Exit Through the Essay

In a thoughtful, thorough, one-page essay, answer the following question. Use one of the two thesis statements in a single-sentence paragraph. Craft two body paragraphs that support that thesis sentence. Use your rubric throughout the revision process, and pay special attention to your use of quotations: condensing, integrating, and citing. Ask your instructors if you have any questions.

Throughout Exit Through the Giftshop, Thierry attempts to reinvent himself as an artist: Mr. Brainwash. The degree to which he is successful is debatable, but he certainly does try. Is Thierry deserving of viewers' respect or criticism?



Answer the question with one of the following two thesis statements:

• Although some viewers might think that Thierry is deserving of respect and admiration for his efforts, he is actually deserving of viewers' criticism.
• Although some viewers might think that Thierry is deserving of criticism for his foolishness and questionable ethics, he is actually deserving of viewers' respect.

Exit Through the Gift Shop

If you miss a day of class, you can catch up with the film embedded several times below. Keep in mind, that if you have not handed in a permission slip, you will have an alternative project.

One Last Thing Before Break...

This post is for JUNIORS only.

We're trying something new this time. This is not a paragraph. This is a one page essay. That's one page EXACTLY. No more, no less. Double spaced, 12 point font, etc. Have a good title. Answer the following question:

WHAT IS ART?

Due at the end of the period.

Exit through the Gift Shop - Extra Credit Post

Here is part of the film's Wikipedia entry. Read it...

The film received overwhelmingly positive reviews, holding 98% on Rotten Tomatoes, and was nominated for Best Documentary in the 2011 Academy Awards.^[5][6] One consistent theme in the reviews was the authenticity of the film: Was the film just an elaborate ruse on Banksy's part, or did Guetta really evolve into Mr. Brainwash overnight? The Boston Globe movie reviewer Ty Burr found it to be quite entertaining and awarded it four stars. He dismissed the notion of the film being a "put on" saying "I’m not buying it; for one thing, this story’s too good, too weirdly rich, to be made up. For another, the movie’s gently amused scorn lands on everyone."^[7] Roger Ebert gave it 3.5 stars out of 4, starting his review saying that "The widespread speculation that Exit Through the Gift Shop is a hoax only adds to its fascination."^[8] However, in an interview with SuicideGirls^[9] filmmakers Jaimie D'Cruz and Chris King denied that it was a hoax, and expressed their growing frustration with the speculation that it was: "For a while we all thought that was quite funny, but it went on for so long. It was a bit disappointing when it became basically accepted as fact, that it was all just a silly hoax ... I felt it was a shame that the whole thing was going to be dismissed like that really - because we knew it was true."^[10]


The New York Times movie reviewer Jeannette Catsoulis wrote that the film could be a new subgenre, a "prankumentary".^[11]


New York Film Critics Online bestowed its Best Documentary Award on the film in 2010. French journalist Marjolaine Gout gave it 4 stars out of 5, linking Mr. Brainwash and Jeff Koons and criticizing Thierry Guetta's art as toilet papering.^[12]

So what do you think? Is the entire film fake, created by Banksy? Does Theirry even exist? Was the whole thing one giant joke played on us by an artist, asking us to re-examine what we accept as real? Are we "Old Owl Eyes," or are we a bunch a Gatsby's party goers, believing everything we see? Is there even a party?

(This much is fact: There was a Mr. Brainwash who sold a bunch of art at an art show in L.A. That is true and documented in the papers.)

Comment below for extra credit.

Exit through the Gift Shop and The Great Gatsby

This post is for JUNIORS only.

First we read The Great Gatsby, and we examined how James Gats re-invented himself and became Jay Gatsby. We examined the price he paid, the flaws in the illusion, and the reasons he wanted to make the change in the first place.

Second we watched Exit through the Gift Shop, and we examined how Thierry went from thrift store owner, to film maker (?), and finally to artist (!). We saw similarities between him and Gatsby - the price he paid and the flaws in the illusion.

We also noticed how in both cases, people were suckered into believing the illusion before them. In both cases, people were tricked into thinking that what they were seeing (a rich, popular playboy or a new-wave artist) were 100% real.

Here is your task for today -- in a thoughtful, thorough paragraph, and using specific evidence from both the novel and the film, answer the following question:

Who was more successful at re-inventing himself, Gatsby or Thierry?

Post your response in the comments section bellow. When you have finished, check in with the instructor to make sure it posted. If you have any questions, please ask.