Is Exit Through The Gift Shop real?

[mikejet]

I know it's a "documentary" but I can't help but feel it's just Banksy making a statement.

A lot of sites have accused the film of being a hoax and I can see why they would think that also.

What are your thoughts on the film? I loved it. Will probably pick up the Blu-ray.

[CYMBOL]

A hoax? What would be the point?

And, yes, there is a statement, wouldn't be much a documentary if it didn't have a point to make.

[mikejet]

Originally Posted by CYMBOL

A hoax? What would be the point?

And, yes, there is a statement, wouldn't be much a documentary if it didn't have a point to make.

They never show Guetta actually make anything. Which is odd for a man that filmed so much for so long that he couldn't document his own work?

[CYMBOL]

Originally Posted by mikejet

They never show Guetta actually make anything. Which is odd for a man that filmed so much for so long that he couldn't document his own work?

Remember, he put down his camera to become a street artist full time, as Bansky had told him to after seeing his version of the documentary. Also Guetta hired people to do his art. He just told them what he wanted.

[jacobsever]

Bought the blu ray about a month ago and still haven't gotten around to watching it. All my friends love it though.

[Foggy]

I've heard this is pretty incredible stuff, but knowing me, I probably won't even get around to watching this ever.

[6AM]

I think it is a hoax to vandalize the art world and the urban hipster scene.

[CYMBOL]

Originally Posted by 6AM

I think it is a hoax to vandalize the art world and the urban hipster scene.

That doesn't make sense though, cause

[Show spoiler]Mr. Brainwash also unwittingly made a mockery of all of the street artists as well.

[6AM]

Originally Posted by CYMBOL

That doesn't make sense though, cause

[Show spoiler]Mr. Brainwash also unwittingly made a mockery of all of the street artists as well.

That's part of the point.

[Show spoiler]He's not unwittingly mocking street art, he is straight up mocking street art and artists (especially the Johnny come lately types) and those who want to commodify it and sell it in a Warholian way to art world.

[CYMBOL]

Originally Posted by 6AM

That's part of the point.

[Show spoiler]He's not unwittingly mocking street art, he is straight up mocking street art and artists (especially the Johnny come lately types) and those who want to commodify it and sell it in a Warholian way to art world.

But he could have done that without making an entire documentary. Why make an entire documentary if the point was to mock popular culture. They could have done that without the first hour and a half of the movie.

If that was the goal, why include Guetta's backstory at all?

[Brandon.]

Originally Posted by CYMBOL

But he could have done that without making an entire documentary. Why make an entire documentary if the point was to mock popular culture. They could have done that without the first hour and a half of the movie.

If that was the goal, why include Guetta's backstory at all?

To make you believe it was real i would think. Even though, my first thought when watching this movie was that it was a hoax. I did enjoy it though.

[CYMBOL]

Originally Posted by Brandon.

To make you believe it was real i would think. Even though, my first thought when watching this movie was that it was a hoax. I did enjoy it though.

What about it made you feel you were watching something that was setting you up for a hoax?

It wasn't until the very end that things were flipped. And even that was almost accidental.

[Show spoiler]There is no way that Guetta could have known that that many people would have shown up. And, most of the people helping him were angry that it was so disorganized and threw it together at the last minute.

My take is that it was real.

[Show spoiler]We watched Guetta's real life OCD with filming everything. In the end, he made a mockery of everything they do as artists, although, unwittingly. He didn't just mock popular culture though, he mocked them too

- which is why I have a hard time believing this was a hoax. It wouldn't serve any purpose.

[Tom Hiddleston]

Originally Posted by CYMBOL

A hoax? What would be the point?

And, yes, there is a statement, wouldn't be much a documentary if it didn't have a point to make.

Ask Joaquin Phoenix.

[CYMBOL]

Originally Posted by mmgirl

Ask Joaquin Phoenix.

Yes, but that from start to finish was a hoax.

If this was a hoax, they sure took the long way around to get to it - and then, made their own art look pathetic in the mix as well.

So again, if it was a hoax, what was the point?

[Tom Hiddleston]

Originally Posted by CYMBOL

Yes, but that from start to finish was a hoax.

If this was a hoax, they sure took the long way around to get to it - and then, made their own art look pathetic in the mix as well.

So again, if it was a hoax, what was the point?

None, that's my point. It was a huge cluster f#ck. It just doesn't seem to have any point.

[CYMBOL]

Originally Posted by mmgirl

None, that's my point. It was a huge cluster f#ck. It just doesn't seem to have any point.

It has a very specific point at the end.

[SquidPuppet]

Watched it yesterday.

I'm not sure what to think.

Banksy could have teamed with Guetta to create the MWB character to make money.

Banksy could have made the film because he was frustrated that Guetta turned out to be a lousy filmmaker.

Banksy could have suggested Guetta persue art, all the while hoping he would fail and in the process make Banksy look better.

Guetta could have actually given up his addiction to filming and replaced it with an addiction to "creating" "art" and accidentally became a hit.

Was Guetta a bafoon as depicted, or was it an act? We'll never know.

We could speculate on and on to create many possible scenarios.

What we do know is that the art show really took place and people actually bought some of that shit. People actually got caught up in the hype of this new "artist".

Wether it did it intentionally, or on accident, it made Guetta look like a very lucky guy.

[CYMBOL]

Originally Posted by SquidPuppet

Watched it yesterday.

I'm not sure what to think.

Banksy could have teamed with Guetta to create the MWB character to make money.

Banksy never seemed interested in the profit before - and produced his art in many dangerous areas to make his statements. I really don't see this long, exagerrated method to make money. Besides, if he helped create the MWB character, it would have only mocked what he had done all those years.

Banksy could have made the film because he was frustrated that Guetta turned out to be a lousy filmmaker.

Guetta was a lousy filmmaker. But he made it to show MWB's almost accidental rise to fame. MWB did "what he saw others doing" - and in doing so, he mocked them all. I don't think he meant to. I think he was OCD about this too and copied them. Like those young recording artists who come and use auto-tune and make a hit record that sells millions, while real artists can't get a record contract. This is what he did. He mocked them (without meaning to) and it also shows how the public can believe the value of something simply because they are told to. They are tricked into calling it art. Even Madonna has his make an album cover. Hilarious.

Banksy could have suggested Guetta persue art, all the while hoping he would fail and in the process make Banksy look better.

I don't think he thought anything would come of it. He simply saw this guy for what he was. A guy with OCD who had no actual talent or vision. So, he directed him to something else - but I don't think he counted on Guetta's OCD to take over and start mortaging his house, etc.

Guetta could have actually given up his addiction to filming and replaced it with an addiction to "creating" "art" and accidentally became a hit.

That's what I believe - but in that process, he ended up making a mockery of everybody. It never should have worked - actually, without the help of everyone, it wouldn't have. He had no idea what he was doing. It should have failed.

Was Guetta a bafoon as depicted, or was it an act? We'll never know.

Again, my problem with "was it a hoax" is - they could have simply done a documentary about "tricking the public" and showing that "art" is subjective and people can be manipulated into believing trash has value - but why go through an hour and 20 minutes of showing Guetta filming his documentary? It would add nothing to the ending if it were a hoax.

We could speculate on and on to create many possible scenarios.

What we do know is that the art show really took place and people actually bought some of that shit. People actually got caught up in the hype of this new "artist".

Wether it did it intentionally, or on accident, it made Guetta look like a very lucky guy.

I really felt Banksy's reason for the documentary was to show how he unintentionally created this monster. It was an amazing and unlikely story and really fascinating.

I'm on the side of "It's not a hoax".

[SOLISIMO]

Seeing that the real artists dont like the guy, that says alot.

[SquidPuppet]

Originally Posted by CYMBOL

Banksy never seemed interested in the profit before - and produced his art in many dangerous areas to make his statements. I really don't see this long, exagerrated method to make money. Besides, if he helped create the MWB character, it would have only mocked what he had done all those years.



Guetta was a lousy filmmaker. But he made it to show MWB's almost accidental rise to fame. MWB did "what he saw others doing" - and in doing so, he mocked them all. I don't think he meant to. I think he was OCD about this too and copied them. Like those young recording artists who come and use auto-tune and make a hit record that sells millions, while real artists can't get a record contract. This is what he did. He mocked them (without meaning to) and it also shows how the public can believe the value of something simply because they are told to. They are tricked into calling it art. Even Madonna has his make an album cover. Hilarious.



I don't think he thought anything would come of it. He simply saw this guy for what he was. A guy with OCD who had no actual talent or vision. So, he directed him to something else - but I don't think he counted on Guetta's OCD to take over and start mortaging his house, etc.



That's what I believe - but in that process, he ended up making a mockery of everybody. It never should have worked - actually, without the help of everyone, it wouldn't have. He had no idea what he was doing. It should have failed.



Again, my problem with "was it a hoax" is - they could have simply done a documentary about "tricking the public" and showing that "art" is subjective and people can be manipulated into believing trash has value - but why go through an hour and 20 minutes of showing Guetta filming his documentary? It would add nothing to the ending if it were a hoax.



I really felt Banksy's reason for the documentary was to show how he unintentionally created this monster. It was an amazing and unlikely story and really fascinating.

I'm on the side of "It's not a hoax".

Let's not forget, one thing is certain, Banksy has an ego the size of the Sun, and starves for attention. All of his work says "I have something important to say" and "notice me, damnit, notice me". I like his sense of humor and a lot of the points that he tries to make, though. Dont discout his desire to profit. He has had numerous shows, an agent, an attorney protecting his work, a website where you can buy his stuff. He has moved far beyond "street artist" into exactly what he claims to hate, Capitalism. I believe that it was all very premeditated too, and thats why he did all the globetrotting. I think he had a desire for fame and fortune right from the start and the "humble" thing is a big act.

I lean towards a mutifaceted motivation for the film.

1. Banksy wanted a film about himself because he is in love with himself.
2. Guetta failed, so Banksy took the reigns.
3. Banksy discovered that filmmaking is an artform and began to like it.
4. Banksy, in an effort to camouflage the fact that he was making a film about himself, turned the tables and (pretended) made the film about Guetta. (Banksy is the real star, not Guetta.)
5. Guettas (MBW) success was an accidental byproduct.
6. Banksy makes a ton of money from the film and gets lots of attention (both things he loves)

IMO, Guetta = very lucky buffoon, and Banksy = shrewd and calcuating entrepreneur.