Exit Through the Gift Shop

How did this documentary compare to reality TV?

It seems to me that this documentary followed a lot of the same criteria that reality TV does. It's edited, and fixed to make it watchable. However, it is not quite like reality TV. Reality TV can be viewed in two different genres. The first is that of the mainstream reality TV that we see on MTV. For example, Jersey Shore and Real World are considered reality TV because they take the lives of everyday people and record them. However, it is not exactly reality because they take random people and then put them in a n environment that is something that they are not used to. However it is made to be watched. It is a solid form of entertainment that is viewed for the purpose of entertainment.

The other form of reality TV is much more real. For example the educational shows where the man goes and visits different countries and then has to become accustom to their traditions. That is reality TV. That is much more like this documentary. Thierry Guetta is the man behind this documentary. He is constantly filming no matter what. Because of this constant filming it is much more real.

This brings up the question of perception vs reality. Street art is relatively unknown because it is not something that is seen being preformed on a daily basis. The point of street art is to be done anonymously and in secret where the only thing that matters is the art, not the artist. With the introduction of the camera into the unknown world I wonder how much of this is actually true. For example, Banksy chose to be darkened with a voice altering devise when he talked. This was to hide his true identity and to make his artwork even more of the focus.

To me this did not work. Banksy is the most famous street artist. However, all this constant talk about who is is taking the focus off of the art. I feel that when someone is that famous and such a public known figure then I think that they should be able to reveal themselves because they know that their artwork has lead them to this fame. The reality of the situation is that he has become famous. The perception is that he is still not important, however that is not reality. He is important. I guess, Banksy is just making the statement that his artwork is more famous than himself.