So I recently watched the film “Exit Through the Gift Shop.” Great film. Before watching it, the only thing I knew about street art and graffiti was the artist Banksy, the enigmatic and arguably most popular graffiti artist in the world, and how he used satire to voice his political and social commentary. The film offers a great glimpse into the world of graffiti art and the commercialization of certain artists. It follows the development of Thierry Guetta into Mr. Brainwash, a self-anointed protege of Banksy himself and features some of the only footage of Banksy ever captured on film. More interestingly, it highlights the arbitrariness with which culture judges and monetizes certain “talent” and how once something is declared a piece of art, mainstream culture jumps on the bandwagon whether there be any intrinsic value to the piece or not. I would definitely recommend it to anyone that is interested in art or learning more about the subculture of graffiti.
Category Archives: Films
Art or not?
Hunger Games Fashion Tumblr
So, yes, I am totally on the Hunger Games bandwagon. I held out until last December and then proceeded to rip through the books in all of about three weeks (which, for a slow reader, was intense!). This is probably my first foray into the YA genre, but let me just say that while I was reading the books, they totally consumed me. I am definitely looking forward to the movie in a few weeks. I have high expectations and hope that they keep it dramatic but not cheesy. I think there is so much opportunity for the directors to really create a whole new world, especially with the (hopefully) over the top, costumes! Since the whole world seems to be caught up in the Hunger Games paranoia, I am not surprised that there is a Hunger Games fashion tumblr called Capitol Couture. So far it looks like Rodarte, Dior, McQueen and a whole slew of other designers have contributed to bringing this series alive on the big screen. If that doesn’t get you excited, it looks like the soundtrack will feature Kid Cudi and Arcade Fire! Let’s hope this movie doesn’t disappoint!
Eames Documentary
So, anyone who knows me knows that the one “thing” that I have wanted the most and will someday own is the Eames Lounge Chair by Herman Miller (second is the Saarinen Tulip Table in marble – yes, I am saving my pennies!). I know that some people think it’s ridiculous to spend that amount of money on a chair, but let me tell you, it is not just a chair. It is a work of art. It is perfectly crafted to fit the human form, and it is gorgeous to boot! Anyway, I recently watched a great documentary about the genius duo of Ray and Charles Eames called Eames: The Architect and the Painter, and I would highly recommend it to anyone that is interested in design, art or history. These two were pioneers that forever changed the landscape of modern American design. Check out the trailer here.
collected and curated 