PGCPS​ ​2016-17​ ​Literacy​ ​Writing​ ​Task

Visual​ ​Arts
 
Bad​ ​Apple  
 
Michael​ ​D’Antuono  
 
40”​ ​x​ ​30”  
 
Oil​ ​on​ ​Canvas 
 
Contemporary  
 
 
 
 
“Some​ ​say​ ​that​ ​Monsanto​ ​has​ ​monopolized​ ​our​ ​food​ ​supply​ ​and​ ​persuaded​ ​our​ ​government​ ​to​ ​look​ ​the​ ​other​ ​way​ ​when 
it​ ​comes​ ​to​ ​the​ ​safety​ ​of​ ​their​ ​product.​ ​Specifically​ ​when​ ​it​ ​comes​ ​to​ ​genetically​ ​modified​ ​food​.​ ​The​ ​agricultural​ ​giant 
has​ ​lobbied​ ​hard​ ​to​ ​get​ ​congress​ ​not​ ​to​ ​pass​ ​a​ ​bill​ ​requiring​ ​the​ ​labeling​ ​of​ ​GMOs.​ ​Makes​ ​you​ ​wonder​ ​why​ ​don’t​ ​they 
want​ ​you​ ​to​ ​know​ ​what​ ​you’re​ ​eating. 

I​ ​was​ ​thinking​ ​that​ ​if​ ​the​ ​witch​ ​had​ ​offered​ ​Snow​ ​White​ ​a​ ​genetically​ ​modified​ ​Monsanto​ ​apple,​ ​it​ ​might​ ​take​ ​more​ ​than 
a​ ​kiss​ ​from​ ​a​ ​prince​ ​to​ ​revive​ ​our​ ​heroin.” 

ARTIST​ ​BACKGROUND:  

D'Antuono​ ​displays​ ​the​ ​Picasso​ ​quote​ ​"Art​ ​is​ ​not​ ​meant​ ​to​ ​decorate​ ​rooms.​ ​It​ ​is​ ​an​ ​offensive​ ​weapon​ ​in​ ​the 
defense​ ​against​ ​the​ ​enemy"​ ​directly​ ​under​ ​his​ ​name​ ​in​ ​the​ ​header​ ​of​ ​his​ ​website.​ ​In​ ​interviews,​ ​D’Antuono​ ​indicated​ ​that 
the​ ​purpose​ ​of​ ​his​ ​art​ ​is​ ​to​ ​challenge​ ​people​ ​to​ ​think​ ​more​ ​deeply​ ​about​ ​socio-political​ ​issues. 
 
D’Antuono’s​ ​attempts​ ​to​ ​inspire​ ​critical​ ​thinking​ ​with​ ​his​ ​provocative​ ​takes​ ​on​ ​racism,​ ​class​ ​warfare,​ ​the 
environment,​ ​corporate​ ​influence​ ​and​ ​other​ ​hot-button​ ​issues​ ​have​ ​been​ ​met​ ​with​ ​censorship​ ​and​ ​derision​ ​by​ ​those​ ​who 
want​ ​to​ ​protect​ ​the​ ​status​ ​quo.​ ​D'Antuono​ ​has​ ​also​ ​done​ ​provocative​ ​pieces​ ​on​ ​corporate​ ​influence,​ ​dependence​ ​on​ ​foreign 
oil,​ ​media​ ​bias,​ ​immigration,​ ​outsourcing,​ ​Citizens​ ​United,​ ​etc.​ ​Yet​ ​he​ ​continues​ ​to​ ​make​ ​art​ ​that​ ​speaks​ ​truth​ ​to​ ​power, 
perpetuating​ ​the​ ​historic​ ​role​ ​of​ ​the​ ​artist​ ​to​ ​spark​ ​social​ ​change. 
 

 
PART​ ​1:  

COLLABORATIVE​ ​DESCRIPTION 

Work​ ​with​ ​your​ ​neighbors​ ​to​ ​analyze​ ​Michael​ ​D’Antuono’s​ ​Bad​ ​Apple.​​ ​ ​Write​ ​at​ ​least​ ​1​ ​paragraph​ ​below​ ​detailing​ ​each 
element​ ​of​ ​the​ ​image​ ​and​ ​the​ ​way​ ​in​ ​which​ ​they​ ​are​ ​composed,​ ​and​ ​to​ ​what​ ​effect.​ ​ ​What​ ​do​ ​you​ ​see?​ ​What​ ​can​ ​you​ ​say 
about​ ​the​ ​subject​ ​matter,​ ​the​ ​light,​ ​textures,​ ​color,​ ​space​ ​or​ ​depth,​ ​and​ ​focal​ ​point?  

I​ ​see​ ​a​ ​witch​ ​in​ ​a​ ​dark​ ​forest,​ ​offering​ ​an​ ​apple.​ ​The​ ​subject​ ​of​ ​the​ ​matter​ ​is​ ​that​ ​genetically
modified​ ​foods​ ​are​ ​poisonous​ ​to​ ​us​ ​and​ ​our​ ​health.​ ​The​ ​lighting​ ​in​ ​the​ ​image​ ​is​ ​dimmed,​ ​if​ ​not​ ​all
the​ ​way​ ​dark​ ​in​ ​some​ ​areas.​ ​The​ ​colors​ ​represent​ ​an​ ​essence​ ​of​ ​darkness.​ ​The​ ​space​ ​is​ ​very
consuming​ ​and​ ​compact,​ ​which​ ​can​ ​represent​ ​how​ ​the​ ​poison​ ​in​ ​the​ ​apple​ ​will​ ​consume​ ​and​ ​take
over​ ​your​ ​body.​ ​The​ ​image​ ​has​ ​a​ ​negative​ ​effect.
 

PART​ ​2:  

THESIS​ ​STATEMENT  

Work​ ​with​ ​your​ ​neighbors​ ​to​ ​analyze​ ​Michael​ ​D’Antuono’s​ ​Bad​ ​Apple.​​ ​ ​Write​ ​at​ ​least​ ​1​ ​paragraph​ ​below​ ​detailing​ ​each 
element​ ​of​ ​the​ ​image​ ​and​ ​the​ ​way​ ​in​ ​which​ ​they​ ​are​ ​composed,​ ​and​ ​to​ ​what​ ​effect.​ ​ ​What​ ​do​ ​you​ ​see?​ ​What​ ​can​ ​you​ ​say 
about​ ​the​ ​subject​ ​matter,​ ​the​ ​light,​ ​textures,​ ​color​ ​scheme,​ ​space​ ​or​ ​depth,​ ​and​ ​focal​ ​point?  

In​ ​“Bad​ ​Apple”​ ​by​ ​Michael​ ​D’Antuono,​ ​he​ ​uses​ ​evidence,​ ​reasoning,​ ​and​ ​persuasive​ ​elements​ ​to
persuade​ ​his​ ​audience​ ​that​ ​genetically​ ​modified​ ​foods​ ​should​ ​be​ ​labeled.
 

PART​ ​3:  

ESSAY 

Compose​ ​a​ ​5-paragraph​ ​analytical​ ​essay​ ​that​ ​explains​ ​how​ ​D’Antuono​ ​uses​ ​methods​ ​of​ ​visual​ ​conceptualization​ ​in​ ​order​ ​to 
posit​ ​the​ ​thesis​ ​that​ ​the​ ​government​ ​should​ ​require​ ​the​ ​proper​ ​labeling​ ​of​ ​Genetically​ ​Modified​ ​Organisms​ ​(GMOs). 

Your​ ​essay​ ​should​ ​be​ ​structured​ ​based​ ​on​ ​this​ ​outline: 

I​ntroduction:  

- 1-2​ ​sentences​ ​introducing​ ​the​ ​artist​ ​and​ ​what​ ​their​ ​work​ ​is​ ​about.  
- 1​ ​sentence​ ​introducing​ ​Bad​ ​Apple​. 
- 1​ ​sentence​ ​thesis​ ​statement.  
- 1​ ​sentence​ ​about​ ​what​ ​Bad​ ​Apple​ ​is​ ​about​ ​or​ ​why​ ​this​ ​issue​ ​is​ ​important.  

Body​ ​Paragraph​ ​#1:  

- 1​ ​topic​ ​sentence​ ​introducing​ ​‘evidence’​ ​used​ ​(elements​ ​of​ ​the​ ​image​ ​the​ ​the 
appropriation​ ​and​ ​recontextualization​ ​of​ ​the​ ​Snow​ ​White​ ​fairytale).  
- A​ ​description​ ​of​ ​the​ ​artwork​ ​-​ ​what​ ​is​ ​being​ ​depicted,​ ​and​ ​why? 
- Provide​ ​a​ ​brief​ ​description​ ​of​ ​the​ ​Snow​ ​White​ ​reference.​ ​What​ ​can​ ​you​ ​say​ ​about​ ​the 
Queen’s​ ​two-faced​ ​form​ ​and​ ​the​ ​Monsanto​ ​agrochemical​ ​giant​ ​that​ ​rules​ ​our​ ​food 
economy?​ ​Search​ ​for​ ​the​ ​fairytale​ ​online​ ​if​ ​you​ ​are​ ​not​ ​familiar​ ​with​ ​the​ ​story.  
- Why​ ​does​ ​D’Antuono​ ​use​ ​this​ ​fairytale​ ​as​ ​a​ ​reference?​ ​Is​ ​it​ ​something​ ​that​ ​is 
immediately​ ​recognizable​ ​in​ ​our​ ​culture?​ ​How​ ​are​ ​the​ ​elements​ ​of​ ​the​ ​fairytale​ ​used 
as​ ​relevant​ ​symbols​ ​of​ ​the​ ​current​ ​issues​ ​about​ ​genetically​ ​modified​ ​food? 
- 1​ ​transition​ ​sentence. 

Body​ ​Paragraph​ ​#2:  

- 1​ ​topic​ ​sentence​ ​introducing​ ​‘reasoning’​ ​used​ ​to​ ​appeal​ ​to​ ​the​ ​reader’s​ ​logos​ ​and 
pathos​ ​(criticism​ ​of​ ​Monsanto​ ​portrayed​ ​in​ ​the​ ​painting).  
- After​ ​viewing​ ​the​ ​animation​ ​about​ ​Monsanto​ ​and​ ​the​ ​dangers​ ​of​ ​GMOs,​ ​interpret 
D’Antuono’s​ ​use​ ​of​ ​the​ ​Monsanto​ ​label​ ​on​ ​the​ ​apple.​ ​How​ ​does​ ​this​ ​appeal​ ​to​ ​the 
viewer’s​ ​logos​ ​or​ ​logic? 
- How​ ​does​ ​the​ ​Snow​ ​White-esque​ ​sinister,​ ​dark​ ​nature​ ​of​ ​the​ ​painting​ ​appeal​ ​to​ ​the 
viewer’s​ ​pathos​ ​or​ ​emotions? 
- Discuss​ ​the​ ​issues​ ​presented​ ​in​ ​the​ ​video.​ ​What​ ​is​ ​this​ ​work​ ​really​ ​about?​ ​Provide 
the​ ​context​ ​for​ ​this​ ​work​ ​based​ ​on​ ​what​ ​you​ ​learned​ ​from​ ​the​ ​video.  
- 1​ ​transition​ ​sentence. 

Body​ ​Paragraph​ ​#3:  

- 1​ ​topic​ ​sentence​ ​introducing​ ​‘persuasive​ ​and​ ​stylistic​ ​elements’​ ​(What​ ​is​ ​the​ ​mood​ ​of 
Bad​ ​Apple​?) 
- Describe​ ​the​ ​style​ ​of​ ​this​ ​work.​ ​How​ ​did​ ​the​ ​artist​ ​compose​ ​this​ ​painting​ ​to​ ​produce 
a​ ​dark​ ​or​ ​sinister​ ​effect?​ ​Cite​ ​specific​ ​examples​ ​in​ ​the​ ​work.  
- Why​ ​is​ ​the​ ​work​ ​unsettling?​ ​Explain​ ​the​ ​meaning​ ​of​ ​this​ ​image.​ ​Unpack​ ​the​ ​dangers 
of​ ​GMOs,​ ​not​ ​labeling​ ​genetically​ ​modified​ ​food,​ ​and​ ​how​ ​the​ ​‘revolving​ ​door’​ ​policy 
allows​ ​this​ ​to​ ​continue.​ ​ ​Refer​ ​to​ ​the​ ​article​ ​and​ ​animation.  
- 1​ ​transition​ ​sentence​ ​about​ ​the​ ​importance​ ​of​ ​this​ ​issue​ ​and​ ​what​ ​needs​ ​to​ ​change. 
We​ ​don’t​ ​even​ ​know​ ​the​ ​full​ ​extent​ ​of​ ​these​ ​effects​ ​because​ ​there​ ​is​ ​no​ ​testing​ ​being 
conducted!​ ​No​ ​weeds,​ ​no​ ​bugs,​ ​more​ ​food,​ ​more​ ​profit!  

Conclusion:  

- Restate​ ​your​ ​thesis​ ​statement.  

 - Summarize​ ​key​ ​points​ ​about​ ​the​ ​work.  
- Summarize​ ​key​ ​points​ ​about​ ​the​ ​issue​ ​of​ ​GMOs​ ​and​ ​the​ ​repercussions,​ ​dangers,​ ​and 
harmful​ ​effects​ ​we​ ​are​ ​now​ ​facing.  
- 1​ ​conclusion​ ​sentence.​ ​Ask​ ​yourself,​ ​why​ ​did​ ​the​ ​artist​ ​make​ ​this​ ​work,​ ​and​ ​so​ ​what?  

​ ​Use​ ​the​ ​space​ ​below​ ​to​ ​craft​ ​your​ ​essay: 

Michael​ ​D’​ ​Antuono​ ​is​ ​an​ ​artist​ ​that​ ​makes​ ​images​ ​relating​ ​to​ ​important​ ​issues​ ​around​ ​the

world.​ ​This​ ​work​ ​is​ ​pertaining​ ​to​ ​genetically​ ​modified​ ​foods.​ ​The​ ​image​ ​“Bad​ ​Apple”,​ ​has​ ​a

witch​ ​in​ ​a​ ​dark​ ​forest​ ​offering​ ​an​ ​apple​ ​that​ ​has​ ​been​ ​genetically​ ​modified.​ ​In​ ​“Bad​ ​Apple”​ ​by

Michael​ ​D’​ ​Antuono,​ ​he​ ​uses​ ​evidence,​ ​reasoning,​ ​and​ ​persuasive​ ​elements​ ​to​ ​persuade​ ​his

audience​ ​that​ ​genetically​ ​modified​ ​foods​ ​should​ ​be​ ​labeled.​ ​This​ ​issue​ ​is​ ​important​ ​because

genetically​ ​modified​ ​foods​ ​are​ ​becoming​ ​a​ ​harmful​ ​to​ ​humans​ ​and​ ​animals,​ ​and​ ​causing​ ​a

number​ ​of​ ​problems.

D’​ ​Antuono​ ​persuades​ ​his​ ​audience​ ​that​ ​genetically​ ​modified​ ​foods​ ​should​ ​be​ ​labeled​ ​by

using​ ​evidence.​ ​In​ ​the​ ​artwork,​ ​a​ ​witch​ ​offering​ ​a​ ​poisonous,​ ​or​ ​genetically​ ​modified,​ ​apple​ ​is

being​ ​depicted.​ ​This​ ​is​ ​being​ ​depicted​ ​because​ ​it​ ​is​ ​showing​ ​how​ ​harmful​ ​GMOs​ ​are.​ ​In​ ​the​ ​story

Snow​ ​White,​ ​there​ ​was​ ​a​ ​Queen​ ​who​ ​was​ ​jealous​ ​of​ ​Snow​ ​White’s​ ​beauty,​ ​and​ ​sought​ ​to​ ​destroy

her.​ ​So​ ​to​ ​get​ ​rid​ ​of​ ​Snow​ ​White,​ ​the​ ​Queen​ ​disguised​ ​herself​ ​as​ ​a​ ​witch​ ​and​ ​offered​ ​Snow​ ​White

a​ ​poisonous​ ​apple.​ ​The​ ​Queen’s​ ​two-faced​ ​form​ ​and​ ​the​ ​Monsanto​ ​agrochemical​ ​giant​ ​that​ ​rules

our​ ​food​ ​economy​ ​are​ ​similar.​ ​They​ ​are​ ​similar​ ​because​ ​both​ ​are​ ​feeding​ ​people​ ​food​ ​that​ ​has

been​ ​genetically​ ​modified.​ ​D’​ ​Antuono​ ​uses​ ​this​ ​reference​ ​because​ ​it​ ​is​ ​something​ ​that​ ​is

recognizable​ ​in​ ​our​ ​culture,​ ​since​ ​most​ ​of​ ​us​ ​grew​ ​up​ ​watching​ ​it.​ ​The​ ​witch​ ​and​ ​the​ ​apple​ ​are

used​ ​as​ ​relevant​ ​symbols​ ​of​ ​the​ ​current​ ​issues​ ​about​ ​genetically​ ​modified​ ​food​ ​because​ ​just​ ​like
in​ ​the​ ​story,​ ​people​ ​are​ ​being​ ​persuaded​ ​to​ ​think​ ​that​ ​food​ ​they​ ​are​ ​eating,​ ​are​ ​healthy​ ​and

naturally​ ​grown​ ​when​ ​they​ ​are​ ​not.​ ​D’​ ​Antuono​ ​uses​ ​other​ ​elements​ ​to​ ​persuade​ ​his​ ​audience.

To​ ​persuade​ ​his​ ​audience​ ​that​ ​genetically​ ​modified​ ​foods​ ​should​ ​be​ ​labeled,​ ​D’​ ​Antuono

uses​ ​reasoning​ ​to​ ​appeal​ ​to​ ​the​ ​reader’s​ ​logos​ ​and​ ​pathos.​ ​D’​ ​Antuono​ ​uses​ ​the​ ​Monsanto​ ​label

on​ ​the​ ​apple​ ​to​ ​show​ ​that​ ​even​ ​though​ ​the​ ​apple​ ​looks​ ​normal​ ​and​ ​healthy,​ ​it​ ​has​ ​been​ ​genetically

modified.​ ​This​ ​appeals​ ​to​ ​the​ ​reader’s​ ​logos​ ​because​ ​it​ ​displays​ ​that​ ​people​ ​are​ ​being​ ​tricked​ ​into

buying​ ​these​ ​toxic​ ​foods​ ​that​ ​are​ ​causing​ ​health​ ​problems.​ ​The​ ​dark​ ​nature​ ​of​ ​the​ ​painting

appeals​ ​to​ ​the​ ​reader​ ​because​ ​its​ ​dark​ ​colors,​ ​and​ ​unattractive​ ​witch​ ​that​ ​is​ ​wearing​ ​a​ ​black​ ​robe,

similar​ ​to​ ​the​ ​one​ ​that​ ​is​ ​worn​ ​by​ ​the​ ​grim​ ​reaper,​ ​causes​ ​the​ ​reader​ ​to​ ​feel​ ​scared​ ​or​ ​disturbed.

This​ ​work​ ​is​ ​really​ ​about​ ​the​ ​agrochemical​ ​food​ ​company​ ​not​ ​labeling​ ​their​ ​genetically​ ​modified

food​ ​products​ ​before​ ​selling​ ​it​ ​to​ ​the​ ​public.​ ​D’​ ​Antuono​ ​utilizes​ ​more​ ​elements​ ​to​ ​convince

people​ ​that​ ​genetically​ ​modified​ ​products​ ​should​ ​be​ ​labeled.

Lastly,​ ​D’​ ​Antuono​ ​uses​ ​persuasive​ ​and​ ​stylistic​ ​elements​ ​to​ ​persuade​ ​his​ ​audience​ ​that

genetically​ ​modified​ ​foods​ ​should​ ​be​ ​labeled.​ ​The​ ​artist​ ​composes​ ​this​ ​painting​ ​to​ ​produce​ ​a​ ​dark

or​ ​sinister​ ​effect​ ​by​ ​using​ ​only​ ​dark​ ​colors​ ​such​ ​as​ ​black,​ ​purple,​ ​and​ ​green.​ ​He​ ​also​ ​portrays​ ​the

witch​ ​in​ ​a​ ​black​ ​robe​ ​that​ ​is​ ​similar​ ​to​ ​the​ ​one​ ​of​ ​the​ ​grim​ ​reaper,​ ​which​ ​represents​ ​death.​ ​This

work​ ​is​ ​unsettling​ ​because​ ​it​ ​represents​ ​death​ ​standing​ ​right​ ​in​ ​front​ ​of​ ​our​ ​face.​ ​The​ ​dangers​ ​of

GMOs​ ​and​ ​not​ ​labeling​ ​genetically​ ​modified​ ​food​ ​are​ ​fatal.​ ​They​ ​can​ ​cause​ ​severe,​ ​and

permanent​ ​health​ ​issues,​ ​or​ ​even​ ​lead​ ​to​ ​death.​ ​These​ ​companies​ ​that​ ​produce​ ​GMOs​ ​need​ ​to

reconsider​ ​labeling​ ​products​ ​because​ ​if​ ​they​ ​don’t​ ​and​ ​someone​ ​is​ ​negatively​ ​affected​ ​by​ ​it,​ ​they

can​ ​get​ ​sued.

 To​ ​persuade​ ​his​ ​audience​ ​that​ ​genetically​ ​modified​ ​foods​ ​be​ ​labeled,​ ​Michael​ ​D’

Antuono​ ​use​ ​evidence,​ ​reasoning,​ ​and​ ​persuasive​ ​elements​ ​in​ ​his​ ​artwork,​ ​“Bad​ ​Apple”.​ ​GMOs

are​ ​a​ ​hazard​ ​to​ ​our​ ​food​ ​economy.​ ​Not​ ​only​ ​does​ ​it​ ​kill​ ​insects​ ​that​ ​feed​ ​on​ ​the​ ​food,​ ​it​ ​can​ ​cause

a​ ​serious​ ​health​ ​issue​ ​in​ ​humans​ ​if​ ​consumed.​ ​GMOs​ ​in​ ​modern​ ​society​ ​are​ ​compared​ ​to​ ​the

poisonous​ ​apple​ ​in​ ​the​ ​story​ ​Snow​ ​White.​ ​Snow​ ​White​ ​was​ ​tricked​ ​into​ ​taking​ ​and​ ​eating​ ​an

apple​ ​that​ ​looked​ ​normal,​ ​but​ ​turned​ ​out​ ​to​ ​be​ ​toxic.​ ​Just​ ​like​ ​people​ ​in​ ​society​ ​today,​ ​they​ ​are

being​ ​tricked​ ​into​ ​buying​ ​food​ ​products​ ​that​ ​look​ ​normal,​ ​but​ ​in​ ​reality​ ​they​ ​are​ ​toxic.​ ​This

artwork​ ​was​ ​made​ ​to​ ​bring​ ​awareness​ ​to​ ​the​ ​wrong-doing​ ​of​ ​companies​ ​that​ ​are​ ​producing

genetically​ ​modified​ ​products,​ ​and​ ​to​ ​hopefully​ ​spark​ ​something​ ​that​ ​will​ ​put​ ​an​ ​end​ ​to​ ​this.