Class Post

1. Street art: is it legal? Illegal? Art? Graffiti? What is the difference between art and graffiti? 
     Personally, I feel that street art is art. It's an expression of a person's creativity after all (as opposed to graffiti like spray painting your name on a train). As for its legality, it's widely known to be frowned upon by the authorities, but I think that's really the reason it even exists. There's no reason street artists couldn't put their works onto canvas or another, approved medium. The thrill comes from the excitement of scaling a building or a billboard in the middle of the night and putting your artwork onto someone else's property. 


2. Is Guetta/Mr. Brainwash a “real” street artist? An artist at all? Why or why not? 
     No. Absolutely not. He didn't create any of his "art", he merely hired a team of people to make screen prints of Elvis with a toy gun or he flicked some paint onto a copy of the Mona Lisa and called it art. He's simply a tool, a poser, and in it for the money. If he hadn't been able to make any money with his "art", then I bet he'd have never had another screen print made again.


3. Do you think Banksy “takes over” Guetta’s film? If so, do you think he has the right to do so? If you don’t think Banksy took over the film, what in the content or approach makes you think so?
     I think Banksy takes over the film about mid-way through, officially, when the story turns to Guetta's own "art". Of course, after seeing the snippet of seizure-inducing film that was the original documentary, I'd argue that Banksy was truly the mastermind of the entire film. Guetta captured the video, of course, but it's all just random video of random people with no meaning until someone with true talent and vision, such as Banksy, edits the film and gives it a logical order that makes sense.


4. Why do you think Banksy makes the choice to assume production of the film? It’s clear he doesn’t like what Guetta produces, but given his supposed deep interest in anonymity, why do you think he decides to assume the role of director? (think about the “real” reason, not just that he didn’t like Guetta’s flim)
     I think it's pretty obvious that Banksy took over production of the film as Guetta had NO CLUE how to make a film and had he been allowed to release the visual diarrhea that was his original cut, then the story that Banksy wanted told would have been lost. That was why Bansky even associated with Guetta in the first place: The idea of someone telling the story of street artists, using real footage of those very artists to show that they aren't a bunch of ragtag criminals spray painting buildings, was intriguing to Banksy so he allowed himself to be filmed and his work to be shown along with all the other artists.


5. Is Banksy a friend of Guetta? Why or why not? 
     I don't think Banksy cares much for Guetta any longer. They may have been friends in the beginning, but after the way Guetta exploited Banksy and the other artists for his own personal gain, Banksy seems to have lost any respect he may have once had for the guy.


6. The Disneyland debacle: thoughts, opinions? What do you think Banksy's goal was behind this "stunt"? Is it more than a stunt? Does it make a statement, or was it just a stupid id
     I think the point behind the Disneyland stunt was to make a statement about how disconnected we are as a civilization. While we go to sunny California to enjoy the day in the Magic Kingdom, our government is capturing those we suspect of being terrorists, transporting them to a prison facility in Cuba where they are detained indefinitely, and even tortured and treated as less than human...all so we can feel safe on the train ride. Banksy, in my opinion, was doing his part to remind us of the sorts of things we've become complicit in allowing our elected officials to do.


7. How is Guetta successful in his art show? How does he fail? 
     Well, he had a big turnout and made a lot of money, but his failure far outweighs those successes. I'm sure he would disagree, but what he was doing had nothing to do with art, or expression, it was all about making money and exploiting the true street artists and the stupidity of the people who came to his show having no clue what real art is.


8. What do you think of Mr. Brainwash's fans -- the people who line up outside the door to see his opening? Do you imagine that, if they saw this documentary, their feelings about his work would change? 
     I think most of them are clueless. They saw "Banksy" and "Shepard Fairey" and the names of other true street artists who gave Guetta a half-hearted endorsement and lined up en masse simply because they thought it would be the trendy thing to do. For those in those lines who actually understand the point of actual art, I'm sure they were disappointed after they saw the exhibit and I'm positive they'd be sure to avoid such lines after seeing the documentary.


9. Whose film is this? And WHY is it called “Exit Through the Gift Shop”? 
     Back to this point of whose film this is, the title, I think, tells us who the true author was: Banksy. The title is about the commercialization of street art and the rise of people like Guetta who get into street art simply to make money. Guetta would never have been clever enough to come up with a title like this.


10. One common speculation/consistent theme in reviews of the film questioned its authenticity: was the film simply an elaborate hoax? A ruse on Banksy’s part? Or did Guetta really evolve into “Mr. Brainwash” seemingly overnight? What do YOU think? 
    That's a tough one, actually. I wouldn't at all be surprised if the entire film was another piece by Banksy meant to convey a message. Maybe the whole thing with Guetta coming off as a total waste of space was all an act to demonstrate the differences between true artists like Banksy and Fairey and sellouts like Guetta. 


11. With the ending/outcome -- Guetta selling a bunch of art (or "art" depending on your opinion), making a ridiculous amount of money, the new hype about street art, its popularity, etc. -- what statement is being made about the art world? about the media? About street art and street artists? 
     Seems like the overall theme was that street art is becoming just as commercialized as any other product, despite its much more honorable beginnings. But, that seems to be the trend of the world and, frankly, is needed to keep creativity alive and well. If street art becomes too commercial, too accepted, then the thrill is gone. So, those in it for the thrill, not the money, will find a new way to express themselves and find the high they used to get from street art.