Exit Through the Gift Shop

  Exit Through the Gift Shop was a highly entertaining and interesting film. The whole film focuses around a Frenchman, Thierry Guetta living in LA, who most definitely has obsessive compulsive tendencies. After filming his life continuously for years (and packing away the tapes, never to be watched again), he becomes crazed and fascinated with street art upon a visit to France and meeting his cousin, the street artist, Invader. Now filming street art every night and traveling the world to see and meet some of the most known street artists, he finally meets Bansky, the most famous (and anonymous) street artist of all. Bansky realizes the potential in having a documentary made about street art, so he allows Guetta to follow him around, camera in tow, and film, what Bansky hope to be, a documentary about street art. In the end, Guetta begins to create his own street art, yet another form of obsession, and has a gigantic show to introduce (and sell) his art.

   What I found particularly interesting about Guetta's art, was that he really didn't make any of it. He had the basic ideas, but ultimately it was his employees who really made the art. I also don't think he was really getting the message of street art, an art born out of rebellion.


  What we discussed briefly in class, was the question of this being an actual documentary or a mockumentary? Or rather another one of Bansky's art pieces, exposing someone who "creates" street art, but doesn't embrace it's ultimate meaning. It was really amusing, Bansky's remarks at the end of the film, how snarky he was towards Guetta. This all somewhat implied the mockery vibe the film sends.

The infamously anonymous Bansky

Thierry Guetta

 (and his ridiculous facial hair)

Image Sources: 

http://www.newyorker.com/images/2007/05/14/p233/070514_r16216b_p233.jpg

http://filmdrunk.uproxx.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/THIERRY-GUETTA-MID-SHOT-copy.jpg

http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2010/04/14/arts/14banksy_CA0/14banksy_CA0-articleLarge.jpg

http://postersandprints.files.wordpress.com/2009/07/mr-brainwash-tomato-spray1.jpg?w=461&h=461