You Shop Therefore I am - Retail Archive Campaign

There are 3 iPhone photographs that are in the books as well as the case. They are blown up in a way to advertise what one might find in the case. from across the room. As part of my studio practice I spent a lot of time shopping and documenting what dis

There are 3 iPhone photographs that are in the books as well as the case. They are blown up in a way to advertise what one might find in the case. from across the room.
As part of my studio practice I spent a lot of time shopping and documenting what display does for advertising and how different things are in advertising from the way they are in the store..
looking at this center photograph I took in Value Village There was 4 ft by 8ft wall of barbie dolls displayed in bags with $1.99 tags that described them as Housewares Toy bags
. And Although for a thrift shop this may be a logical way to display the dolls I doubt they would use this picture to advertise their store. And I doubt Mattel would be very happy if they saw this photograph.
Shoppers are likely immune to it because they understand the packaging of used goods but a very young person may not read it as such I would have probably cried as a child if I had seen it and then my brother would have followed by putting all of my dolls in ziploc bags for fun
Displaying it out of context to an art audience we are a likely trained to see this as objectifying and violent. Shopping produces this.

Artwork Info

Type of Work Installation
Medium Screen Printing, Artist Multiples, Books, Tote Bags, Glass display cabinet, Digital prints
Dimensions 84ft x 24ft
Subject Matter Consumerisum

Artist Info

Mary Dahlke

Graduate Student
Joined: April 5, 2011

Rights: All Rights Reserved

Appears In 1 Album

37 items

Mary Dahlke MFA Visual Studies Thesis 2014