Exit though the Gift Shop

Lance D odd
Media Lit
Spring 2011
Exit through the Gift Shop

Exit through the Gift Shop is a documentary made by the world renowned street artist Banksy. The movie starts off with Thierry Guetta, mutton chopped Frenchman who is living in Los Angeles, who obsessively films everything he does. He believes that all moments are important and should be saved for prosperity. As Thierry films everything around him, he begins to follow a street artist by the name of Invader. As Thierry follows Invader, he is eventually introduced to the artist Shepard Fairy, who is best known for his Obey art as well as for images of our current president. Eventually, Thierry begins filming the emerging world of street art. Thierry begins to film multiple street artists. As Thierry progresses though the street art world, he eventually meets Banksy. Banksy approves of the documentary that Thierry is creating, and wants him to put it together. However, the source tapes to Thierry’s film are lost amongst the scattered and unlabeled tapes of his life. When Thierry finally presents his documentary to Banksy, it is an incoherent mess. Banksy takes the camera and tells Thierry to become an artist. Soon Thierry himself becomes the new subject of the documentary as the audience sees the creation of Mr. Brain Wash, the street name Thierry calls himself.
The film becomes quite fascinating as we see the progression of the film and Mr. Brainwash. After witnessing one of Banksy’s art galleries in London, Thierry tries to follow suit. He creates an image of himself and posts himself all over Los Angeles and gaining some notoriety, he begins work on his art exhibit. However, Thierry instead of creating his own work, but instead outsources much of the work to other artists. In fact during the art show the other artists even have to place Thierry’s work on the wall because he is too distracted. As the gallery draws closer, Mr. Brainwash (Thierry) becomes arrogant and full of himself. Despite the success of the art gallery, the movie shows audiences how quickly art can be commercialized, and reduced to dollars and cents. Thierry does not practice to become an artist, but instead works off the ideas of others. He follows a sort of pattern in to becoming a famous street artist. The viewers are left wondering how meaningful street art, or any art truly is, and how we define how much that art is worth. The movie proves that anti-establishment art can become part of the establishment.
Does the fact that the work is illegal change the meaning of the work? Does it weaken or empower it?
I believe the fact that the work is illegal does impact the work, and in fact empowers it. People have a certain attraction to anti-establishment/subversive work. We are fascinated by the mindset of the artist and excited by the prospect of seeing something new. Overall, the illegality of street art creates a mystery that people want to know more about.