Responding to Banksy
In a show, such as the Simpsons, which is so scrutinized that changing the object of a TV in the introduction sequence became an international media event, it’s worth noting that the artists creating the work probably intended every single nuance of meaning, and it’s not surprising that Banksy’s (2010) guest sequence contains many complex ideas.
But, while it is possible to try to dissect every element of Banksy’s extended introduction to the Simpsons and pull meaning from these elements, it’s also worthwhile taking a more aesthetic view to the episode, and simply ask “what is he trying to teach us?”
Elements of the work touch on the concept of Work itself, and Art, being both labor that is devalued (merchandised, subverted and commodified — in line with what Adorno and Horkheimer (2007) termed “culture industries”) the episode makes a very large point of Art being something we instinctively create when writing on, or off, a chalkboard.
Therefore, Banksy seems to be fighting Adorno and Horkheimer’s ideas of ‘culture industries’ for packaging, using the culture industry’s tools themselves. Banksy’s other work, such as his self-shredding painting, are further examples of his own attempts to fight this commodification. To preserve his “Aura” he is anonymous, invisible, ephemeral.
Once we have grasped this concept ourselves, and our impacts (which are portrayed as being toxic, radiation-dipped merchandise that is literally killing people) what obligations do we have? Knowledge is power, after all, and “with great power comes great responsibility” (to both quote Spiderman, and to paraphrase Emannuel Kant’s Moral Imperative).
Well. We can:
· Care.
· Credit your influences.
· Don’t buy from Wish (ugh I’m so guilty)
· Cite your sources.
· Properly tag your mash-ups.
· Credit your memes.
· Acknowledge the post-modern pastiche of intertextuality that exists (all writing is made up of other things).
· Steal only in need from those with power.
· Pay in rep.
· Fix abusive systems.
· Pay for your porn.
· Make art.
Thank you.
Public link available here: https://medium.com/@sparksman/responding-to-banksys-simpsons-d83cbd4588d5
References
Greszes, S. (2018). Why Shitposting is the 2018 version of post-WWI Dadaist art — Polygon. Retrieved October 4, 2019, from Polygon website: https://www.polygon.com/2018/12/17/18142124/shitposting-memes-dada-art-history
Kruse, N. (2010). MoneyBart Introduction. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sSU1IJk70i4
McLuhan, M. (1964). Understanding media: The extensions of man (1st MIT Press ed). Cambridge, Mass: MIT Press.
