The rise of street art has allowed the masses to express themselves, sometimes anonymously, and spread their word on current politics. The infamous Banksy has been making headlines around the world, most recently by his comments on Brexit and immigration issues with pieces in Hull. This backstreet art style introduces political problems into the public eye, without making a large scale disruption or demonstration, as you would assume would be necessary to influence public opinion. However, Banksy’s work speaks for the masses against consumerist giants, war and political greed, using...
The rise of street art has allowed the masses to express themselves, sometimes anonymously, and spread their word on current politics. The infamous Banksy has been making headlines around the world, most recently by his comments on Brexit and immigration issues with pieces in Hull. This backstreet art style introduces political problems into the public eye, without making a large scale disruption or demonstration, as you would assume would be necessary to influence public opinion. However, Banksy’s work speaks for the masses against consumerist giants, war and political greed, using simple means of a stencil and paint. His 2015 ‘Dismaland’ brought into question the consumerist obsession of Disneyland as a means to entertain children. He highlighted societies obsession with celebrity culture and showed issues with the law and immigration. His staff were surly and unhelpful, leading to the park’s branding of a ‘bemusement park’.
Another of his works, ‘Shop till you drop’, in London’s West End shopping and hotel district, shows a young girl falling from the side of a building with a full shopping cart. This addresses our obsession with obtaining the latest products and technology, paying no mind to the harm it could be causing to ourselves. This is the same consumerist attitude the DADAists were trying to combat in the early 20th century. We are buying more than ever. The DADA movement began at the start of the First World War, a time where manufacturing and transport efforts were improving. With the mobilisation of the army, DADAists were worried that everybody was becoming mechanised, losing touch with what was important, such as is apparent today with the onslaught of technology.