MovieChat Forums > Exit Through the Gift Shop (2010) Discussion > This film makes me think Banksy is prett...

This film makes me think Banksy is pretty arrogant

posted 12 years ago by michaelcrockford
5 replies | jump to latest

If Guetta/MBW is accurately portrayed: then the film seems like a bit of a chip-on-the-shoulder "expose" by Banksy speaking on behalf of all the jobbing street artists. Which I can understand, but feels a little clunky and hypocritical with the normal representation of him enjoying making fun of the "legitimate" art scene. Either way, the "Banksy" who implies that MBW hasn't earned his spurs yet, came off as a bit arrogant

If he's a hoax: the ridiculous validation of creating a faux-artist under the name of "Mr Brainwash" and making a documentary to make us laugh at the brainwashed art collectors, question the meaning of art, and feel unsure about what we think is clever or artistic ourselves, feels like the motivation is arrogant, because anyone can be fooled by a convincing lie. "Look how stupid all the people that believed my lie are..." etc

I liked the movie and hoax or not, it's completely believable and I did smile about how MBW was lapped up just like Banksy has been. Especially because we all loved Banksy when he was new and his art was just a few rats scattered around Bristol and now we're not sure if we're allowed to think he's cool anymore since becoming an international star... The art still comes from the same person though...

I guess my point is, why did Banksy make this movie? Was it to undermine the successful MBW because of hurt feelings? or to promote his clever hoax creation? In both cases it seems arrogant and makes me like him less.

Cheers

[–] tuula-1 12 years ago

He is perhaps more than a bit arrogant.

I found this movie boring BTW, it really only gets interesting with the fake (?) art show.I saw this http://www.streetartnews.net/2011/08/robbo-vs-banksy-graffiti-wars-full.html before, when it was shown on channel 4 and it had much more info about actual street artists, I found it more interesting. Maybe has a bit of an antibanksy bias, but hey, he copied those rats!

[–] pedemano 12 years ago

clearly you fear things you do not understand

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[–] bsharporflat 12 years ago

Of COURSE Bansky is arrogant. What artist isn't? You have to be pretty full of yourself to devote most of your life to making art and thinking people will pay you for it. Most people just do art for fun. You have to have an excessive amount of self-confidence to think your art is worth money.

Of course the bottom line is that Bansky is right about himself, at least for now. This was a boring movie until Thierry's faux art show. That was fantastic on every level and Bansky deserves a lot of credit for creating it (and Thierry/Mr. Brainwash).

[–] Uberlim 11 years ago

no1 likes seeing som1 shoot himself in the foot, but if it's a soldier, he's either a coward or making a statement.
i think this film was the latter, (without injuries of the flesh or the egos :) no arrogance there really, didn't really knew banksy, but it made me respect him, even tho he swears an awful lot :]
thing is a lot of ppl think like you, this was vs MBW, i'm pretty sure they just real buddies who shared with viewers a nice slice of their lives, &others for that i'm grateful.
sure it got this "le diner de cons" vibe innit... but that was a gr8 comedy, so...peace.

''As Imbecile examines finger, Wise man sees who's watching Imbecile, & Moon gets intimacy.'' H.E

[–] citric_acid59 11 years ago

I think that this film is probably is a hoax. I think Banksy's purpose in making it was to show how awful and wanky the art world is.
I myself am an artist and hold the same opinions as Banksy does in this film.

'Art' these days has very little to do with talent. Now, art always has been subject to fashions but even more so than ever these days. The money involved is ridiculous and there is a vast gulf between artists like Emin and Hirst who earn millions for simply writing names on a tent, and artists like the rest of us who spend hours, weeks and months on a piece of artwork whilst working a crappy job to make ends meet.
Banksy is showing how people are sheep: they are told what to like an they then create the hype you see around the opening of the show in the film.

Yes Banksy could be considered arrogant, but who isn't these days? Certainly all actors, musicians, footballers, politicians and every joe on the street is.