Banksy's Most Recent Work

For those of you who do not know who Banksy is, Banksy is an England-based graffiti artist, public activist, film director, and painter. He is very famous for his dark humored graffitis all over New York and England. His most recent piece of art work was different; instead of being a classic graffiti on the street, it was a short video.

I watched this video and was very confused at first. In the bottom left is the Al Jazeera logo, the biggest news broadcaster in the Middle-East. The video shows men dressed in military and Middle Easter garb, shoot a rocket launcher at a target in the sky. What comes crashing out of the sky is a flying elephant, one that strongly resembles the beloved disney character, Dumbo.

At the beginning moments of this video, I was scared about what was going to happen. I was scared that what I would see would be very disturbing, and in a way I guess it is. I wonder if this was real footage (not Dumbo falling from the sky obviously), or if this was a scene created by banksy. I honestly can't tell which I would rather have. If it is real footage, I'm scared to think what really fell from the sky; if that was a plane with people inside. If it is a charade put together by Banksy, I'm scared to think what would drive him to make such an extreme video. When Banksy posted this video his caption was, "I'm not posting any pictures today, not after this shocking footage has emerged..."Once again, I can't tell if he is telling us that this is real footage, or if he is being extremely sarcastic. 

Banksy is notorious for his art about peace. It is clear when looking at his sarcastic art that he is no fan of war. He mocks the soldiers and the politicians who are a part of the wars. This video is no different I believe. To have dumbo fall from the sky seems to show that it is childish that we are fighting. Dumbo is entertaining for children, why are grown men with guns ecstatic when they shoot Dumbo out of the sky. The video continues and a kid runs out and looks Dumbo in the eyes. Dumbo then dies, or becomes unconscious and the kid turns around and kids the man in the shin. The man then jumps around in pain much like a cartoon would. I believe that bringing the kid in shows that children don't enjoy the wars either and the fact that the kid is dressed like military shows that he is most likely destined to become a part of the war soon. Banksy showing, and mocking, that children are subjected to the stupidity of war. 

What do you think Banksy's purpose of making this video was? Do you think his caption was mocking or serious? Do you agree with Banksy? Why do you think the kid was apart of the video?