VCE Stuff > AN’s Language Analysis Club

2017 AA Club Week 8

(1/5) > >>

HopefulLawStudent:
Back due to popular demand: Week 8 of the AA Club.

If you haven't been taking part, now is a good time to start. And if you have been taking part, please continue being a part of this great initiative. Hope everyone's exam revision is going well!!!


--- Quote ---Background: A piece of graffiti or art however you want to call it was recently named Britain's favourite artwork. People got mad. Stuff was written on the issue. Here is an opinion piece discussing this. It was accompanied by this visual of the iconic artwork being discussed. Have fun.
--- End quote ---

You'd have to be living under a rock to not be familiar with good old Banksy and his work. From the streets of the world to the internet to our art galleries - the elusive artist's fame seems to be on the up and up. So why is everyone so up in arms at the fact that Britain named his iconic Girl with Balloon as its favourite artwork?

In a climate of much unrest and uncertainty, Banksy, like many other graffiti artists, uses the streets as a canvas to expose and undermine the most sordid aspects of our society. It might not be as high class and sophisticated as some critics would like but surely moving our eyes from our screens and onto the world and issues around us is more important and what better way is there to achieve that then to slap it right in front of us to see on the way to work?

Giving an artistic voice to those who may not have had the opportunity or desire to attend a prestigious art school, it's a vehicle of expression for all; everyone and anyone from the poshest to the most oppressed can enjoy these masterpieces and appreciate that at least someone is out there trying to do what our politicians seem to have forgotten to do amidst their squabbling -- create change.

This is why Banksy's artworks are so heavily appreciated and why this iconic artwork was named Britain's favourite artwork. Who wouldn't love it?

zhen:
The opinion piece emphatically argues that Banksy's artwork allows for the expression and manifestation of one's beliefs, which may incite change throughout society. The article highlights that only those "living under a rock" are unfamilar with Banksy and his work, thereby presenting Banksy as an illustrious and renowned artist. Through this, the writer postions the reader to view the fact Banksy's artwork was named as Britain's favourite as an expected event rather than as an anomaly. By referring the artist as "good old Banksy", the writer employs colloquial language to portray Bansky as a compassionate and caring figure. This prompts the reader to perceive Banksy as a person who is worthy of the honour given to him. Furthermore, the writer's assertion that Banksy undermines the most "sordid aspects of our society", manoeuvres the reader to view Banksy's artwork as a means of enacting justice. The writer continues by stressing the notion that "the poshest to the most oppressed" can appreciate Banksy's artworks. In doing this, the writer suggests that Bansky's artwork appeals to all different types of people in spite of economic status or prosperity. Therein, Bansky's artworks are depicted to the reader as unversally beloved. Additionally, the writer presents Bansky's artwork as "iconic", which has connotations of greatness and excellence, thus further enhancing their portrayal of Bansky's artwork as well as positioning the reader to view it as an artwork worthy of its title. The article concludes with the rhetorical question "who wouldn't love it?", which further alludes to the idea that Banksy's artworks are universally loved. In doing this, the writer endeavours to dichotomise those who critique Banksy's artworks and those who appreciate it. In illustrating Banksy's popularity throughout the article, the writer suggests that the most sensible group of people are those who appreciate Banksy's artwork, hence inclining readers to appreciate and admire Banksy's artwork.

Anonymous:
1 para per argument... sorry about the uneven length of each :/
The author delves into Banksy’s brilliance and talent as an artist. The slang term "good old" before Banksy's name insinuates that the artist continuously fulfils the public's expectations. The sense of casualness, exemplified through the British vernacular, inspires readers to perceive both Banksy and the author as fellow British citizens who have their country's best interests at heart. Moreover, the repetition of up in “up and up" accentuates the incessant rise of Banksy’s prominence. Thus, readers are positioned to recognise his extraordinary talent and may be baffled as to why his masterpieces do not merit the title of Britain’s favourite artwork.

Further, the author accentuates the myriad of benefits stemming from Banksy’s artworks. The revelation that his pieces “expose [the] most sordid of aspects of society” may educe readers’ shock and challenge their preconceived notions that Banksy and by extension, graffiti artists, simply demolish buildings. Instead, the qualifier “most” highlights the power their art yields in tackling seemingly irresolvable problems. Simultaneously, through the verb “expose”, the author portrays Banksy in a righteous hue- with a deliberate intent of revealing morally ignoble acts. Hence, readers are challenged to view the public’s backlash towards as unwarranted and perceive those who are irate as ignorant of Banksy’s veritable intentions. Indeed, readers are compelled to realise that his artworks, which “slap [the problems] right in front of us” is an effective way which undoubtedly forces the public to acknowledge prevalent issues. Additionally, the author appeals to the middle class through the concession that the artwork is ”not as high class and sophisticated as some critics would like" (If I’m not analysing the quote, is there any point in quoting?) and by deliberately mentioning those who “may not have had the opportunity to attend a prestigious art school”. In so doing, readers may recognise the merits of art giving impetus to change to people who, like them, grew up without an artistic experience. Indeed, the repetition of “iconic” and “appreciate” spurs readers to question why they fail to treasure Banksy’s artworks, given its concomitant benefits.

gnaf :
Woops that was me ^

princessofpersia:
hey there, here's my analysis

Beginning the article with a warm description of ‘good- old Banksy’and pairing it with a cliché: that people ‘living under a rock’ wouldn’t know who Banksy is, foregrounds the expectation for the audience, who do not know him, to solidly accept he is a prominent figure in society. His character is further credited by highlighting his success on various platforms ‘from the internet to art galleries’which goes ‘up and up’ allowing for the readers who are not privy with Banksy to establish a limitless renowned and successful image as an artist in their mind. Utilising irony by following a sarcastically confused question, which questions the validity of Britain’s favourite artwork to be an artwork of the highly credited Banksy, the writer attempts to manipulate the readers to view the people, who oppose this decision, as unreasonable and petty in their reasoning.
The following paragraph is designed to reveal the humane and moral sphere of Banksy, which intends to garner attention from the ethical and moral- based readers. Although Banksy is depicted as a ‘graffiti artist’ which may negate the ‘high class and sophisticated’’ persona of Banksy earlier described, the emphasis of Banksy ‘expos[ing]’ and ‘undermin[ing] the most sordid aspects of society’ conveys to the readers of the true honour of art, the righteous and truthful aspect. Ensuring the audience shares this viewpoint, the use of inclusive language to describe the movement of our eyes from growth- preventing ‘screen all day’onto the ‘world and issues around us’ prompts readers to ponder the good and morality of their everyday ‘work.’ This vulnerable questioning moment is utilised by the author to laud Banksy for ‘slap[ping]’ a wake- up call in the audiences’ way to work. Banksy’s decision is implied to enrich the human understanding of the ‘sordid’ world, hence the ethos- characterised audience likely to accept and endorse Banksy’s artwok to be a reciepent of the award. Underlying in the paragraph is Banksy’s moral conflict with the ‘sordid’ world. As the author’s ‘sordid’ description of the world brings attention to the dishonourable and immoral sphere of the globe, Banksy’s depiction as a modern Robin Hood imparts his role as a moral warrior who raises awareness of the socially- destructive elements of the world. In this way, a sense to support Banksy is established within the reader as they do not integrate into the ‘sordid’ world.

(its incomplete- yr 12 and all ;))

Navigation

[0] Message Index

[#] Next page