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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).
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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:
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
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
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
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.