Banksy’s Street Art

A Catalyst for Doctoral Criticality and Creativity

Abstract

Internationalization of doctoral study means more doctoral writers working across language and cultural borderlands. How can their access to a self-reliant understanding of English language be enabled? How can they acquire the confidence to find their textual voice? How can academics supporting these writers help them to adapt to western cultures of thinking, learning, and communicating? Behind this article sits an extensive investigation into how to support international doctoral candidates to make such crossings pleasurably: eight doctoral candidates from across disciplines at the University of Auckland, Aotearoa New Zealand, collectively close-read literary items, and Banksy’s street art. The purpose was to deepen understanding of argumentation, critical analysis, rhetoric that persuades, voice and creative positioning. Two interactive classroom sessions used Banksy’s street art to promote creative thinking about powerful communication. Here, we explain how Banksy’s graffiti gave a good foundation for the development of analytical skill, socio-political confidence, and cultural learning—and doctoral participants found the courage to be more creative thinkers and thesis writers.