[mcantelon]

I assert A, B, and C, yes. Banksy managed to simultaneously profit from, and socially comment globally using, a street medium. Paris Hilton was born with the looks and means needed to make connections and she worked from that, gaining notoriety through her lack of inhibition. I can see the comparison in that their trajectories were both unconventional to some degree, but beyond that, not much simularity.

If you haven't, I'd recommend watching the humorous Banksy-related documentary "Exit Through the Gift Shop". It's quite interesting and entertaining and not what you'd expect.

[michaelwww]

I watched it. I found an article that expressed my feelings by googling the words 'culture consuming itself in an ironic singularity' [1] but this article is an equal part of the singularity. "Exit Through the Gift Shop" plays well as a mockumentary by an art collective. The whole thing feels like a long troll, which is kind of interesting, but I felt Netochka Nezvanova [2] was pretty interesting at the time and now, not so much.

[1] http://jamesonstarship.com/2013/05/15/thats-all-folks-buzzfe...

[2] http://www.salon.com/2002/03/01/netochka/

[michaelwww]

Thanks for the recommendation. I will watch that. My bottom line is have I learned anything from Banksy? No I haven't. I'll watch it and report back.

[voltagex_]

Another really good one to watch is "Bomb It" on Netflix/iTunes. The sequel is out soon.

[michaelwww]

I haven't finished it, but I like this a lot better because it's authentic street art from the people who grew up in those locales. The Banksy collective on the other hand has a lot of money behind it and feels more like rich people appropriating street art.