Professional Documents
Culture Documents
ILp
jW
Recommendedfor Grades9-12
Learning Ojectives
"Whileparticipating i the activities suggested by
this instrucional resouce, students will acquire
a deeper understanding of how Banksys art
addressethde prceses of public interaction,
trvei
n,
anddialue involved in street art.
Students will:
issues it raises;
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Figure 1.Street art by Banksy. Photograph taken by Alex MacNaughton, from his book London StreetArt (2006).
Reprinted with permission from photographer.
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Instructional Resources
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Figure 2. A playful boy with bucket by Banksy on the West Bank barrier. Photograph taken by Richard Shotton/i-globe.org.
Reprinted with permission.
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Dialogue Activity
Before showing Figures 2 and 3 to students, teachers should
encourage them to share what they know about the West Bank
barrier and provide further background information if necessary.
These images can be used to discuss issues of living with terrorism
in relation to the barrier and illuminate the importance of context
to understanding street art. Street art can add a powerful subversive
meaning to a site if displayed with the site's context in mind. Questions for dialogue using Figure 2 include the following:
1. Describe what you see.
2. What is Banksy trying to tell viewers through this picture?
3. What possible issues does this picture raise?
4. Is the site where this picture is shown important? How so?
5. How would you interpret this picture if you saw it in your neighborhood? Would the picture's meaning change if seen on the West
Bank barrier versus on your neighborhood street wall? How so?
Instructional Resources
Figure 3. Street art stenciled by Banksy on the West Bank barrier. Photograph taken by Richard Shotton/i-globe.org. Reprinted with permission.
Kissing Policemen
Several of Banksy's images of kissing policemen (see Figure 4)
have been seen in London city streets. The representation of these
policemen forces pedestrians to revisit their conceptions of homosexuality and masculinity and to confront the issue of homophobia.
In societies, including that of America, heterosexual couples are
often free to show their affection in public while homosexual couples
cannot. These latter displays of affection are considered a social taboo.
Banksy's kissing policemen can be used to explore such concerns,
and hopefully to develop respect toward differences among human
beings.' In America, it is not uncommon to hear school children use
homophobic language to humiliate their peers or make deliberate,
malicious jokes. Students uninformed about homosexuality are
more likely to form prejudices and use offensive behavior toward gay
people. Another direction for initiating discussions about homosexuality is to introduce the concept of heteronormality. In other words,
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Figure 4. Street art by Banksy. Photograph taken by Scott Davis. Reprinted with permission.
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Instructional Resources
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RESOURCES
http://www.banksy.co.uk/
http://www.instructables.com/
http://www.youtube.com
REFERENCES
Akbar, A. (2006, May 16). Banksy takes to streets to highlight Aids crisis. The
Independent. Retrieved December, 2008, from http://www.independent.
co.uk/
Bou, L. (2005). Street art: The sprayfiles. New York: Collins Design, Monsa.
Erickson, M. (2002). What are artworlds and why are they important? In M.
Erickson & B. Young (Eds.), Multiculturalartworlds:Enduring,evolving,
and overlapping traditions(pp. 17-25). Reston, VA: National Art Education
Association.
Fischer, T. R. (1982). A study of educators'attitudes toward homosexuality.
Unpublished doctoral dissertation, University of Virginia, Charlottesville,
VA.
Lampela, L. (1996). Concerns of gay and lesbian caucuses within art,
education, and art education. Art Education, 49(2), 20-4.
Lasn, K. (1999). Culturejam: The uncooling of America (TM). New York: Eagle
Brook.
Lunn, M. (2006). Street art uncut. Australia: Craftsman House.
MacNaughton, A. (2006). London street art.London: Prestel.
Manco, T. (2002). Stencil graffiti. New York: Thames & Hudson.
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ENDNOTES
1 Culture jamming is an activist tactic for breaking corporate domination over
what we consume and experience (Lasn, 1999). Culture jammers appropriate
mainstream media constructs or produce alternative cultural forms to illuminate important issues or question social practices.
2 The lack of discussion about homosexuality or gay issues in schools has
encouraged ignorance and fear about homosexuality. A consequence of ignorance is intolerance based on sexual orientation, leading people and several
states in the United States to adopt practices that are openly discriminatory
(Fischer, 1982; Lampela, 1996).
3 Websites such as YouTube.com and Instructables.com have numerous stepby-step video demonstrations for art teachers unfamiliar with stenciling techniques. A stencil can be made out of paper, translucent mylar, or poster board
and the image can be set using fabric spray paint, which is recommended to
get a cleaner result. Due to possible health hazards, spray paint should not be
used in the classroom.
4 Guerrilla communication is a communication method and a political intervention using street performance/events or public engagements designed to
disrupt or change the public's perceptions.
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