[thomaspaine]

It's a cool experiment but not altogether surprising right? The provenance of a piece of artwork, and other rare goods, is arguably more important than the art itself. Especially in the case of artwork which is easily reproducible and copied.

If you think that's idiotic then ask yourself if you were given the opportunity to buy the first original Apple 1 or an exact replica, how much more would you be willing to pay over the replica? If the amount is greater than zero, then you're admitting that you're really buying an experience and set of emotional states in addition to a physical good.

[jmah]

Perhaps I want the original because other people value it more, such that its value is more likely to increase over the replica.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Positional_good (credit to dbond)

[alwaysinshade]

"If the amount is greater than zero, then you're admitting that you're really buying an experience and set of emotional states in addition to a physical good."

Absolutely, and I think that's the message being conveyed by Banksy. In a similar project he erected pieces in undisclosed locations throughout the English countryside - their existence only documented in pictures on his website. That way money is removed from the equation while the message remains.

[the_cat_kittles]

I feel like no matter what you are doing, you are buying experience and emotional states. The point is the cause of these particular emotional states is kind of silly.