Download
1 / 18
180 likes | 185 Views
This artwork by renowned street artist Banksy depicts a small girl in a pink dress being frisked by a soldier, symbolizing the injustice and lack of liberty faced by Palestinians. The image challenges the logic of illegal searches and highlights the emotional response of viewers. Through this piece, Banksy aims to provoke thought and raise awareness about the Palestine-Israel conflict.
E N D
Visual Rhetoric Presentation Matthew Zuccari
Background Information • This piece of art was done by the well-known British street artist Banksy. Although Banksy’s true identity is semi-unknown, he has been credited with numerous pieces of conceptual and political art across the globe. • Throughout all of his career, Banksy has never been convicted for the seemingly infinite accounts of vandalism and breaking and entering. • This was the first piece that Banksy performed in his campaign through Palestine and Israel to protest Israel’s construction of a wall of segregation between the two nations. The work was done on the Palestinian side in Bethlehem to symbolize their suppression and lack of liberty.
The first thing that usually grabs the viewers’ attention is the small girl’s bright pink dress. This illustrates how the subject matter of this work is very odd and unusual.
Clearly, the image illustrates a proverbial turning of tables as the seemingly innocent perform a search on the one who is seen as the regular accuser and violator. This highlights how illogical and foolish some actions of armies are.
The extremely militant, aggressive, and war-prepared soldier is obviously juxtaposed against the small, seemingly innocent, and feminine child. This comparison creates a definitely opposite atmosphere than what is normally seen.
The main audience of this piece of art would be the Palestinians who would be viewing the wall daily and seeing the injustice of the Israeli presence. Also, avid followers of Banksy would look at this image online or elsewhere.
The graffiti makes the idea of illegal searches and seizures seem illogical in and of itself. The ability to act, speak, and express freely seem even more logical by the action seen in the image.
Since the artwork was created by the well-known guerilla artist Banksy, it gains some credibility. What allows the work to become even more credible is the fact that the image is an artistic response to the very famous issues between Israel and Palestine.
The work is definitely one that rouses significant emotional response. The art work comes off in a very literal manner as humorous, odd, and even insane. However, if one looks at the piece from a different perspective, the very modernist version of the idealisms of liberty, freedom, and justice are riled up.
Works Cited • Banksy. Girl And A Soldier. 2005. Bethlehem, Palestine. Web. 29 Oct. 2011. • “80+ Beautiful Street Crimes done by BANKSY.” boredpanda.com. Bored Panda, n.d. Web. 29 Oct. 2011. • Parry, Nigel. “Banksy ‘The Palestinian Job’.” Brian Sewell Art Directory, 2 Sep. 2005. 29 Oct. 2011.
