Nicole Blangiardi and Emily Krueger
Professor Emerson
ENG 110 J
22 March 2018
Let’s Talk About Art
We wanted to center this project on what we believe is art. We chose an artist that is not necessarily well known, as he is often anonymous, known as Banksy. He was an artist who demonstrated his work through the acts of graffiti. He was a political activist and film director, and his graffiti work was focused on the dark humor of society. His artwork is well known in the streets, walls, and bridges of cities throughout the world. Here is the piece of artwork that we centered our project on. There is no title for this piece of art however it was created on a wall in Boston. This was quite interesting but we soon realized he was an anonymous artist. As told by Nicole, “When I first saw this piece of graffiti it was kind of like hitting a realization point. Growing up since a young age, I was always told to follow my dreams but as I got older that phrase started to slowly fade away as that phrase of encouragement didn’t hold so much to it’s meaning.” As a person gets older the realization of life creeps up, makes life seem harder than you thought. Life is complicated, but even with life being a rollercoaster of a ride it doesn’t mean for a person to not chase their dreams.
When you look at this artwork, you see a man next to some bold phrases. The man looks weary and unhappy, maybe even disappointed. Everyone has their own interpretation of this man, but to me, Emily, this man seems as if at a young age he had this huge dream and desire to create art and make it big, but then ended up not being able to pursue this dream of his. Its like he painted the words cancelled on himself as his dream is now expired because sometimes in life everything doesn’t work out the way one plans. We feel like this piece is quite powerful, as it can be a wakeup call or even an inspiration as his goal was to leave a message to the American people.
Interview:
We chose to interview our friend, who ironically loves Banksy’s work and inspired us to do this project on him. Dawson we know that this is your favorite artist, what are your opinions on Banksy and his piece of work right here?
Dawson: I feel like he indulges in satire and that’s what his main pieces are about and I like how he is kind of anti-society in a way and I like how he fights against “the man.” And specifically about the piece it is bold and transcends an easy message and that is to show that the American Dream is dead in my opinion
So do you feel like this particular piece matters?
Dawson: To artists I fell like it matters more than to civilians because people still go for this “dream” that he is making fun of
Does this artwork motivate you?
Dawson: It doesn’t motivate me, but it definitely makes me see a different side of society
What is your personal history with art and what do you consider to be art?
Dawson: My personal history with art is ‘how to study art history’ in my senior year of high school, so I know a little bit about it and I follow Banksy to an extent when I have to. I consider art to be anything that is thought out and sends a message
Thanks Dawson, it was nice hearing your opinion.
We feel like Dawson made an excellent point, talking about the American Dream. It’s like to Banksy the American Dream no longer exists. It has been destroyed almost in a way where Americans to do portray themselves as being free anymore and to follow a dream, freedom is required. After revisiting this image and listening to what Dawson had to say, we realize the center of this image is focused on the depression era. I, Nicole, realize that my initial thought was correct, that this man was in fact the one who drew the cancelled sign across the words “follow your dreams.” He does this because he is no longer living his dreams and wants other people to not experience theirs as well. The American dream isn’t being followed. Banksy, wants his audience, and everyone, to consider their dreams and their reality. When we as American people can take ownership of this piece of artwork, then we can finally remove this cancelled sign and finally change our life and the world we live in.
