Banksy: Criminal or Hero? Banksy is a twenty-first century graffiti artist and political activist, whose work is recognized all around the world. His body of work has been known to attract a lot of positive, as well as negative attention for its controversial nature and perfect timing. Banksy’s tendency to break minor laws and stir controversy pushes many people and organizations to label him as a criminal, but that rebellious quality is exactly what makes him a hero in the eyes of many. Surrounded by mystery, Banksy continues to create work that takes in account current events of the world. He states his opinion and makes the public think, and, hopefully, act against the wrongdoing of corporations, established norms of society and even the
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Breaking and entering, as well as putting his graffiti on public buildings, is what oftentimes lands him the label of a “criminal”. These laws are the types of laws that graffiti artists typically break in order to display their art and/or make a political statement. As Ian Edwards notes in his article, “graffiti is a paradoxical phenomenon... both aesthetic practice and criminal activity”. The government, certain organizations and people, who are targeted in Banksy’s works are often the ones that only see the “black and white” criminal aspect of his work. The aesthetics and the ideas behind his work oftentimes get lost and forgotten, which poses a question, where is the boundary between art and criminal damage and what is that threshold where something that is considered ‘art’ loses that status and becomes …show more content…
The “defacement” of private property, and sometimes even worse – government property, does not earn graffiti artists any favors. Banksy has spoke up on this topic numerous times, in his documentary, books and anonymous interviews. He says, “Modern street art is the product of a generation tired of growing up with a relentless barrage of logos and images being thrown at their head every day, and much of it is an attempt to pick up these visual rocks and throw them back.” In Banksy’s eyes, as well as in the eyes of his fans, the breaking of such minor laws is not only justifiable, but also necessary to make a statement and/or to stand up to the multitude of advertisements and images displayed in public spaces. In his documentary, “Exit Through the Gift Shop”, Banksy features footage of his one of the most “law-breaking” public installations. During the controversy involving the Guantanamo Bay prison and the abuse of its prisoners, Banksy set up an inflatable doll in an orange jumpsuit in the middle of Disneyland. After discovering the prop, the park security started shutting down parts of the park and even questioned Banksy’s cameraman for more than four hours. Despite the potential security threat, this incident most definitely received a lot of attention and caused people to concentrate on the issue. If that was the only way to get people to see the problem, than
Breaking and entering, as well as putting his graffiti on public buildings, is what oftentimes lands him the label of a “criminal”. These laws are the types of laws that graffiti artists typically break in order to display their art and/or make a political statement. As Ian Edwards notes in his article, “graffiti is a paradoxical phenomenon... both aesthetic practice and criminal activity”. The government, certain organizations and people, who are targeted in Banksy’s works are often the ones that only see the “black and white” criminal aspect of his work. The aesthetics and the ideas behind his work oftentimes get lost and forgotten, which poses a question, where is the boundary between art and criminal damage and what is that threshold where something that is considered ‘art’ loses that status and becomes …show more content…
The “defacement” of private property, and sometimes even worse – government property, does not earn graffiti artists any favors. Banksy has spoke up on this topic numerous times, in his documentary, books and anonymous interviews. He says, “Modern street art is the product of a generation tired of growing up with a relentless barrage of logos and images being thrown at their head every day, and much of it is an attempt to pick up these visual rocks and throw them back.” In Banksy’s eyes, as well as in the eyes of his fans, the breaking of such minor laws is not only justifiable, but also necessary to make a statement and/or to stand up to the multitude of advertisements and images displayed in public spaces. In his documentary, “Exit Through the Gift Shop”, Banksy features footage of his one of the most “law-breaking” public installations. During the controversy involving the Guantanamo Bay prison and the abuse of its prisoners, Banksy set up an inflatable doll in an orange jumpsuit in the middle of Disneyland. After discovering the prop, the park security started shutting down parts of the park and even questioned Banksy’s cameraman for more than four hours. Despite the potential security threat, this incident most definitely received a lot of attention and caused people to concentrate on the issue. If that was the only way to get people to see the problem, than