Art and Originality: Exit Through the Gift Shop

Last updated on: January 12, 2011 at 7:46 am by Drew Dixon

Art and Originality: Exit Through the Gift Shop 2011-01-12T07:46:40-07:00 Drew Dixon

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

I watched Exit Through the Gift Shop this weekend (if you haven’t seen it you can watch it on Netflix Instaque), an interesting documentary about man who set out to make a film about street art and ending up becoming a street “artist” himself and the subject of a documentary himself. It was a fascinating movie because it brings up the question, what is art? If you care to see the movie, you may want to watch it first before reading further.

The movie brings up the question is street “art” art? Is painting pictures of Andre the Giant all over town that say “obey” under them art? Are Thierry Guetta’s awful pictures of reprinted art with random objects painted in (i.e. a picture of Elvis holding a toy gun instead of a guitar or Leonard Nimoy, Michael Jackson and various other pop stars with Marilyn Monroe’s hair). If art is simply self expression, how original does one’s work have to be to be considered art? Additionally, how involved in the creative process does one have to be to be rightly considered the author of a particular work? It is no secret that Guetta hired people to help him put his peices together and his contributions often seem limited.

There are some who would say that true originality is impossible. I understand what is meant by that sentiment, but I think originality on some level ought to be a goal for any artist. At least for me there is an invisible line of originality that if a piece of art falls too far below, I am just not going to pay much attention to it. Certainly there is room for remakes and stories that build on stories past, but even in such stories, give me something original or I am not going to pay much attention. God created us in his image and since God is creator, I think there is something inherent in us that wants to create works of beauty and truth. We live out of the image in which we were created when we produce works that say something about us and the world we live in. So is Theirry Guetta’s work art? Yes, its an expression of himself, though juvenile, his work certainly speaks. Perhaps a better question would be: Is Guetta’s work original enough to warrant our time and attention? Is it good art? I realize the subjective nature of aesthetics but for me the answer to that question is no.

What makes Guetta’s art worth noting, however, is not its lack of aesthetic appeal or its lack of originality, but the enormity of its popularity. In the film, thousands flock to his debut art show and it seems his success, despite the lack of said originality, continues to grow. What does that say about us as human beings? When someone like Guetta, aka Mr. Brainwash, enjoys such a high level of success, I have to wonder, what has happened to originality? Are we so inundated with bad art that we have lost the ability to discern what is good?

Banksy, the iconic street artist who directed Exit, recently said of Guetta, “As far as I’m aware, Mr. Brainwash doesn’t know very much about art, especially his own. He seems to mainly judge the success of an art show by how many square feet it covers and whether it makes any money. This probably makes him the ultimate artist of our times.”

Asides

Previous Post

January 11, 2011

Thoughts on "Next to Normal"

Next Post

January 12, 2011 Meloncholy and the Infinite Madness: Tucson's Horror and the Brokenness of Mental Illness

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Asides Elsewhere Featured Film Games General Culture Headline Literature Music Of the Moment Podcast Politics RetroPost Sports Technology Television Uncategorized Viral

Select a Month February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz