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Works Consulted
Buzzell, Colby. “I am Banksy: a phantom with a stencil and a can of spray paint, maybe the premier “guerilla street artist” in the word, Banksy is almost impossible to find, but his work is everywhere and he makes people very, very happy.” Esquire 26 Feb. 2009 <>.
This source is an interview of the author himself on the search for Banksy. While he’s searching for Banksy, he comes up with ideas and understandings along the way of Banksy’s graffiti art. This is helpful in the research paper because this also helps with a more of an understanding with Banksy. I can also use the author’s perspective of Banksy and compare it with myself with many other thoughts and ideas.
Carroll, Brian. “Banksy copycat is offered amnesty after catching out Bertie on the run; We’ve found him: Osama bin Laden takes some groceries to his lair Too quick on the draw: Bertie Ahern and the artist who drew him get away from this Killarney local.” The Daily Mail 13 Dec. 2008 .
This article is a quick review of another person who’s influenced from Banksy. This review talks about graffiti stencil. It shows the purpose of destroying public property to give an understanding message to the media, something Banksy would most likely do.
Jury, Louse. “Banksy’s Rude Copper raising cash for charity.” The Evening Standard 20 Feb. 2009 .
This is another brief article acknowledging Banksy’s work. The author states that Banksy’s work is on the rise of making fortunes. This review also shows that Banksy donates his work in charity fun raisers. This is another acknowledgement of Banksy’s work and ideas to help the public.
Kirby, Terry. “Has Kate fallen out of fashion? Banksy's portraits fail to sell at auction.” The Evening Standard 25 Feb. 2009 .
This article gives a brief description of Banksy’s reputation. His past work has been successful and has brought inspiration. The main reason his portrait is failing to sell at the auction is because of economy. Overall, Banksy has done quite a job in his work of fortunes.
Mendick, Robert. “Bankskies? Don’t bank on it: gone to market: Fungle Junk, which was painted on a trailer at the lizard festival in Cornwall in 1999, is estimated at 150,000 but has not been authenticated by Banksy. Far left refuse rat is another image the artist s refusing to claim as his.” The Evening Standard 26 Sep. 2008 .
This review criticizes on Banksy’s graffiti art. Banksy claims that millions of his work is fakes, meaning it’s not his. From my point of view, I don’t believe it because it most likely is his for the public. Banksy does basically want no acknowledgement at all and for the public to have a response from propaganda.
Muholland, Tara. “A London Graffiti Artist Reflects on Britain’s Reality-TV Obsession.” The New York Times 20 Feb. 2009 .
This article is based on a reality TV show. This unknown person is obsessed and influenced by Banksy’s work. Banksy’s main focus is to show that power and wealth are consumed into propaganda, but public have the right to reply in response of people. This shows his main objective of graffiti art and vandalism to society.
Ryzik, Melena. “Where Fish Sticks Swim Free And Chicken Nuggets Self-Dip.” The New York Times 9 Oct. 2008 .
Banksy’s review on his first official exhibition in art. His exhibition is in New York. Banksy’s work isn’t intentionally for showing comedy towards the public. It’s mainly based on giving a message to society.
Works Cited
Banksy. Wall and Piece. United Kingdom: Century, 2006.
This is basically a direct source from Banksy himself. It provides many of his art work and many direct quotes. This book will be helpful to provide more of an understanding in the research paper. This has Banksy’s own perspective and stories of his past experiences.
“Banksy” Brian Sewell Art Directory .
This source gives brief information on Banksy. It provides facts and actual information of him. This source will help me add to my artist biography in my research paper.
“Banksy sniper’s off target” Observer 25 Oct. 2007 .
This picture is a brief article about the sniper, one of Banksy’s graffiti art. This source will help me incorporate more aspects of the graffiti art. It also includes another persons perspective of this picture.
Chaundy, Bob. “Banksy” BBC News .
This article is a brief summary about Banksy’s biography. It states information about him and his identity as well. This source will be useful in the biography.
“Council Votes To Remove Banksy Mural In London.” The New York Times 25 Oct. 2008 .
This brief article talks about where and when Banksy is going to do another graffiti art mural in New York. The Westminster City Council feels that removing Banksy’s mural is going to discourage graffiti art. I feel that this article helps to acknowledge murals in public as a message rather than degrading the city, or making it look corrupted. This action obviously shows that the council knows what Banksy is trying to say, but simply ignores it by removing mural after mural Banksy decides to draw.
Fadhley, Christine. “Banksy, Much More Than Just a Graffiti Artist” 13 Aug. 2008 .
This article consists of a biography of Banksy. This source is mainly for Banksy’s biography. This source will definitely expand more on Banksy’s identity.
Lucey, Anne. “Rats! It looks as if Banksystaking a holiday in Killarney; (1) Can do: Spraying rodent (2) Double trouble: Pair of houseproud rodents (3) Gnaw deal:The wall of Kilarney's Bricin Restaurant (4) Original: Banksy's roller rat.” The Daily Mail 10 Dec. 2008 .
This article’s main topic is on Banksy’s plague of rats. The rats basically represent unworthy of because they are most hated and hunted in the world. Rats are creatures that annoy everyday people. Rats are expressed all over the place in Banksy’s graffiti art. The owners of every property are irritated because it is expensive to have the rats repainted.
O’Keeffe, Alice. “Keeping it real: Lazarrdos is Banksy’s gallerist and the man responsible for the boom in street art. He hasn’t sold out – he’s just adapted he tells Alice O’Keeffe.” New Statesman 3 Nov. 2008 .
Rats are the main topic in this article too. It is Banksy’s signature work of having sprayed painted rats in his graffiti art. The article also focuses on how successful Banksy has been with his art. This also has a review mainly on Banksy’s art.
Singh, Amar. “Writing is on the wall for Banksy’s west end mural: Art attack: a council order to remove this Banksy work near Oxford Circus has started a row over who owns the wall.” The Evening Standard 24 Oct. 2008 .
This article talks about the removal of Banksy’s mural all over London. London officials feel that it will discourage graffiti art in London. This perspective view is basically on opinions which will most likely fail. The author also writes a somewhat brief perspective of Bansky’s graffiti art.
Annotated Bibliography
Banksy. Wall and Piece. United Kingdom: Century, 2006.
This is basically a direct source from Banksy himself. It provides many of his art work and many direct quotes. This book will be helpful to provide more of an understanding in the research paper. This has Banksy’s own perspective and stories of his past experiences.
“Banksy” Brian Sewell Art Directory .
This source gives brief information on Banksy. It provides facts and actual information of him. This source will help me add to my artist biography in my research paper.
“Banksy sniper’s off target” Observer 25 Oct. 2007 .
This picture is a brief article about the sniper, one of Banksy’s graffiti art. This source will help me incorporate more aspects of the graffiti art. It also includes another persons perspective of this picture.
Buzzell, Colby. “I am Banksy: a phantom with a stencil and a can of spray paint, maybe the premier “guerilla street artist” in the word, Banksy is almost impossible to find, but his work is everywhere and he makes people very, very happy.” Esquire 26 Feb. 2009 <>.
This source is an interview of the author himself on the search for Banksy. While he’s searching for Banksy, he comes up with ideas and understandings along the way of Banksy’s graffiti art. This is helpful in the research paper because this also helps with a more of an understanding with Banksy. I can also use the author’s perspective of Banksy and compare it with myself with many other thoughts and ideas.
Carroll, Brian. “Banksy copycat is offered amnesty after catching out Bertie on the run; We’ve found him: Osama bin Laden takes some groceries to his lair Too quick on the draw: Bertie Ahern and the artist who drew him get away from this Killarney local.” The Daily Mail 13 Dec. 2008 .
This article is a quick review of another person who’s influenced from Banksy. This review talks about graffiti stencil. It shows the purpose of destroying public property to give an understanding message to the media, something Banksy would most likely do.
Chaundy, Bob. “Banksy” BBC News .
This article is a brief summary about Banksy’s biography. It states information about him and his identity as well. This source will be useful in the biography.
“Council Votes To Remove Banksy Mural In London.” The New York Times 25 Oct. 2008 .
This brief article talks about where and when Banksy is going to do another graffiti art mural in New York. The Westminster City Council feels that removing Banksy’s mural is going to discourage graffiti art. I feel that this article helps to acknowledge murals in public as a message rather than degrading the city, or making it look corrupted. This action obviously shows that the council knows what Banksy is trying to say, but simply ignores it by removing mural after mural Banksy decides to draw.
Fadhley, Christine. “Banksy, Much More Than Just a Graffiti Artist” 13 Aug. 2008 .
This article consists of a biography of Banksy. This source is mainly for Banksy’s biography. This source will definitely expand more on Banksy’s identity.
Jury, Louse. “Banksy’s Rude Copper raising cash for charity.” The Evening Standard 20 Feb. 2009 .
This is another brief article acknowledging Banksy’s work. The author states that Banksy’s work is on the rise of making fortunes. This review also shows that Banksy donates his work in charity fun raisers. This is another acknowledgement of Banksy’s work and ideas to help the public.
Kirby, Terry. “Has Kate fallen out of fashion? Banksy's portraits fail to sell at auction.” The Evening Standard 25 Feb. 2009 .
This article gives a brief description of Banksy’s reputation. His past work has been successful and has brought inspiration. The main reason his portrait is failing to sell at the auction is because of economy. Overall, Banksy has done quite a job in his work of fortunes.
Lucey, Anne. “Rats! It looks as if Banksystaking a holiday in Killarney; (1) Can do: Spraying rodent (2) Double trouble: Pair of houseproud rodents (3) Gnaw deal:The wall of Kilarney's Bricin Restaurant (4) Original: Banksy's roller rat.” The Daily Mail 10 Dec. 2008 .
This article’s main topic is on Banksy’s plague of rats. The rats basically represent unworthy of because they are most hated and hunted in the world. Rats are creatures that annoy everyday people. Rats are expressed all over the place in Banksy’s graffiti art. The owners of every property are irritated because it is expensive to have the rats repainted.
Mendick, Robert. “Bankskies? Don’t bank on it: gone to market: Fungle Junk, which was painted on a trailer at the lizard festival in Cornwall in 1999, is estimated at 150,000 but has not been authenticated by Banksy. Far left refuse rat is another image the artist s refusing to claim as his.” The Evening Standard 26 Sep. 2008 .
This review criticizes on Banksy’s graffiti art. Banksy claims that millions of his work is fakes, meaning it’s not his. From my point of view, I don’t believe it because it most likely is his for the public. Banksy does basically want no acknowledgement at all and for the public to have a response from propaganda.
Muholland, Tara. “A London Graffiti Artist Reflects on Britain’s Reality-TV Obsession.” The New York Times 20 Feb. 2009 .
This article is based on a reality TV show. This unknown person is obsessed and influenced by Banksy’s work. Banksy’s main focus is to show that power and wealth are consumed into propaganda, but public have the right to reply in response of people. This shows his main objective of graffiti art and vandalism to society.
O’Keeffe, Alice. “Keeping it real: Lazarrdos is Banksy’s gallerist and the man responsible for the boom in street art. He hasn’t sold out – he’s just adapted he tells Alice O’Keeffe.” New Statesman 3 Nov. 2008 .
Rats are the main topic in this article too. It is Banksy’s signature work of having sprayed painted rats in his graffiti art. The article also focuses on how successful Banksy has been with his art. This also has a review mainly on Banksy’s art.
Ryzik, Melena. “Where Fish Sticks Swim Free And Chicken Nuggets Self-Dip.” The New York Times 9 Oct. 2008 .
Banksy’s review on his first official exhibition in art. His exhibition is in New York. Banksy’s work isn’t intentionally for showing comedy towards the public. It’s mainly based on giving a message to society.
Singh, Amar. “Writing is on the wall for Banksy’s west end mural: Art attack: a council order to remove this Banksy work near Oxford Circus has started a row over who owns the wall.” The Evening Standard 24 Oct. 2008 .
This article talks about the removal of Banksy’s mural all over London. London officials feel that it will discourage graffiti art in London. This perspective view is basically on opinions which will most likely fail. The author also writes a somewhat brief perspective of Bansky’s graffiti art.
John Nguyen
Mr. Gallagher
English 12 CP Period 7
11/06/08
Self Assessment
During the first quarter, I received an eighty nine average. This annoys me because I was basically a point away from receiving an A for the quarter. The five parts to my average are major writing and assessments, homework, participation, quizzes and open responses, and my reader’s notebook. I felt that I could’ve exceeded than how I did this quarter. Next quarter I aim to receive an A or above.
First part of my grade is the major assessment, which is thirty five percent of my grade. I scored a three hundred forty out of four hundred. The remaining sixty points would have risen up my grade. I feel that I did well on all, but the poem explication paper, which I could’ve redone over and over until I was satisfied with my grade. I chose not to do it because I kept on forgetting to schedule a meeting with Mr. Gallagher when I had the time.
Second part of my grade is homework, which is fifteen percent of my grade. I received a seventy six out of eighty points. The four points I lost was from the video critique of act 1 A Doll’s House homework. I felt satisfied with my homework part of my grade because I received a ninety five average overall for the percentage of my grade.
Third part of my grade is participation, which is also fifteen percent of my grade. I received an eleven out of fourteen total points. The three points I lost was two points from class participation which I could have done better on and lost one point from the debate for A Doll’s House. Overall, I received a seventy eight for participation which also affected my grade. Next quarter, I plan to participate more in class which will help my grade to receive an A.
Fourth part of my grade are my quizzes and open responses. The points I received was nineteen out of twenty points which were the two quizzes and no open responses. I retook one quiz where I received a seventy on and received a ninety on the retake. I should have retaken the quiz again to aim for a hundred to receive a twenty out of twenty for my grade.
Fifth part of my grade is my Reader’s Notebook. I received a one hundred fifteen out of one hundred twenty which is also fifteen percent of my grade. I actively did well on my reader’s notebook, but lost five points from my first reader’s notebook check. I think I only lost points on my DJ’s because of depth. When I received that, I decided to put more effort into the other DJ’s and received full points for the rest of the DJ’s.
Moreover, I felt that I’ve done well this quarter, but could’ve done better to receive one or more points to my quarter average. For next quarter, I plan to participate more, remember to add more depth to all DJ’s to achieve full points for the grade, and take advantage of rewriting major writings and assessments even though I do well on them to aim for full points. I also plan to achieve an A for next quarter. According to snap grades, if I have redone the poem explications, which dropped about two points of my grade, and did well on it, I’m confident that I would’ve received a ninety for the course, which I kept on forgetting to do.
229 Newland StreetMalden, MA 02148
5 February 2009
Ryan Gallagher
77 Salem Street
Malden, MA 02148
Dear Mr. Ryan Gallagher:
I would like to do my research paper on Banksy. One piece of art that interests me is “There’s no such thing as good publicity” which is graffiti which seems as if it’s done over an ad for the FOX channel. The rat in this picture is the main symbol for Banksy. He seems to draw many rats in his graffiti. His message is straight forward. The painting itself grabs many attention towards people posted in the comment of request for Banksy. Another drawing that catches my attention is a painting on a cement wall which seems to be a baby writing “TAKE THIS – SOCIETY!” with a bucket of orange paint with the baby using a paint brush. This painting is straight forward. I think that Banksy wants to give a message out to the public saying that there’s corruption and wrong doings everywhere. He probably wants people to wake up and make a change. I guess Banksy uses his graffiti art to express a message in such a way that people have to look at his drawing again and again aesthetically. Two more paintings which are related to each other from Banksy are the Tesco flag and the Sniper. The Tesco flag is white already, which symbolizes the state of being neutral. Under the flag are three kids, two pledging with their left hand, and one raising the flag up high. This is already morally wrong, because in the USA, Americans pledge with their right hand. On the other painting of the Sniper, the sniper is holding the rifle with his left shoulder. In the USA, snipers are trained to hold their rifles with their right shoulder because it’s more stabled than the left shoulder. Banksy has many paintings that portray a message that I would love to research about. I want to write and research about Banksy because I would love to extract the message out of his paintings and look at his graffiti art in a different way than the picture itself.
His birth name seems to be unknown which makes the research paper more interesting to write about the artist himself. Banksy is a well known British graffiti artist. Looking around information on Banksy shows that he is well known from art with no other identity, but his alias. Banksy was born in 1974 and raised in Bristol, England. Banksy originally was trained to be a butcher from his father, but later became interested in graffiti art during the Bristol aerosol boom of the late 1980s. The idea that he his mysterious himself gives me an interest in finding more information about Banksy because it would help me find out the type of character he is when it comes to graffiti art. I will end up finding the reasons why he draws his graffiti art and find out the message to the public that portrays the painting he illustrated.
Here is a list of about more than ten places where I can find information about Banksy.-http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Banksy-http://www.banksy.co.uk/shop/index.html-articles from the Boston Public Library attached to this letter. I must do more research-Books from the Boston Public Library and the institution of art mentioned in class. Also have to do more research on Banksy.-http://www.artofthestate.co.uk/banksy/banksy.htm-http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1034538/Graffiti-artist-Banksy-unmasked---public-schoolboy-middle-class-suburbia.html-http://weburbanist.com/2008/09/07/banksy-art-and-graffiti-the-ultimate-guide/-http://damncoolpics.blogspot.com/2007/04/robert-banksy-street-graffiti-artist.html-http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1679794,00.html-http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-559547/Graffiti-artist-Banksy-pulls-audacious-stunt-date--despite-watched-CCTV.html-http://villageofjoy.com/amazing-graffiti-art-by-bansky/
In the end, choosing Banksy will have a topic specialized in his messages. Why did he do his painting the way he has done them? What message does the painting give? What color schemes are their in the graffiti art? When writing the Banksy research paper, I’ll make sure to conclude the reasons being of his art.
Sincerely yours,
John Nguyen
Banksy is an anonymous British graffiti artist whose birth name is unknown. Banksy is famous for his trademark stencil-style “Guerilla” art in public spaces. There are all sorts of myth about him. People have a jealous factor of him because only his trusted friend knows him by his real name. People believe his name is “Robin Banks.” There is also another article about Banksy on a person whose name is “Robin Gunningham” which also seems to be his other identity. The first painting I notice was his graffiti art on a billboard. “There’s no such thing as good publicity.” This painting seems to have an original advertisement from FOX that premier on a day with a month and date. This painting is located at W Houston Street & MacDougal Street in New York, New York. Doing some research, I found out that the original ad is a “Pushing Daisy” ad for FOX. This painting is interesting to me because it portrays a message out to the public. Banksy’s graffiti art consists of four colors. From my guess of colors I think the colors are dodger blue, white, Indian red, and ivory black. The dodger blue gives the painting a calm feel, but it was originally part of the “Pushing Daisy” ad for FOX. The white represents neutrality. The ivory black color is a typical color for a rat. It seems to be like the rat is painting over the ad with the white paint on a paint roller. The Indian red portrays and represents the message of “There’s no such thing as good publicity.” It seems to me that Banksy chose this color fiercely because it’s a dark taste of red which can symbolize blood, love, hate, anger, and lust. The red on the painting sticks out the most because it gives the message of the graffiti art. Banksy seems brilliant because the way he chooses the style on paintings and where he chooses to draw the paintings is very clever. The color and the texture seems simple as it is, but picking the right colors for a painting helps portray the message. The message seems like it was written in blood or some sort. I think that where he decides to place this picture is a good idea because on the picture itself, it shows people walking by it staring into the painting. This shows that the outcome of the painting attracts people which portray the message of “There’s no such thing as good publicity.” The meaning of publicity is extensive mention in the news media or by word of mouth or other means of communication. Finding this out surprises me because the graffiti art gives the painting a message. Saying “There’s no such thing as good publicity.” After finding out the meaning, Banksy is saying that there is no good way or form or idea to say that there is a meaning to any news media by means of communication. I find this funny because Banksy is trying to give out a message, but then the message itself is telling the public that messages are no good in a sense of his painting. I think that the ivory black rat in the billboard represents Banksy because the rat itself is painting over the billboard. I also think that Banksy is saying that publicity is stupid because of his message on the billboard. This is funny because Banksy is giving a message and at the same time, people are reading it figuring out the message, and then Banksy’s just saying that there’s no such thing as a good message. I also notice that the white is bleeding off the billboard onto the cement wall. I think that it shows that the white color is very heavy because it’s overly used in the painting trying to cover the billboard which makes it drip in a sense. Another painting by Banksy is the sniper graffiti art. The painting is located in Banksy’s hometown Bristol, United Kingdom. There seems to be a few colors on this sniper painting. Black, grey, white, and what seems to me a paper bag brown. There’s a sniper watching something and there’s a kid behind him trying to learn how to use the gun. I find this funny because snipers are trained to carry their sniper on the left shoulder because most snipers are forced to be right handed. In this picture, the sniper is holding the gun with his right shoulder using his left arm to shoot. This is incorrect because the recoil and stability of the shot won’t be as accurate. This painting has been criticized for its “off target.” The sniper on the painting is holding the gun completely wrong. Banksy is obviously trying to portray a message in this painting. This painting is said to be aimed near a hospital. I guess Banksy is trying to say that death is coming because guns usually mean violence. I also notice that it says SWAT on the sniper’s cap. Banksy probably uses black on this painting to symbolize death. Grey is also used which I think represents a depressed cloudy day. I feel that grey is put in the painting to show that it’s an unhappy type of mood color. I also think that this grey represents the mood of the hospital because being in a hospital surrounding is dramatic and dull. I think that the kid behind the sniper represents the idea of corruption because nowadays there is much gun violence that comes to play in the world. Banksy seems like his drawings are to open up people ways of seeing things to another level. I’m not sure what’s in the paper bag, but it has me thinking. I guess its some kind of throw up bag for the kid. I think that Banksy mainly uses black and grey to give a feel towards the graffiti art. I feel that the black and grey represents a typical gloomy day of rain with a storm of clouds all over the place.
John Nguyen
Ryan Gallagher
English 12 CP Period 7
23 March 2009
Banksy’s Message To The Public
Banksy was born in 1974 in Bristol, United Kingdom (“Banksy” 1). Banksy’s main focus is graffiti art which can be found in London, and many other locations in the world (“Banksy” 2). His alias, Banksy, has the utmost respect in graffiti art (“Banksy” 4). The media seems to believe that his real name is Robert Banks (Chaundy par. 6). Banksy is a “son of a photocopier repair engineer” and also “trained to be a butcher” (Fadhley par. 4). In 1992, Banksy started his “freehand graffiti” while putting elements of stencils into his work (Fadhley par. 5). Banksy’s graffiti art is mainly stenciling which includes rats (“Banksy” 35). One night, Banksy says, “I was staring straight up at the stenciled plate on the bottom of a fuel tank when I realized I could just copy that style and make each letter three feet high” (Banksy 13). Banksy’s inspiration came from hiding from the police looking at other artists work and tells his girlfriend that he “had an epiphany that night and she told me stop taking that drug ‘cos it’s bad for your heart” (Banksy 13). Overtime, “some of Banksy’s pieces have been proclaimed to be genuine works of art” (Fadhley par. 2). Banksy point of view of polices in London “apparently eyebrows are very expressive and by covering them up you appear a lot more authoritive” (Banksy 42). Banksy began his graffiti, “the distinctive rats began to appear” (Lucey par 4). “They exist without permission. They are hated, hunted, and persecuted. They live in quiet desperation amongst the filth. And yet they are capable of bringing entire civilizations to their knees. If you are dirty, insignificant and unloved then rats are the ultimate role model” (Banksy 95). His art consists of rats, soldiers, trapdoors, and photo opportunities (“Banksy” par. 5).
Banksy feels that “a lot of people never use their initiative because no-one told them to” (Banksy 21). Banksy suggests that “A wall has always been the best place to publish your work. The people who run our cities don’t understand graffiti because they think nothing has the right to exist unless it makes a profit, which makes their opinion worthless” (Banksy 8). Banksy is showing that if powerful and wealthy people use propaganda to citizens, then the citizens in the society have a right to respond with their opinion. At first, Banksy wasn’t popular, but overtime, his work now stands for royal charity (Jury par. 3). Banksy also says, “it takes a lot of guts to stand up anonymously in a western democracy and call for things no-one else believes in – like peace and justice and freedom” (Banksy 29). His graffiti art is to influence the people to strive for a difference in society. “When the time comes to leave, just walk away quietly and don’t make any fuss” (Banksy 79). In a way, Banksy is self discipline. He accepts the fact that his graffiti arts are taken down because technically, Banksy is vandalizing public property. His graffiti arts are located in many places, but he does not always have authority and permission to keep his graffiti art on location. Banksy understands this concept and feels that he should not stop his graffiti art just because one of his paintings is taken down. For more or less of himself, he wants society to make a change, and make other people opinions worth something.
One graffiti art of Banksy is “There’s no such thing as good publicity” located in W Houston Street & MacDougal Street in New York, New York. The stenciled rat takes up more than half of the graffiti art. Banksy’s signature art are the rats in his stenciled paint graffiti art (O’Keeffe 9). There’s an irony in his artwork, apparently removing Banksy’s mural is a message to discourage graffiti art in London (“Council Votes To Remove Banksy Mural In London” 4). Even though they remove the mural, this graffiti art of “There’s no such thing as good publicity” shows a stenciled rat removing the original propaganda for FOX. Banksy also draws his murals all around to give the society a message, relevant to the “Broken Window Theory” (Banksy 130). The theory states that if there are more windows broken, graffiti and rubbish will appear more and more. People will then notice walking by and will think nobody cares. This relates to deterioration, “a direct link to vandalism, street violence, and the general decline of society” (Banksy 130). Banksy’s graffiti art is acknowledged, “We didn't ask Banksy to pick our wall and we don't think we should have to pay for its removal. Actually we liked the piece and so did our tenants. We don't plan on selling it” (Singh par. 7).
Banksy’s “There’s no such thing as good publicity” seems to have an original advertisement from FOX that premiers on a day with a month and date. The original ad is a “Pushing Daisy” ad for FOX. This ad is basically propaganda to the public for television entertainment. Banksy’s stenciled graffiti art consists of four colors. The colors are dodger blue, white, Indian red, and ivory black. The dodger blue gives the painting a calm feel, which was originally part of the “Pushing Daisy” ad. The white represents neutrality. The ivory black color is a typical color for a rat. Banksy’s signature art is the rat because it depicts how they are “hated, hunted, and persecuted” (Banksy 95). It seems like the rat is painting over the ad with the white paint on a paint roller. The Indian red portrays and represents the message of “There’s no such thing as good publicity.” Banksy chose this color fiercely because it’s a dark taste of red which can symbolize blood, love, hate, anger, and lust. The red on the painting sticks out the most because it gives the message of the graffiti art. Banksy seems brilliant because the way he chooses the style on paintings and where he chooses to draw the paintings is very clever. Red is a well known bright color that is often noticed first. The color and the texture seems simple as it is, but picking the right colors for a painting helps portray the message. The outcome of the painting attracts people which portray the message of “There’s no such thing as good publicity.” The graffiti art uses publicity which is extensive mention in the news media or by word of mouth or other means of communication. Banksy is saying that there is no good way, form, or idea to say that there is a meaning to any news media by means of communication. This is ironic humor because Banksy is trying to give out a message, but then the message itself is telling the public that messages are no good in a sense of his painting. The white is bleeding off the billboard onto the cement wall. The bleeding of the color shows that the white color is very heavy because it’s overly used in the painting trying to cover the billboard which makes it drip in a sense. Citizens reading it, in a way, should be aesthetically to see the deeper meaning in Banksy’s work. Banksy is telling the public that propaganda is drowning the society consumers. Banksy says, “Any advertisement in public spaces that gives you no choice whether you see it or not is yours. It belongs to you. It’s yours to take, rearrange and re-use. Asking for permission is like asking to keep a rock someone just threw at your head” (Banksy 196). Banksy took this mural into consideration and uses graffiti all over the ad as if it was his. As an artist, Banksy takes his work seriously, and wants to give the public a deep message, which is to take action and stop ads, because citizens are consumers of the world. Banksy did not have much respect and support from the public when he first began. His message and purpose for graffiti art was the idea of propaganda. Banksy’s Wall and Piece states, “We can’t do anything to change the world until capitalism crumbles. In the meantime we should all go shopping to console ourselves” (Banksy 204). This quote shows sarcasm because the main purpose of propaganda is to grab people attentions and follow the trend. Propaganda is the main source of power and wealth for marketing and business.
Another painting by Banksy is the broken window with a television coming out of the window along with a rat holding a fork and knife. The rat is mainly black, holding the fork and knife resembles dinner and eating food in general. Banksy is showing that rats lurk everywhere looking for food, doing what rats can to survive. This depicts the idea of consumers and people in general. The consumers of food today usually waste a good amount of food and throw it in the trash. This is where the rats come in play. Rats are Banksy’s main idea when it comes to graffiti art. This mural basically contains his stencil art. “Recently discovered specimens of the common sewer rat have shown some remarkable new characteristics. Professor B. Langford of University College London states “you can laugh now… but one day they may be in charge” (Banksy 183). Banksy is telling the consumers to stop wasting so much and make a change in the world. The significance of this graffiti art is the rat and the broken window with the television coming out of it. Banksy introduces the Broken Window Theory saying, “Criminologists James Q. Wilson and George Kelling developed a theory of criminal behavior in the 1980’s that became known as the ‘Broken Window Theory.’ They argued crime was the inevitable result of disorder and that if a window in a building is smashed but not repaired people walking by will think no-one cares. Then more windows will be broken, graffiti will appear and rubbish gets dumped. The likely hood of serious crime being committed then increases dramatically as neglect becomes visible. The researchers believed there was a direct link between vandalism, street violence and the general decline of society. This theory was the basis of the infamous New York City crime purge of the early nineties and the zero-tolerance attitude to graffiti” (Banksy 130). Most of Banksy’s graffiti art is concentrated on broken windows. I am guessing that he enforces broken windows because of the theory. He probably expects more graffiti to show around the broken window, like the one in the picture taken where his mural art takes place. Banksy wants more people to vandalize in graffiti art, but in a good way in order to give more messages out to the public, to make a change, to stop consumers. Banksy being well known serves a purpose in his graffiti art. The more broken windows he draws in places, most likely more people will think that no one cares which will lead to more graffiti art all around the broken window. Banksy uses his graffiti art in general. When he finds a wall, he fakes a professional government message in the center of the soon going to be vandalized wall by stating authorized graffiti area. Then a few weeks later, Banksy would come back and look at all the graffiti artists drawing and try to analyze their message. In a way, the other graffiti artists out there are acknowledging Banksy, because he is still doing the authorized wall when he feel likes it. This “Broken Window Theory” attracts more and more graffiti artists to draw. Banksy wants “peace and justice and freedom” (Banksy 29).
Another painting by Banksy is the sniper graffiti art. The painting is located in Banksy’s hometown Bristol, United Kingdom. There seems to be a few colors on this sniper painting. Black, grey, white, and what seems to me a paper bag brown. There’s a sniper watching something and there’s a kid behind him trying to learn how to use the gun. This is incorrect because the recoil and stability of the shot won’t be as accurate. The sniper on the painting is holding the gun completely wrong (“Banksy sniper’s off target” par. 5). The article says, “But Banksy has painted the sniper holding the rifle into his right shoulder and steadying the weapon with his right hand, while using his left hand to pull the trigger – not the thing to do if you want to hit anything. A right-handed sniper would use his left to steady the weapon” (“Banksy sniper’s off target” par. 3). Banksy most likely wants to the public to think that the sniper is left handed. This painting is said to be aimed near a children’s hospital (“Banksy sniper’s off target” par. 2). Banksy is trying to say that death is coming because guns usually mean violence. It says SWAT on the sniper’s cap. Banksy probably uses black on this painting to symbolize death. Grey is also used which represents a depressed cloudy day. The grey is put in the painting to show that it’s an unhappy type of mood color. It also represents the mood of the hospital because being in a hospital surrounding is dramatic and dull. The kid behind the sniper represents the idea of corruption because nowadays there is much gun violence that comes to play in the world. Banksy seems like his drawings are to open up people ways of seeing things to another level. Banksy mainly uses black and grey to give a feel towards the graffiti art. The black and grey represents a typical gloomy day of rain with a storm of clouds all over the place. This graffiti art from Banksy is most likely stencil art. Banksy has great passion for stencil art because most of his graffiti art carries out most of it. In the article, it states “Surely any amateur artist attempting a military subject would at least study it” (“Banksy sniper’s off target” par. 6). Banksy does the graffiti art on purpose. People are acknowledging his sniper in a way, it relates to the idea of corruption.
The three graffiti art paintings of “There’s no such thing as good publicity”, the broken window theory, and Banksy’s sniper off target depicts his ideal message to the public of propaganda, consumers, corruption, and to have changes. Banksy states, “People who get up early in the morning is because war, death and famine” (Banksy 207). This direct quote from Banksy himself is just the beginning of his graffiti art career because he wants to change the economy in a way. Many consumers look at propaganda which is their motivation to waste on the object of the ad. Banksy is his own movement using his graffiti art. The movement is to change people and to make a world a better place. He feels that “there are no exceptions to the rule that everyone thinks they’re an exception to the rules” (Banksy 32). This quote depicts how he knows that consumers in the world can control themselves. It also shows the main idea of graffiti art. The deeper meaning is that Banksy knows that people in general public are scared to rise up. Banksy wants more propaganda, but of other people instead of the power and wealthy. Banksy is implying to give out more messages to the public by using his graffiti art, which encourages more people to do their graffiti art. In the end of a graffiti arts aspect, he states, “All artists are prepared to suffer for their work, but why are so few prepared to learn to draw?” (Banksy 10). Banksy wants to give more messages out to the public to influence deeper meanings to change the perspectives of consumers. Banksy’s message to the people is to stand up and tell their opinion to the public. Banksy tells his opinion through his graffiti art.
John Nguyen
Mr. Gallagher
English 12 CP, Period 7
01/14/09
Cat’s Cradle Nationalism vs. Religion
In the novel Cat’s Cradle, the author Kurt Vonnegut shows that John, the protagonist, is caught in between colliding dictatorship and the religion Bokonon. John is a character that struggles with religion when becoming dictator of San Lorenzo. Kurt Vonnegut suggests that church should be separated from state. Laws should not be made based on religion. Kurt Vonnegut uses John throughout the novel to express the truth of leadership.
In the exposition when John is introducing himself as a Bokononist, the author Kurt Vonnegut suggests that religion is a belief in order to have happiness. John says, “Anyone unable to understand how a useful religion can be founded on lies will not understand this book either. So be it.”(Vonnegut 14). The beginning seems as if John is already lost in the world. Bokononism was created by Bokonon, later introduced in San Lorenzo. San Lorenzo is at a crisis where the conditions are poor. Bokonon then comes up with the idea of Bokononism to believe in absolute lies. People of San Lorenzo chose to become a Bokonon to deny the truth and believe in lies to stay happy. Kurt Vonnegut is introducing Bokononism as a fictional belief to show how desperate people can become. Later in San Lorenzo, John learns about McCabe, who is a friend of Bokonon. Bokonon and McCabe were two buddies that struggled together in life in San Lorenzo. McCabe ended up becoming dictator of San Lorenzo and decided to execute people who followed Bokonon because he felt that Bokononism is not necessary. Vonnegut uses John to show that the readers acknowledge an understanding, idea, and sense into Bokononism.
In another passage when John is in San Lorenzo researching about the day the atomic bomb dropped, John is introduced to Frank, one of three children of Felix Hoenikker’s. “Papa” Monzano, the current dictator of San Lorenzo at the time, ends up dying because of ice-nine. Frank was the next person in line to become the president of San Lorenzo, but denies it because he wishes to follow his dad, Felix Hoenikker, in science. Felix is the inventor of ice-nine which is a weapon that turns any liquid into solids within seconds. Frank wishes John to become the dictator and says “Well, if you’re going to be President, I think you really ought to marry Mona. But you don’t have to, if you don’t want to. You’re the boss.”(Vonnegut 137). Frank also says, “It’s predicted in The Books of Bokonon that she’ll marry the next President of San Lorenzo.”(Vonnegut 137). John agrees to become dictator because of persuasion in religion of Bokononism and Mona, the national symbol of a beautiful young woman. A few moments after, when John becomes dictator of San Lorenzo and talks to Frank about presidency during a dinner, John struggles for help. Kurt Vonnegut suggests that religion is often mistaken for ruling. John says, “I asked Frank how we might best time the announcement of my elevation to the Presidency. He was no help, had no ideas; he left it all up to me. ‘I thought you were going to back me up,’ I complained.”(Vonnegut 150). John made a terrible mistake for accepting Frank’s offer. After marrying Mona, they both found out that they both weren’t meant together. This is irony because in The Books of Bokonon, the next person to rule San Lorenzo is destined to be with Mona. John has no idea how to rule so he asks for guidance from people and religion, Bokononism. John believing in absolute lies for guidance is ridiculous, which made him lose faith and starts realizing the truth. “And I found it impossible not to lean on God. I had never needed such support before, and so had never believed that such support was available. Now, I found that I had to believe in it—and I did.”(Vonnegut 152). Therefore he converts himself into a new religion of Christianity. Vonnegut emphasizes that John has no leadership experience when becoming dictator, which made John, in desperate need of help, to ask for guidance in religion.
In the end, John realizes the truth from thinking to himself and talking to Bokonon. John tells himself, “Such a depressing religion!”(Vonnegut 189). In a way, Vonnegut suggests that John is helpless and a fool because Vonnegut writes depressing in italicizes. Vonnegut shows that John has lost all sense because near the end of the play, the whole world is frozen with ice-nine due to an air show incident which crashed into the castle and leaks ice-nine into the ocean. Vonnegut shows that the world is near an ending because of John, using his religion to rule instead of law and the justice system. John only had started to become dictator using religion for rules of San Lorenzo and falls apart suddenly. At the end, Vonnegut uses Bokonon to say, “If I were a younger man, I would write a history of human stupidity;”(Vonnegut 191). Vonnegut shows that John has been fooled from the start believing in Bokononism of absolute lies. Bokonon tells John directly finishing The Books of Bokonon of relation in human stupidity. John realizes the truth at the resolution of the novel with the world coming to an end.
Moreover, Vonnegut shows that colliding two cultures can cause a dilemma between nationalism and religion. John becoming dictator had no experience which resorted to following the religion being a Bokononist and converting himself into Christianity. John symbolizes a person who comes into rule clueless, also mistaken for presidency and religion. Vonnegut shows that the novel depicts that people who becomes president or in rule by following religion is bizarre because there is no law and justice system, only beliefs. Beliefs and ruling are two different subjects. Vonnegut acknowledges the collision of the two in the novel to give the readers an understanding of failure. Religious beliefs are every ones moral value. Ruling is the law of nationalism, having punishments for breaking the rules.
John Nguyen
Ryan Gallagher
English 12 CP, Period 7
25 November 2008
Hemmingway Rewrites the Beginning of “A Rose for Emily”
It was a dark, gloomy, and rainy day when everyone went to the funeral. Everyone had left the town to come to the funeral where her street had been loud. Our whole town felt the sympathy for Miss Emily Grierson.
“Miss Emily Grierson died in a common way,” one man said.
“Common?”
“She has died because of old age.”
“How do you know?”
“The town is talking about it.”
The two men stood at the funeral listening about Miss Emily Grierson. The funeral took place on her street where it had been loud. Everybody in town was there. It was a memorable day, not where everybody was gossiping about Miss Emily Grierson. She was the center of the town that made everyone joyous to talk about.
“The death of her father alarmed the town.” said the man.
“What did the town do?”
“Repaved her cement sidewalk, but the mayor, Colonel Sartoris told Miss Emily Grierson that her father had given money to the town. Since he was a bright mayor, he lied about this, and Miss Emily Grierson had believed it, even though she doesn’t take charity.”
“Then what happened?”
“After the next generation, the new town mayor mailed her a tax notice, also telling her to call the sheriff when she can.”
“Did she pay the taxes?”
“Miss Emily Grierson replied in an old fashion way, indicating that she doesn’t go out anymore, which made the new mayor enclosed the tax, without any reason.”
“Why did he close her taxes?”
“I wouldn’t know why, but later on they called a special meeting of the Board for Aldermen for Miss Emily Grierson.”
“But I thought you said she doesn’t go out anymore?”
“She doesn’t. The meeting took place at her house; Miss Emily Grierson didn’t even ask the Board of Aldermen to sit down. She listened quietly during the meeting.
“What was the meeting intentionally for?”
“She said she had no taxes, because of Colonel Sartoris, but that was the old generation where he past away for almost ten years ago.”
“So she never paid her taxes?”
“She clearly stated that she has no taxes in Jefferson because of Colonel Sartoris, who intentionally made up the story of her father giving money to the town.”
John Nguyen
In Hamlet, by William Shakespeare, act three scene one carries one of the most famous soliloquys in all of literature. In my opinion, out of the three videos, I think that this video is the best interpretation for the scene because the setting and video in general is straight forward. The director is suggesting that Hamlet has a conflict between himself through the use of setting and tone. The second video with Alexander Fodor was too plain and dull in my opinion. The white scene expresses nuetrality greatly, but the setting was quite confusing. I also didn’t understand why he had to record this soliloquy, but also having the camera mainly focus in his eye wasn’t too brilliant because it doesn’t express emotion. I feel that this scene didn’t make the audience feel what Hamlet is feeling. The third video with Laurence Olivier seems to old compare to modern day today. I wouldn’t think it would be eye catching to people, and the sounds of the winds in this video makes it harder to hear him acting out the soliloquy.
In the beginning of the soliloquy, I feel that the start of the setting was done well, because its colors of the room is mainly black and white, but shows royalty, which fits Hamlet, the prince of Denmark. Hamlet giving the soliloquy to the mirror is well done because it gives the audience an understanding of the character conflict. The conflict being shown is protagonist versus self because Hamlet is basically speaking to himself in this scene questioning about death. The use of the mirror is also a brilliant idea because it gives the audience a straight forward answer of Hamlet having a conflict within himself while speaking the soliloquy. Hamlet says, “To die, to sleep—no more—and by sleep to say we end the heartache and the thousand natural shocks that flesh us heir to— ‘tis a consummation devoutly to be wished.” This quote shows how Hamlet is debating with himself about fate because of death. Hamlet speaks about it and questions to himself, which gives the audience a feel of Hamlet’s situation. This soliloquy is important in the play because it is referring to his uncle. This soliloquy also gives significance whether or not Hamlet is going to avenge his father, because of his wicked brother murdering his father in his sleep. The black and white in this scene is not too overwhelming, which makes it not distraction for the audience to notice. Having done this, the audiences will most likely keep their attention on Hamlet, which will give a deeper meaning to the soliloquy.
In this video, while the actor is having the soliloquy, there is a type of horror music in the background that is not too low or high while the actor is talking. Having the music too high makes the music overwhelming while the character is speaking. Having the music too low will most likely make the music useless because the audience will most likely not hear it. This is almost as important as the soliloquy because it gives the audience a sense of prediction. Listening to the low music gives somewhat of a horror feel. The director choosing this music to play as the soliloquy is going on is a well done action for the video because it makes the audience feel what Hamlet is feeling. Hamlet at this point is pondering about himself and his fate, which is close to confusion and determination. Hamlet feels that his uncle is a traitor at this point, which should most likely have the audience on Hamlet’s side also because the murder of a brother should have consequences. In general, killing a family member, and killing a person in general is not right in the ways of the world perspective. Hamlet’s uncle killing his father shows greediness and a person who is cold hearted because he murdered his own brother to take throne in royalty. The music and theme in this video gives the audience a sense of tone and mood to feel as if the audience were in Hamlet’s position.
As Hamlet goes on with this soliloquy, he says, “With a bare bodkin? Who would fardels bear, to grunt and sweat under a weary life, but that dread of something after death, the undiscovered country from whose bourn no traveler returns, puzzles the will and makes us rather bear those ills we have than fly to others that we know not of? Thus conscience does make cowards of us all” towards the mirror. While looking at the mirror, the director most likely had this setting planned out which I thought was perfect for this scene because the mirror is the main focus that’s straight forward. Hamlet speaks to himself while looking at the mirror and as he draws his dagger out when saying, “With a bare bodkin?” towards the mirror, it startles the two people behind the mirror who are basically spying on Hamlet to see his conditions. In a split second, the director decides to show one of the character who is behind the mirror reaction. Scaring the two people behind the mirror was definitely a good idea because the audience knows how they feel towards Hamlet, and at the same time, it makes Hamlet’s character look somewhat like a lunatic. This mirror seems as if it’s a reflection on one side, and on the other side it’s see through. This part makes Hamlet dominant because he pulls out the dagger. Pulling out the dagger gives a feel of power and violence. The dagger also shows a sign of death and basically gives the audience a kind of prediction of Hamlet.
Overall, Hamlet delivers the line while whispering towards the mirror. This action from the director is well done because it tells the audience he doesn’t have to speak so loud because no one is around. This soliloquy is important to the play because it gives one of the main point of Hamlet’s perspectives. It makes the audience ponder about what’s going to happen next. Hamlet is speaking clearly and gently, but at the same time it makes him seem as if he’s crazy because of the dagger. In my opinion the directors decision of this video for act three scene one was a well done job because it gave me a better understanding of the soliloquy after watching it repetitively. The main point is to show how Hamlet is reacting at this point in the play. I feel that the director using the camera to focus on the mirror reflection of Hamlet was a good angle to shoot the scene because it basically shows a character versus oneself conflict situation.
