As if he wasn’t already a media favorite, Banksy has been making some pretty colossal waves in the press this past week. First it was the street artist’s airing of The Antics Roadshow, then we were delivered King Robbo’s eye-opening Graffiti Wars (a must-see that has unfortunately been taken off Vimeo), and now all eyes are on Banksy once again as his 2010 documentary, Exit Through the Gift Shop was featured on the August 16th episode of  50 Documentaries to See Before You Die.

50 Documentaries to See Before You Die (50 Docs) is a summer special series, airing on CurrentTV throughout the month of August, and ranks the top 50 documentary films from the past 25 years. Exit Through the Gift Shop (ETTGS) was rated as no.21 this past Tuesday, joining the ranks alongside Biggie and Tupac (no.39) and skateboarding film Dogtown and Z Boys (no.32). On the show’s most recent episode, 50 Docs host Morgan Spurlock ventures through California to meet with controversial French street artist Mr.Brainwash (Thierry Guetta): Banksy’s protege and the focal point of much of ETTGS. In the clip, Spurlock questions Guetta on his relationship with Banksy, as well as the authenticity of both ETTGS and Guetta’s own works.

The 50 Docs feature of ETTGS has kept the art world abuzz about Banksy, and the controversy behind the documentary that features Guetta’s supposed original footage of  famed street artists (including Banksy himself) at work. After viewing Guetta’s footage, Bansky managed to convince Guetta to hand over the reins on his graffiti doc project, ETTGS being the result. The film’s 2010 debut sparked debate and initiated skepticism  among street art aficionados, leaving many to wonder if Guetta really existed and whether or not the entire film was a hoax.  After viewing the documentary, many began to consider Banksy as a sellout, and, after Graffiti Wars, I think I’m starting to as well.

Somehow Banksy’s privileged status as a street artist rather than a graffiti artist (explained in Graffiti Wars by street artist Ben Eine), and his obsession with commercializing his works  just don’t sit well with me. Why should anti-graffiti task forces in the UK and around the world be allowed to preserve Banksy works, while ridding the streets of all other illegal art? Why is one more legitimate than the other? I do, however, agree with 50 Docs that ETTGS is a must-see for graffiti nuts. The episode may have just lent the film a bit more legitimacy by speaking with Guetta himself, even if his splattering of red paint is unbearably annoying.

Exit Through the Gift Shop is not the first of Banksy’s sketchy moves though…Team Robbo anyone?

photo via Mr. Brainwash

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From the very title (which is a spin-off on a long-running British TV show called “The Antiques Roadshow“) to the actual content of the program, Banksy‘s “The Antics Roadshow” is a spoof of respectability in every way possible. The show was aired on Channel 4 over the weekend, and it exposes the “history of behaving badly in public, from anarchists and activists to attention seeking eccentrics.” Watch it here.

And while we’re talking about Banksy, here’s an interesting sidenote. King Robbo also released a video this weekend titled “Graffiti Wars“. It talks about the Banksy-Robbo rivalry. The SAN-produced film is definitely a little biased towards Robbo, and it also addresses the difference between street art and graffiti. Here’s the tidbit I found most interesting from this movie: Robbo recently got his start as a professional artist, not just a vandal, with the help of a gallery called “Pure Evil” that, incidentally, gave Banksy his start. Ironic, right? Obviously, this video is definitely worth the watch:

Graffiti Wars from StreetArtNews on Vimeo.

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As if you weren’t already getting enough of Banksy with the new iPhone app that allows users to easily find and virtually view his notable pieces, viewers in the UK will now be able get their Banksy fill straight from their TV. No, it isn’t what it sounds like, Banksy won’t actually be on TV; rather he will be playing the role of producer for an hour-long special on Channel 4, “The Antics Roadshow“. The premise behind the show is to chart “the history of behaving badly in public, from anarchists and activists to attention seeking eccentrics.”

When asked to explain his his reasoning behind the show, Banksy said: ‘Basically I just thought it was a good name for a TV programme and I’ve been working back from there’.

Among the featured stunts will be Michael Fagan talking about breaking into the Queen’s bedroom, Noel Godin, who pioneered attacking celebrities with custard pies, and a world exclusive first interview with the man responsible for putting the turf Mohican on Winston Churchill‘s head.

The show is set to air on UK’s Channel 4 on August 13th, and will be available on the station’s website after its initial airing. I’m not really sure what to expect from this one, but I’m foreseeing a hybrid between Jackass and Punk’d, maybe? Whatever it is I’m sure it’ll be raucous, rowdy and exciting. Be sure to check it out!

via Channel 4

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