This past week I had to submit an essay for an ethics course here at Marywood. The instructor was kind enough to allow an option for us to select a topic that interests us or relates to our major. The paper was assigned roughly around the same time that Banksy’s Love is in the Bin stunt occurred, so what better a topic for an ethics paper, than an artist who shredded his own work after it sold for $1.4 million?

In the paper, I argue that Banksy was indeed ethical in his decisions. It wasn’t some decision that was made on a whim, it was a deliberate plan that was designed way before the piece was ever sold. When the buyer purchased the piece of art, it was not destroyed but rather finished. To top it all off, the piece was even granted a new name to dignify the completed creation. The named was originally auctioned as Girl With Balloon, the most iconic Banksy image, and was later renamed Love is in the Bin as it has become something entirely separate piece.

My paper went into a pretty lengthy discussion on the technicality of how it was ethical, but I will spare you all the meticulous details. In summary, Banksy was ultimately just withholding their reputation as an artist with a mission. The only difference this time is that instead of changing the conversation, he changed history.

It’s an extremely interesting event that creates an abundance of discussion, I encourage everyone to read up on it or share your own opinions with me in the comments.

As always, thank you for the read.

I own no rights to the featured image, it was collected from the Newsweek.com website.