WHAT YOU WILL DO

OBJECTIVES:

• Define and understand terms that are key to a debatable topic.

• Apply that term to the support of a particular perspective.

• Apply pattern to supporting a perspective.

Topic/Prompt

What is art? How do you define that term? How do dictionary definitions and societal definitions match up with your criteria for what makes a piece "art" or the creator an "artist?" Bansky, along with other prominent figures in today's art world, is the subject of this essay, is an elusive figure, graffiti artist, and political activist.

He has worked with graffiti since the 1990s, claiming to subvert his government's label that his work is vandalism. He was nominated for an Academy Award for his film, Exit Through the Gift Shop. This film explores the graffiti art movement spearheaded by Banksy and the repercussions of that movement, manifested through the work of Mr. Brainwash, Thierry Guetta, who became an artist after documenting the work of other graffiti artists. Is Banksy's work is truly art? What about Mr. Brainwash (Thierry Guetta)? Is he an artist? How do we know?

FRESHMAN COMPOSITION and ASSIGNMENT OVERVIEW

For this essay, you will define the concept/term "art" based on the denotation (dictionary definition), connotation (societal, cultural, historical interpretations of the word), specific examples from the film, and your personal observations (what you think it means/what you associate with that word based on experience and observation) of the term. You'll develop three criteria or characteristics to define a piece as art and the creator of that piece as artist. You will use those criteria to argue whether or not graffiti by street artists like Banksy create a valid form
or facet of art.

Developing your Essay

To complete this assignment, follow these steps:

1. First, define what art means using the dictionary and your own connotative definitions. Come up with three criteria or qualities that to you help define what is or isn't art. Develop this definition in your introductory paragraph.Your thesis should explain whether or not the work created by Banksy and others like him is art based on your criteria. You can also focus entirely on Mr. Guetta aka Mr. Brainwash. Is his approach to the movement art in the same way that Banksy's approach is art?

2. Second,use the body and conclusion of your essay to apply your criteria to graffiti/street art. Are Bansky and others who create graffiti artists according to the criteria you established?Support the assertion that street graffiti is art. Or support the assertion that street graffiti is not art (you are free to use vandalism as the alternative or develop you own argument as to why street graffiti work is not art).

3. Third, you should draw from personal experiences, use examples, and consider the opposing POV. You can use cultural/historical/societal example.