"Stop and Search" Proposal

    If I were to ask you to think about what comes to mind when you think of police officers and Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz, you would most likely have completely different ideas. When people think of police officers, ideas of authority, protection, and even violence come to mind, while Dorothy could be considered a symbol of innocence and nostalgia. But what happens when we combine them together? What is the significance of using two compellingly opposite characters to portray a deeper meaning? The art piece “Stop and Search” by the anonymous graffiti artist, Banksy, is illustrated in his usual black and white stenciling technique. However, similar to all of his art pieces this particular work is also rooted in satire and an anti-establishment agenda. 

This artwork is particularly relevant because it confronts an issue that has been present in our society for decades: police establishments becoming increasingly invasive and controlling rather than protective. Within the last year police establishments across the country have been under fire for excess use of force against citizens and their abuse of power that almost always results in violence. These are issues that support the reasoning behind “Stop and Search”, which forms an important part of Banksy’s anti-establishment practice. It perfectly represents an invasive practice that has been criticized for targeting minority groups and uses Dorothy, who symbolizes the people who fall victim to this practice. Banksy shows his audience that a character as seemingly virtuous as Dorothy isn’t safe from being mishandled by the police, accentuating the absurdity of the policy. 

It is also important to note that Banksy is one of many artists known for giving a platform to political and social commentary and human experiences through an artistic lens.