A Rhetorical Analysis of Banksy's Body of Work

Persuasion is not isolated to oral and written argument. Banksy applies the concepts established throughout the history of rhetoric to the artwork he creates all around the world. So who is Banksy? Good question. Only Banksy knows for sure. Banksy is the pseudonym used by an anonymous British street artist, notorious for the stenciled graffiti and installation art he creates in public spaces. Through his use of satirical images, Banksy takes on issues of war, socio-economic disparity, and urban blight, in an effort to effect change. Often criticized within the art world for his lack of subtlety, his easily interpretable images are the perfect embodiments of the concepts of visual rhetoric.

Banksy employs all three of Aristotle’s rhetorical appeals, ethos, logos, and pathos, in his various works of art. He also utilizes all five canons of rhetoric; invention, arrangement, style, memory, and delivery are all keys factors in the creation of these works of art. His creation of such stylized works of street art are instantly recognizable as works by Banksy because of his unique combination of invention, arrangement and style. His use of public walls is intended as a way to deliver his message to the masses rather than to reserve his works only for the gallery/museum-going public. Banksy's work calls upon the audience's memory to relate his images to what they already know of the world.

While Banksy is perhaps the most well-known artist working in the tradition of street art to spread his messages, he is certainly not the first. Keith Haring's subway tunnel campaign against HIV and SAMO's (Jean Michel Basquiat) diatribe against establishment art, are clear predecessors.