The United Kingdom/Britain: A group of countries that ruled one of the most massive empires. And one of the key justifications it voiced for its colonization was the bring of civilization to these "rural, uncivilized" people, but it in reality it used these colonies for its own benefits.
Similarly, now some "developed" countries are portrayed as countries with great opportunities and as role models for other countries. They are shown as enriching and "civilized."
But Banksy brings out the reality in his work. These "developed" countries that have such value and pride should surely make their meaningful flags that they salute to, sing the national anthem to, read the pledge to, etc. in their own country with the help of well-paid workers, right?
No no no! The country is represented in Banksy's piece by an very young child-laborer who is probably very ill-paid and has horrible living conditions, as somber thing. Even with such great wealth of a "developed" country, the role model becomes a role model in continuing wrong practices such as child labor. Instead of supporting upcoming and poverty-stricken countries, the enterprises in these "wealthy" countries go for profit. I guess its all about the "survival of the fittest."
You know . . . I remember when I was India when I was younger, or even sometimes when I visit to India, we would be surprised that a "white person" is visiting and we would look upon these visitors so highly since they stood for this wealth and so we thought they might bring wealth to us. Ahhhhh . . . Innocence.
And, Banksy courageously criticizes this publicly this work called "Slave Laborer." With this choice as the title, he shows that we are literally doubling down on our past mistakes and continuing to fund the wrong for the justification of efficiency and thriftiness.
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