SYMBOLISM, WARHOL, AND the MERE EXPOSURE EFFECT

These unique still-life polaroids were taken by Andy Warhol between 1977 and 1983. He referred to his Polaroid Big Shot camera, which he purchased in 1970, as his “pencil and paper.” I love how he became so obsessed with certain symbols - guns, knives, Campbell soup cans, dollar signs, etc - and then used those symbols repeatedly throughout his career. I mean, I knew the Warhol banana before I knew the person Warhol.  It reminds me how important the Mere Exposure Effect is in present day branding, personal and corporate. The more we see the same image, or hear the same sound, the more we become familiar with it and tend to like it. It’s like those songs you’re not sure you like at first but then once you’ve heard them 30254894 times, you’re like ‘hey, this isn’t all bad.” Granted, that doesn’t always happen, but it’s interesting to think about. If I post the Liz Ash logo 30254894 times, will you like it then? Or, maybe you’ll hate it? But at least, you’ll remember it, right? Who knows?