Exit Through The Looking Glass

by Sam Hanchett

It's really interesting how inspiring the film "Exit Through The Gift Shop" is and at the same time makes you want to have nothing to with art in any way. It reminds me of the idea that when everyone likes your stuff, that means it sucks. I don't necessarily think that is true. But it begs the questions, What is art? What is good art? What is bad art? You almost have to take away everything you know about a piece or the artist to truly appreciate it. But what's sort of ironic is that when a creator is all about the creation and not him or herself, we actually become even more fascinated with the individual than we would have if we had known all about their life. They become bigger than any personality by hiding, letting only their art speak for them. So is this more vain than maybe giving your name, talking about your life and where you grew up and your influences? Not necessarily. I think you have to balance it, like everything. With Banksy it's pretty black and white, he doesn't want to go to jail so he has to keep himself under wraps, which is very impressive in this day and age. I've read that some critics think this entire film is fictional, and even if that is so, it doesn't matter. I think what it does so incredibly well is show two distinct artistic processes in Thierry Guetta's endless obsession to film without an ending and Bansky's obsession to constantly SAY SOMETHING and commentate on our society and world through his rogue creative methods. Banksy knows exactly what he's doing, and Guetta has no clue, but he still DOES it, and I think that is important, because many people never try anything because they're too scared to fail. Thierry didn't care. Even if this character couldn't make a film and was a Warholian nightmare smorgasbord of an artist, his footage made the story possible. Because of him (even if fictional) Banksy could tell the story of street art and it's impact but also show us that it or the pursuit of some sort of creative high could make a monster of sorts and that is all made possible by us...and HIM! The same people who would praise Banksy, would praise Guetta's work even though it was totally unoriginal (and he mostly didn't even, literally create it) almost seemingly because Shepard Fairey and Banksy inferred that it was good by giving Thierry minor, pre-show support. So what is legit? What is good? I know what is good. I know I know this, but then again, maybe I don't. Nobody knows anything, and maybe that's what Banksy is highlighting in this film, even though he probably thinks he knows what's good and what's not, but things happen in life all the time that make us question what we "know" and he knows that too, and that's why this movie exists.