal. Also since Shepard’s art tends to try to make people think it can lead to uncomfortable emotions but Shepard claims that “Art is not always meant to be decorative or soothing, in fact, it can create uncomfortable conversations and stimulate uncomfortable emotions”(Artnet). In conclusion Shepard uses his art to force the viewer to think about things they may have been trying to ignore or just made them feel uncomfortable and by putting his pieces out on the street so everyone sees it so everyone starts to think.

How I Can use Text and Image in My Work

    I don't think I will be able to use Text and image too much in my artwork as a main focus, but I might be able to use it to help the world build my animation by putting graffiti and street art on the walls to try to enforce the dystopian feel that I want the world to have. If I were to end up using it this way it would probably not be highlighted or have any emphasis drawn to it and more for atmosphere.