type and image: “act”

for this assignment we were given an abstract term at random, and we had to dissect the word—its etymology, multiple meanings, connotations, the whole ten. then, we had to communicate the multiple meanings associated with the words in a poster through type and image.

After looking into the many meanings of the word “act,” I chose to hone in on the performative aspect. Where do we draw the line between a traditional, theatrical performance, and how we curate our image to the world around us? The subject matter for this poster was inspired by various “what’s in my bag” posts circulating Instagram, Pinterest, Tik Tok, and the like. Many of them are mundane and honest depictions, but some of them cross over into absurd and performative territory, whether it be intentional (meme-ified) or unintentional. One thing that the two have in common is the meticulous arrangement of the items. In the center we have our subject, the girl. Surrounding her are a number of items, both trendy items and traditional theater props. All of them are in color, she is in black and white, as she is nothing without the material items that make up her personality. At the bottom is an excerpt from Charlie Squire’s essay, personal style Is Dead And The Algorithm Killed It, which discussed how material objects and micro-trends are, these days, indicators of identity rather than innate characteristics. It is accompanied by larger text that is a play on the trendy phrase: to be a woman is to perform act.