Free Dichotomy Of Good And Bad Art Essay Example

“I used to encourage everyone I knew to make art; I don't do that so much anymore.” This quote of Bansky from the film “Exit Through The Gift Shop” sets thinking whether this can be considered as good or bad art. Graffiti cannot be considered as the modern art, because it is neither bad or good, it is the way of expression of the society’s mood and inner world.
Basically, the roots of a problem concerning graffiti as the modern art lie in people’s canons of classical art and vandalism. Everything that is painted on a canvas can be considered as an example of proper and “good” art, and graffiti on the streets is considered as a fact of vandalism that destroys the picturesque view of a city. The dichotomy of good and bad art lies in the numbed stereotypes, which brings into fashion new commonplaces. Only society decides what is good and what is bad according to their principles (Ellsworth-Jones 70). By the example of the film “Exit Through The Gift Shop”, the audience can see the difference between a proper and truthful art of Bansky (his famous rats-graffiti) and an unsuccessful attempt of Thierry Guetta (French hipster) to become an artist. Anyone can buy a digital video camera and feel like a director. Everyone can take a can of paint and feel the proto-artist. One does not need any Academy of Arts or the exhibition halls; nobody cares for criticism. Much of the film “Exit Through the Gift Shop” is dedicated to the epic story about the birth of a new art on the streets. Chronicler himself, Mr. Brainwash, began to shoot everything he could see, but as Thierry was not a simple “mortal”, and he was attracted to beautiful and eternal, he decided to fulfill the of avant-garde street art. His own works (e.g. Don’t Be Cruel or the portrait of Kate Moss) is a copy of or allusion to Banksy (e.g. Kate Moss) who had been influenced by Andy Warhol (Rainer 2010). Using stencils became the new art of the 21st century without passing hundred years. “Exit” is not a movie not about the birth of street art, but rather a mocking monument that is built inter vivos (Merrill 381). Graffiti is neither bad nor good art. “Nothing is true, everything is permitted” is the best way to interpret the slogan of contemporary graffiti, which can be misinterpreted as the modern art.

Works cited

Ellsworth-Jones, Will. “Art Attack.” Smithsonian 43.10 (2013): 68-73.
Merrill, Samuel. “Keeping It Real? Subcultural Graffiti, Street Art, Heritage And
Authenticity.” International Journal Of Heritage Studies 21.4 (2015): 369-389. 
Rainer, Peter. “Exit Through the Gift Shop: movie review.” Web. Christian Science Monitor 26