Pop artists communicate a variety of ideas through their work. One of the most prevalent themes is the encroachment of mass media -- TV, film, print and music -- on the public. Consumerism serves as another theme, with many works having to do with product brands and logos. Richard Hamilton's advertisement collage, "Just what is it that makes today's home so different, so appealing?" is an example of how pop art calls attention to consumer culture.
Pop art tends to portray culturally relevant subjects, with celebrities as a common subject, such as in Andy Warhol's repeated images of Marilyn Monroe in different colors. Pop art also relies on corporate brands, comics, food, political figures, animals and iconic paintings as subjects.
Pop art often comes in the form of paintings, sculptures and ready-made or "found" objects. Artists also use graphic design and reproduced prints to mimic the mediums that created advertisements and logos. Pop art typically incorporates bright, accessible colors that match or purposefully eschew the colors of the original image.
Materials commonly employed in pop artwork include paper, metal, plaster and plastic. Pop art can also appear in existing spaces such as rooms, installations or other structures. The tone and medium in which artists work usually dictate the materials of choice; for example, plastic and paper specifically reflect the look and feel of mass-produced items and images.