In the Fischli and Weiss collaboration, there was of course a lot of prep work. However, the way they set up their project in combination with the name of the piece, they seemed to have intended to portray a series of natural occurrences. By taking these familiar objects out of context and rearranging them to create a fluid narrative, they are experimenting with the roles and relevance of each. It seems they intended for viewers to look beyond “the way things go”, and allow themselves to explore and utilize the space and life around them in ways they have never done before. To do so is simpler than they think.
In Martha Rosler’s “Semiotics of the Kitchen,” the frustration and angst is evident throughout, especially with the exaggerated use of simpler objects that normally wouldn’t be considered violent. There are also hints of sarcasm, as she spells out the more obvious utensils. As the alphabet concludes, the intention becomes clear and makes the viewer want to relive the entire experience again. She succeeds in intending to make the viewer dumbfounded with a sense of foolishness, specifically men in the 1970’s. She used a stereotype of her time period intentionally to disprove it.