Blog Post #1- The Lonely Palette ep.64

The History of "Your Body Is A Battleground" - JSTOR Daily

 I listened to an episode of the podcast, The Lonely Palette. I chose the episode about artist Barbara Kruger because I have a strong interest in feminism/activism in art. The episode gave a brief summary of her life and the impacts of her work, specifically her 1989 piece, “Your Body is a Battleground.” Kruger attributed her art style to her background in graphic design. In this piece, she mirrors the face of a woman from a 1950s magazine, half beautiful, half frightening. In bold, highlighted red text the phrase “Your body is a battleground.” Kruger made this work for a pro-choice rally march on Washington, and it blew up as a symbol for protesters across the country. This piece is so simple and yet packs a punch to the viewer. So, what makes this work so impactful?

She uses specific and curated language to deliver her message to the viewer. Kruger uses language to her advantage, commenting “I think I developed language skills to deal with the threat. It’s the girl thing to do – you know, instead of pulling out a gun.”(Avishai, 2023, 10:30) She uses personal pronouns like “you” in her work which makes the viewers instantly question themselves, and insert themselves into the work. The vagueness of the statement draws people in too. What does she mean by a battleground? What battles is she talking about? This statement is so broad and so specific at the same time. It could apply to any feminine person and the many battles we face in society where sexism and misogyny are still very present in everyday interactions.

The podcast mentions how Kruger’s work is still relevant today. In 2022, Roe V. Wade was overturned, and Barbara Kruger repurposed the piece with a new quote (Avishai, 2023, 23:52). It became the cover of the New York magazine in May of 2022 before Roe was overturned in June. The face of the woman still remains half beautiful, half frightening, and the text now reads “Who becomes a ‘MURDERER’ in Post-Roe America?” in bold letters, highlighted in red. Another all-encompassing quote that causes the viewer to self-reflect.  

“Your body is a battleground” is a statement that is timeless. As an artist, I am interested in making work that holds the same amount of power. My body of work consists of themes of feminism, sexuality, and the hardships of womanhood. How do I channel this energy into my own work? How can I make my work personal to my own experiences while still applicable to all feminine people who face similar hurdles? What makes Barbara Kruger’s work so impactful is her ability to do this very thing. The ability to tell a million stories in one simple statement. 


On the Cover of New York Magazine: Barbara Kruger -- New York Media Press Room


Work Cited 

Avishai, Tamar, host. “Barbra Kruger’s ‘Untitled (Your Body is a Battleground)’(1989)”, episode 64, Jay Handy Financial Services, http://www.thelonelypalette.com/episodes/2023/5/1/episode-64-barbara-krugers-your-body-is-a-battleground-1989, Accessed Sept. 2023

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