Language and creativity
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# 5.2 Juxtaposing genres: Example 2

A similar mix of genres is at play in Figure 7. Here the layout of the text suggests a verse from the Bible, and the colour, size and formatting resembles the sort of posters which are often displayed on the outside of churches, with a slightly evangelical bent. The text of the quote, however, is once again from popular music – in this instance a song by David Bowie. The small print at the bottom ‘David ch[apter].2. v[erse].8’, which mirrors Biblical referencing, is actually here referring to the fact that the text is taken from Side 2, Track 8 of one Bowie’s albums. The combination of the two genres thus acts as a commentary on the way in which this form of popular music rivals the meaningfulness of spiritual quotations for many people today.

Figure 7 Jeremy Deller, Quotations, 1995 (David Bowie) (scan from p. 50 of Joy in People catalogue)
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