Mad about Mad Men

Now that two miles has become an easy feat for my small lungs and heavy thighs to carry out, that and being in a familiar place where I am no longer a guest and am allowed to do the dishes, I find myself settling. Settling in with old friends (my bike), finding odd jobs, and trying out all of my sister’s new clothes (like her black acid wash skinny jeans and I know, I know, acid wash really but I dig on them). I have been busying my time by watching episode after episode of MAD MEN. You know when you get obsessed with something and you know your obsessed because you keep relating to it in real life conversations...its a little embarrassing.

Yesterday after sleeping almost 12 hours I went to pick up my film that I was having developed. Looking through the photos I rested my eyes on one particular shot, it’s the one with all my girls from India center at the Idly place one morning. That place is so romanticized in my memories, the standing tables, messy haired-dirty toothed owner who would guess our order every time we came in and ask, “tea madam?” at the end of our meal. We would all nod our heads yes in the middle of discussing the nights before adventure, or a homework assignment. I never minded the flies and liked washing my hands after eating, being able to self-serve water, and the view of livestock as I ate. I miss India, more then I missed Costa Rica, and I am impatient with the readjustment period.

But in spite of missing it today is Tuesday June 7^th, I just finished watching the Bansky film Exit Through the Gift Shop. I tried to see it in theaters last summer before leaving for India but had too much to do and so I never did. I thought this movie would be more about capturing Bansky and how he did his street art while remaining so anonymous. But it ended on a sour note with a bunch of famous street artists who felt like the initial documentary maker Thierry Guetta sold out as he became pretty famous only after his first art show. I could see how much he liked the attention and money he was getting for doing fairly easily produced art. Maybe his success in LA was because he was a sort of knock-off Bansky, more collectible and accessible then Bansky is but lacking in sincerity. I saw all the other street artist’s disappointment in him including Bansky for turning the way he did, but I also got a new perspective on street art.

The venture is a somewhat egocentric one, you spread your signature name or message repeatedly all over the city, a semi uncontrolled space where everyone has to see it. It’s a way of being recognized on your own. The reason why I value what Bansky does so much is that what he does is art, something that really takes skill and is beautiful. His message is political, it makes you think, and it is not mainstream. As an artist he chooses to remain completely anonymous, even after he became famous, giving more value to his message. At the end of the film Bansky is interviewed about Thierry’s success and leaves us with a sad sentiment saying, “maybe Thierry was a genius all along, maybe he got a bit lucky, maybe it means art is a bit of a joke”, or maybe it shows the true meaning of what some of the street artists message to the people are, to wake up and think for yourself.

Before watching this movie I saw something that I think is really cool and interesting. I get excited whenever I see or read or talk about anything quantum. The concept is so fascinating to me. Here it is, get excited instead of down about art, and humanities inability to form valuable opinions about things.