Download
1 / 9
90 likes | 105 Views
Explore the controversial world of graffiti art, from Banksy's self-destructing masterpiece to cultural jammers challenging societal norms. Is graffiti vandalism or a powerful form of communication? Dive into the intersection of art and mass media.
E N D
SAGE Lecture Spark [10/9/18]
Banksy Shreds Art—Now It May Be Worth More • Banksy rigged a shredding device into his 2006 artwork “Girl With Balloon.” • With this device, he used a remote control to shred the piece right after it had sold for $1.4 million. • Now the piece may be worth more, experts say. • “A representative for Banksy, when reached, cited the artist’s quotation of Picasso that ‘the urge to destroy is also a creative urge.’”
Who Was in on Banksy's ’Self-Destruct' Art Stunt? • Sotheby’s, where the painting sold, says it wasn’t in on the stunt. Some are skeptical of this. • “Is it really credible that Banksy would give the painting away with an embedded, remote-controlled, battery-operated shredder, that would activate 12 years later? At the very least, wouldn't the battery have gone flat?”
Graffiti: Art ofthe Tag • This form of graffiti, of tagging your artist name, is misunderstood. This article gives a brief history. • “In an era where street art and graffiti murals have never been more acceptable to society, tagging has a serious image problem: it's associated with gangs, it's considered mindless vandalism and it challenges our ideas of property ownership.”
Graffiti as Mass Comm. • Graffiti has often served “as a form of communication, especially for those who otherwise did not hold an equal voice in society.” • “Culture Jamming”: “Cultural jammers sabotage large scale advertising in one of two ways- either by renting out billboard space and satirizing large scale corporations, or by writing over existing corporate adverts with graffiti to change the message."
Key Concepts Art andthe Mass Media: • Art can serve the purpose of creating or of expression, but as communication it can also serve to reach a large audience with a message. • These messages, in the case of graffiti, often go beyond expression and into resistance of advertising and social norms—into making statements. • Traditionally graffiti art would only reach a mass audience if the artist’s work received recognition by the fine art world. Now graffiti art can whirl across social media in minutes—a message that reaches millions.
Assessment • Writing: In what ways is art also communication? Use graffiti as an example. • Debate:Does graffiti art do something “wrong” when it defaces public spaces? Does this detract from its message? • Poll: Most of what Banksy does is use stencils to spray paints walls. Are they an artist?Yes or No • Short Answer: Did you hear about this Banksy drama before this lesson? If so, where?
