Oral sur l'artiste Banksy en anglais

                                        LLCE ORAL :

        To begin with, I've decided to present "Crayon Boy", a work by Banksy. Banksy is one of the world's most famous street artists. However, he keeps his identity a secret; his secrecy and his brilliant works fascinate people. His art doesn't just give playful life to ordinary buildings and streets; it promotes a message of peace, freedom and justice, and denounces the excesses of our society, its system and its flaws. Banksy clearly wants to raise consciences; some see him as an odious vandal, others as a brilliant genius. So, “Crayon Boy” appeared in Westwood, Los Angeles, in 2011 on the wall of the "Urban Outfitters" store. On the one hand we will discuss how this painting portrays innocence and creativity of childhood. And on the other hand we’ll analyze the impact of war and its violence on pure children.

        First, we can see a presumed Vietnamese boy, the landscape surrounding him represents the idea of innocence and what a child of this age is supposed to do, draw his imagination, here through flowers, butterflies and a sun, which are simple, innocent and colorful drawings. In addition, the pencil is a powerful tool of imagination and expression, embodying the purity of childhood freed from the burdens of the adult world.

The work suggests that creativity is a fundamental aspect of childhood, allowing a child to freely explore and express his thoughts and emotions, and to create without limits or constraints.

        Nevertheless, childhood innocence is turned into violence, as the crayon used by the child to draw is transformed into a weapon. If we look closely at the work, we can see that the refills for his weapon are not metal bullets but colored pencils, reinforcing the fact that he is giving up his childhood to fight for his life. In addition, the boy has been painted in dark, monochrome tones, in a more realistic style that contrasts with the childlike imagery of his surroundings. We can presume that the boy is wearing a military coat and cap, as he would represent children during the Vietnam War. This war was marked by its devastating, tragic and considerable impact on children, depriving them of their childhood, their security, their education and the possibility of a better future. More generally, as this work is set in Los Angeles and was made at a time when the USA was breaking records in terms of gun violence and deaths, it can also be seen as a strong statement against guns and for gun control in the USA.

It is a powerful commentary on the loss of childhood in a society plagued by war or gun crime, where children are forced to face violence and destruction from an early age.

        In conclusion, through his work Banksy denounces the fact that a child is not supposed to hold a gun to fight for his life, but to let his imagination, creativity and innocence speak through age-appropriate actions. Banksy forces the public to reflect on the impact that war and violence can have on a child's development and childhood.

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