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Essay / A visual analysis of the graffiti works done by Banksy
Graffiti works have always been something that people overlook. People pass it on the walls of alleys, on bridges, on wagons and never pay much attention to it. The world views graffiti as something rebellious teenagers do to get an adrenaline rush or break the rules. Artist Banksy shows that graffiti can be much more than just spray paint on a wall: it can send a message. Banksy painted graffiti on every wall in England, each sending a different message and standing out to the viewer with its modern style. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay The image created by Banksy is located in a dark alley or a rundown part of the city. The viewer can see this by looking at the paint splatters, chipped rocks, and cracks in the wall. These features show that this particular part of the city is not very well maintained. Dark colors, such as military greens, dull grays, and charcoal blacks, create a somber ambiance in this room. The main theme of this image is children's bodies with televisions as heads. The figures are placed in the middle of the wall, where a weak light illuminates the bodies and the center of the wall. Cables are attached to the child-like bodies and hang behind them. The cables present the idea that the figures must be plugged in to work. In this image, the childish bodies are black and resemble silhouettes. The televisions are topped with a single red dot from which two antennas protrude. The screens are black and the television box is white. Overall, the impression of this image is bleak, given that it is in a dark alley and on a dilapidated wall. Banksy claims that media and the constant use of electronics control younger generations, showing three small figures with televisions as heads. The most important part of this piece is the head of each character. This shows the audience viewing the image that there is a takeover of the brain, whether it be electronics or media. By making the heads be televisions, the artist asserts that electronics are the only thing young people focus on these days. Younger generations are constantly on social media, playing games or watching videos, and it consumes their brains. Children and teens are constantly on their phones or tablets, whether at dinner, at school, in their free time, and even at social events. Their brains are controlled by what they see on screens. The children's bodies add to the image to send the message that media and the electronic age have the greatest effect on young people. Behind the bodies hang cables with plugs at their ends. This adds to the control part of the argument. Banksy wants to show the metaphor of youth needing to be “plugged in” to function, just like a television needs to be plugged in to turn on. Today's youth are rarely seen without an electronic device in hand. Banksy adds to the argument by describing that without a device or being “plugged in,” young people cannot function or “turn on.” There is a repetition in this graffiti, televisions and children's bodies. The three characters all look the same, showing that because of the media and what young people see on television, they don't want to be their own person. With this repetition of bodies and television heads, Banksy makes.