Do you mean that he's just sniping other people's stuff and not adding anything new? I wouldn't agree, but even if it were true and he's just taking other people's ideas, he's reaching a lot of people that this is striking a chord with. Whether it's due to him being more effective of an artist than the people he "took" from, or because he's a more effective marketer than them doesn't matter much to me. And not to be all stoner discussion about it, but what ideas really are new at this point? He is speaking about control of the masses by the few and alienation, something that has been discussed for thousands of years and something our descendants will be speaking of for a few thousand more, if we aren't extinct by then. How many ways can you put it? At least he is putting it in a way that speaks to many of us today. When I see his art, it says something that I am already feeling. I don't feel like my time was wasted, I am overjoyed that someone expressed what I sometimes have a hard time expressing myself. If I misread your statement (or even if I didn't) can you explain this in more detail? I'm not being sarcastic by the way, I'm being serious. I love art, but I never took art classes or anything, I'm just a "I like what I like" kind of guy. I don't know art theory from my ass so you can probably give me a lot more insight than I already have. School me dude!
There are not many "new ideas" we can express, but what makes art awesome is it allows for people to invent new ways of expressing those ideas/feelings. This guy is making art that draws to closely from "language" of recent artists. This is a common thing for young artists trying to come up with their "language", and I think this is ok. Everyone has to learn. What bugs me about Banksy here is that he is moving himself up to fast. He identifys and likes the art not in the mainstream that is amazing, grabs the more simple elements from each artist that most people will "get" and then attacks the world through the media to make a name for himself. This is not art to me, this is a lifestyle company. which is cool too, but represent yourself correctly. I don't like that he is working so hard to get the world to notice "his art". I think artist just should work hard on expressing themselves in a way that is 100% themselves and not worried about what the world will think. If they are making something great, the right people(who are looking for this) will be interested and supportive. Like I said before, if you like this stuff, that means there is so much more for you to check out. DON'T BE SATISFIED BY WHAT IS PUT INFRONT OF YOUR FACE! If you heard a rad song, but later found out it was cover, wouldn't you want to check out the original? sorry for the overload of "". these are just my opinions, take it or leave it. I love art and follow it all from the shit at my local coffee shop to who is the big collectors and what they are buying. Art and art commerce is so interesting to me. I could talk on this topic all day.
Reasoned, passionate discussions like this make me feel so much more hopeful for Skullbrain-humanity. I love what Rick has to say, cos he speaks my language, and I also love what Isaac has to say as it makes me think! I can't add anything but a pointless, yet heartfelt, Bravo gentlemen!
Some deep shit Ramos. I think I feel so passionately about this subject because of all the things you just mentioned. Art has become not of expression but of media control. Some may call that art but count me out.
