Post for class 09/28
Hannah Thomson
28th September
In Class Leader
Exit Through the Giftshop is a documentary that conveys the story of what appears just an ordinary man who has a passion for videotaping. The filming obsession resides in the death of his mother and how he longs to record events because one day that person might no longer exist. Thierry Guetta, a Los Angeles-based Frenchman stumbled into videotaping street artists. He gained their trust on the premise that he was making a documentary on street art. Through these connections he managed to penetrate Banksy’s inner circle, spending time recording him. After Banksy established Thierry was potentially unhinged, he suggested he go back to LA and make art. This led to the birth of Mr Brainwash (MBW). MBW had a successful art show making $1 million.
Introduction Subculture and Style
Hebdige discusses culture, subculture, semiotic, and ideology to try to decipher the meaning of graffiti. According to Raymond Williams the ‘Culture and Society debate’ led to a discussion on society and community. From this two basic functions of culture emerged, first a standard of aesthetic excellence, the second was rooted in anthropology that is culture is a “way of life.” Swiss linguist Ferdinand de Saussure Barthes encourages individuals to think about what is “universal,” or “given.” That is, what are the hidden set of rules that you are unaware even exist. Additionally, Hebdige reminds us of Marx and his German ideology that “ideology thrives beneath the consciousness.” Ideology is explained in the context of a school as within the bland buildings there are ideological assumptions, for example the raised lectern provides a “naturalised” professional authority. Stuart Hall also argues that only the dominant groups of society get their voices heard, and therefore their ideology. Through all these defined structures it has led to “refusal” and the development of subcultures. Examples of subcultures discussed in the piece are punk rockers, and street artists. The big question is, based on these unconscious society structures, is street art an expression of art intelligence, or rather just graffiti?
Critical Questions
- What structures exist in society that lead to the subculture of street art?
- To be considered art should be completed on a canvas?
- Buildings should not be painted on -seen as damaging/vandalism
- Art can fetch a lot of money, if it is on the side of a building how can we sell it
- What structures exist that make this a documentary or alternatively a mockumentary?
- Chronological description of events
- Multiple sources, do we trust them?
- Do you think that Mr Brainwash is a structural development of Banksy’s to mock our society?
- What agency is expressed/constrained? What power dynamics influence this work?
- Is it is produced by Banksy, his perspective of our “robotic” world
- On page 2, Hebdige highlights “the status and meaning of revolt, the idea of style as a form of Refusal, the elevation of crime into art.” How is producing art acting as a sign of refusal to ideology and structure.
- Touches on subjects that ideally we would not discuss – homelessness, conformity of society
- Ideology states that buildings are to live in, not to be used as art work
- How can culture and ideology affect how we interpret street art? Suggestions to consider:
– Family influences
– Art vs graffiti (Ted Talk)
– School – says it is bad
– Can anyone in the class link this to Benjamin?
- Placing stickers around a city “gains real power from perceived power.” This could be applicable to all forms of media, how does this link to Generation Like?
- Think number of likes – perceived that it is a nice photo leads to more likes
Outside source: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/14/movies/14banksy.html?mcubz=0