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New statue in London, attributed to Banksy, of a suited man, blinded by a flag

smithsonianmag.com

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Re: New statue in London, attributed to Banksy, of a suited man, blinded by a flag

#61

Banksy is the patron saint of the “I’m 13 and this is deep” mentality.

He's also king of the "I'll criticize the west but I'll turn a blind-eye to non-democratic countries' wrongdoings". A trait shared with virtually all intellectuals and artists in the west.

There are fights worth fighting: for example there are 300 million women alive who have undergone forced genital mutilation. 300 million ain't cheap change. There are also hundreds of millions of people who applauded the killing of 1200 young civilians who were enjoying life at a music festival "because it's resistance".

Applauding the killing of young unarmed civilians, genitally mutilating women and turning a blind-eye to a regime slaughtering 30 000+ of its own unarmed civilians is where I personally draw the line and consider there are maybe more important things to complain about than, say, "the patriarchal western society built by heterosexual white men" or some other woke non-sense like that.

Now to be honest Banksy did art criticizing war overall, not just war started by the west. So a generous reading could consider that he also criticizes things like the 800 000 deaths during the Hutu vs Tutsi war.

But still overall: lots of balls from western artists when it's about criticizing the west, but tiny tiny nuts when it's about, say, attacking the ideology that is responsible for 300 people enjoying music at the Bataclan and then getting slaughtered.

But these people can live with their own conscience: I speak up and I've got mine.

Re: New statue in London, attributed to Banksy, of a suited man, blinded by a flag

#62

Banksy's "anonymity" is a total farce at this point, thoroughly supported by those in power.

I'm not sure what you mean by "Those in power" there are lot's of people who know, but recognise that he has chosen anonymity and see no value in putting a name to the person.

It's not so much a secret as it is simply not public.

Re: New statue in London, attributed to Banksy, of a suited man, blinded by a flag

#63

Really makes you think. I guess Palestine and Ukraine should just give up.

[flagged]

Israel should give up on the apartheid, genocide, and the war crimes. No one but the worst of the worst Zionists want to see the continuation of the last 80 years.

Re: New statue in London, attributed to Banksy, of a suited man, blinded by a flag

#64

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"Blinded by nationalism" I don't know, seems like a clear concise message that has relevance in today's world.

Is it though? This can mean anything. Is waving a Palestinian flag the same as waving an Israeli flag? Where do we draw the line between harmful and productive nationalism? Who exactly is blinded by nationalism? It is vague enough to appear deep to those trying to find something deep but not concrete enough to appear as anything that will stick in people's minds for more than a week. Unfortunately a lot of modern art…

Both Israel and Palestine are blinded by ideology. It is a very common failure mode for people.

Re: New statue in London, attributed to Banksy, of a suited man, blinded by a flag

#65

Banksy is the patron saint of the “I’m 13 and this is deep” mentality.

Are you from the UK and know what the piece is a reference to? It’s topical and unpretentious and comes at a time where the country is splintering. Feels a like a bit of a distant midwit take to take shots at the appeal it has.

Splintering? You have two zombie parties that are really the same in different colours. Of course people are going to vote for other parties that seem more left/right wing. Predictable consequence.

Re: New statue in London, attributed to Banksy, of a suited man, blinded by a flag

#67

Banksy is the patron saint of the “I’m 13 and this is deep” mentality.

Are you from the UK and know what the piece is a reference to? It’s topical and unpretentious and comes at a time where the country is splintering. Feels a like a bit of a distant midwit take to take shots at the appeal it has.

Explain like I'm 13 and don't live in the UK.

Re: New statue in London, attributed to Banksy, of a suited man, blinded by a flag

#68

Banksy is the patron saint of the “I’m 13 and this is deep” mentality.

"Blinded by nationalism" I don't know, seems like a clear concise message that has relevance in today's world.

Why nationalism? A flag can represent more than a nation. Can be blinded by any "flag" / ideology.

Re: New statue in London, attributed to Banksy, of a suited man, blinded by a flag

#70
post #18

I think it's a reasonable statue. But does anyone else think it's a bit obvious, more so than his other work? Like there is no doubt on the meaning at all, it's all right there on the surface level.

Not sure we think of Banksy as being particularly subtle. Innovative and impactful, sure - but the message is usually quite clear, no?

It's always been about as subtle as a sledge hammer
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