Banky’s documentary film “Exit Through the Gift Shop” has been nominated for an Oscar. I have already read on a few sites that some fans are against this, and even sites such as the Guardian commented how the “outsider status of graffiti artist Banksy took a further blow”, because of the nomination. I believe this nomination will draw even more attention to the artist and to street art as a whole. Which is a good thing right? There are always those that love the underground, and special feel of art, music, and movies that are not mainstream, but as an art historian I am intrigued by what this new attention will bring in the coming years to this ever growing art scene. What are your thoughts? Let us know in the comments below.
8 Comments
Apricot
Jan 25, 2011 at 11:07 amI think the attention that the art scene will get is good. I have not seen the film yet, but I have heard from everyone I know about how great it is. I am still a little skeptical, because what he does as an artist seems a little hypocritical. Here he is as a man always cloaked, but yet it looks to me like he actually loves the attention. I am not a huge fan of Banksy, but he sure does know how to market with intrigue.
shaun
Jan 26, 2011 at 12:12 amI loved the movie. I can’t say that I agree with the Guardian’s comment about Banksy’s “outsider status” taking a blow, or even if the Guardian were correct in this assertion, I wouldn’t care and neither do I think would Banksy care. Quite the opposite; the man didn’t spraypaint this film along the LA freeway, did he? No–he made a movie, overtly. I think he’d be pleased at the attention (as Apricot has hinted at, in the comment before mine). It can be nothing but a “good thing”, for him, as an artist–be it as an “outsider” street artist, or otherwise. More power to him, I say. After all, if he doesn’t want the Oscar, he can always refuse it, on the off-chance he actually wins it.
shaun
Jan 26, 2011 at 12:14 amp.s.
More artists should cultivate mysterious persona, as Banksy has done, imo.
Grey Matter
Jan 26, 2011 at 2:24 amAs an artist and film involving him, I think the art community, especially street art community could benefit from this, as far as recognition and explanation to the public where these images come from, rather WHO they came from. However, as a graffiti artist/activist/purist, I hate the attention graffiti gets from street art which is a larger, more elaborate subject. Graffiti has it’s own culture, and I think Banksy’s popularity within pop culture adds to the tarnish our longstanding public visage has received.
Keep it illegal and on the streets. I like Banksy’s art and criminalism, not his film.
Kantun
Jan 26, 2011 at 4:23 amHy, just an error in the title, it’s “Banksy’s” and not “Banky’s”…
G
Jan 26, 2011 at 8:03 amOf course this documentary deserves an oscar. Due to the circumstances surrounding its creation, there is nothing like it and will be nothing like it again. Despite the implications it may have on further unearthing the underground art world? Artists will embrace it as a challenge to create new and exciting style.
SOMEONE deserves the recognition simply for having to go through so many years of unorganized raw footage.
Azacel
Jan 26, 2011 at 2:18 pmIs all banksy doest wanted to be….
tarkinson
Jan 27, 2011 at 7:07 ami think it wont bnenefit the whole movement.
at university in munich our art history class only knew banksy and didnt heard of others in general. i think a few other artists will be known more after the movie. but only banksy will get attention from the people next door.