Children in war
Banksy (ukraine)
Persepolis
Goodmorning, my individual oral will focus on children growing up in war and I will look at the
following two works in specific. Firstly, one of the steciled artworks by Banksy found in Ukraine
and secondly, Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi, page 1 the chapter of the veil. In both works I will
discuss the question, ‘How and to what extent does growing up in war affect children?’
0.23
Global issue
The children and families of Ukraine have endured more than eight months of escalating
devastation and displacement. Children continue to be killed, wounded and deeply traumatized
by the violence all around them. Schools, hospitals and other civilian infrastructure on which
they depend continue to be damaged or destroyed. Families have been separated and lives torn
apart. Their childhood innocence is being destroyed earlier than normal. The notion of
innocence refers to children’s simplicity, their lack of knowledge and their purity not yet spoiled
by mundane affairs. But because of these wars a lot of children grow up in their purity is spoiled
and they get a lot of knowledge on things that should not yet worry them.
Sadly it is not only Ukraine where there are children growing up in war, but it happens all over
the world. This is a big issue, no child should have to grow up in a war torn country. They should
be able to grow up without having a care in the world about whether or not they will be alive
tomorrow. Children in war have to live with big losses from an early age on, something has to be
done about this. It is very important for them to keep their innocence, since they have it as a tool
for dealing with the uncertainty and insecurity of life when one is rather helpless, as children are.
Children trust the adults to the adult world’s problems.
Not only do these children have to live during the war, they also often have to participate in it. It
is estimated about 300,000 children in 80 different countries have to participate in armed
conflict. About 50% of civillians that have to fight during the war and die because of it are
children. Which is horrific. Their parents are often also emotionally affected by the war, which
alters their ability to care for their children properly. Something significally bad that happens to
children in war is that they lose their hope. When this happens they give up, they won’t take any
more steps toward their future. A consequence of this we should especially fear is that many
children who are exposed to violence at a young age, come to accept violent acts as a normal
part of life. It puts young people at risk for continuing cycles of violence. Chances are big that
they will discipline their children and spouses in this way as well.
2.09
, 2.41 > 3.18
Banksy
In the middle of November 2022 there were new works of Banksy discovered. These were the
first of his works after one and a half years. The new works he created were all made in
Borodyanka. This town was one of the hardest hit towns by the Russian bombardment at the
end of february. The amount of deaths was one of the highest in the entirety of Ukraine.
The artwork I chose from Banksy is an anti-war work which portrays two children spray painted
onto a concrete block who seem to be sitting on a metal tank trap which is left behind from the
war, which they are using as a seesaw. Banksy is juxtaposing the hope and innocence of
children with the horrors of war and violence. The place that he chose to spray-paint this
stenciled art is quite ironic, seeing as he created this work in the Indepence Square. The irony
is that these children do not have any real independence. They are completely dependent on
the older generation. They are not yet able to fix the problems going on in the world, but have to
wait and see what the adults do about it. So placing these two children in the indepence square
is ironic.
The children are using the metal tank trap as a seesaw. This device is used to stop tanks, once
they hit it they are unable to keep going. These children are playing with it, unaware of what it is.
This is a great depiction of a child's innocence. The children are not fully aware of what is going
on and keep seeing the fun in things. Both children look happy at this moment, the girl's ponytail
is flying up and the boy has his arm up in the air which shows that he is having fun. Seeing as
they are still having fun, you can say that their childhood innocence is not completely lost on
them.
The steciled art by Banksy depicts the life of children in a war very well. They grow up in a
completely different world than most people, they grow up in fear and endure big losses from a
young age. Without having any sort of control over it. The children in the artwork by Banksy are
seeing the world differently than the grown ups. The adults would simply look at all of the
bombardments, unable to have any place for other emotions than negative ones. But the
children are still able to find that one positive point in it. Borodyanka was one of the hardes hit
towns by Russia’s bombardment. The town has been the focus of reconstruction work. You
might also look at the artwork and think, using combat material as toys might be one story, but
the bigger meaning behind it could be that rebuilding this city can be seen as a positive
challenge.
Banksy (ukraine)
Persepolis
Goodmorning, my individual oral will focus on children growing up in war and I will look at the
following two works in specific. Firstly, one of the steciled artworks by Banksy found in Ukraine
and secondly, Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi, page 1 the chapter of the veil. In both works I will
discuss the question, ‘How and to what extent does growing up in war affect children?’
0.23
Global issue
The children and families of Ukraine have endured more than eight months of escalating
devastation and displacement. Children continue to be killed, wounded and deeply traumatized
by the violence all around them. Schools, hospitals and other civilian infrastructure on which
they depend continue to be damaged or destroyed. Families have been separated and lives torn
apart. Their childhood innocence is being destroyed earlier than normal. The notion of
innocence refers to children’s simplicity, their lack of knowledge and their purity not yet spoiled
by mundane affairs. But because of these wars a lot of children grow up in their purity is spoiled
and they get a lot of knowledge on things that should not yet worry them.
Sadly it is not only Ukraine where there are children growing up in war, but it happens all over
the world. This is a big issue, no child should have to grow up in a war torn country. They should
be able to grow up without having a care in the world about whether or not they will be alive
tomorrow. Children in war have to live with big losses from an early age on, something has to be
done about this. It is very important for them to keep their innocence, since they have it as a tool
for dealing with the uncertainty and insecurity of life when one is rather helpless, as children are.
Children trust the adults to the adult world’s problems.
Not only do these children have to live during the war, they also often have to participate in it. It
is estimated about 300,000 children in 80 different countries have to participate in armed
conflict. About 50% of civillians that have to fight during the war and die because of it are
children. Which is horrific. Their parents are often also emotionally affected by the war, which
alters their ability to care for their children properly. Something significally bad that happens to
children in war is that they lose their hope. When this happens they give up, they won’t take any
more steps toward their future. A consequence of this we should especially fear is that many
children who are exposed to violence at a young age, come to accept violent acts as a normal
part of life. It puts young people at risk for continuing cycles of violence. Chances are big that
they will discipline their children and spouses in this way as well.
2.09
, 2.41 > 3.18
Banksy
In the middle of November 2022 there were new works of Banksy discovered. These were the
first of his works after one and a half years. The new works he created were all made in
Borodyanka. This town was one of the hardest hit towns by the Russian bombardment at the
end of february. The amount of deaths was one of the highest in the entirety of Ukraine.
The artwork I chose from Banksy is an anti-war work which portrays two children spray painted
onto a concrete block who seem to be sitting on a metal tank trap which is left behind from the
war, which they are using as a seesaw. Banksy is juxtaposing the hope and innocence of
children with the horrors of war and violence. The place that he chose to spray-paint this
stenciled art is quite ironic, seeing as he created this work in the Indepence Square. The irony
is that these children do not have any real independence. They are completely dependent on
the older generation. They are not yet able to fix the problems going on in the world, but have to
wait and see what the adults do about it. So placing these two children in the indepence square
is ironic.
The children are using the metal tank trap as a seesaw. This device is used to stop tanks, once
they hit it they are unable to keep going. These children are playing with it, unaware of what it is.
This is a great depiction of a child's innocence. The children are not fully aware of what is going
on and keep seeing the fun in things. Both children look happy at this moment, the girl's ponytail
is flying up and the boy has his arm up in the air which shows that he is having fun. Seeing as
they are still having fun, you can say that their childhood innocence is not completely lost on
them.
The steciled art by Banksy depicts the life of children in a war very well. They grow up in a
completely different world than most people, they grow up in fear and endure big losses from a
young age. Without having any sort of control over it. The children in the artwork by Banksy are
seeing the world differently than the grown ups. The adults would simply look at all of the
bombardments, unable to have any place for other emotions than negative ones. But the
children are still able to find that one positive point in it. Borodyanka was one of the hardes hit
towns by Russia’s bombardment. The town has been the focus of reconstruction work. You
might also look at the artwork and think, using combat material as toys might be one story, but
the bigger meaning behind it could be that rebuilding this city can be seen as a positive
challenge.
