ETIQUETTE SERIES
In the 1930‘s to 1950‘s, etiquette books like ‘Miss Manners’ were used to illustrate ‘the best way to live’
or ‘the best decisions to make‘. They were designed to teach us lessons and reaffirm the societal
beliefs of the time.
My work takes this old text and through irony, word puns and satire, re-invents the often-outdated subject
matter to draw attention to current issues. By juxtaposing current themes against these old beliefs, I
hope to challenge both traditional and modern values.
I mimic traditional advertising iconography from pre-1950 to establish the ‘vintage’ visual look of these
paintings. This accessible style helps diminish the political sting and allows the viewer to determine the
meaning of the paintings as it pertains to them. I hope that I can challenge viewers to re-assess their
opinions about current issues.