Plagiarism is defined as the close imitation or purloining and publication of another authors work, ideas or expressions and representing them as your own. Intertextuality is defined as the shaping of one text’s meaning through other texts, either through referencing or by borrowing and transforming that work into something different.
But looking at the two definitions, how far apart are plagiarism and intertextuality really. In a post-modern age so much media in all it’s forms are a hybrid or pastiche of what has been before, with frankenstein like efficiency, media is chopped up from all era’s and blended together to make something new, while paying homage to the narrative which informed it. In Issue 24 of one small seed – out now! – we chat to Mr Brainwash, the man who refers to himself as ‘Banksy’s greatest work of art’… But how original is his art, or is it ‘art’ at all?
Andy Warhol started the pop art scene in the 1960’s, with his factory and screen print process, a leading figure in the visual art movement, he was best known for his paintings of iconic american products, the campbells soup cans, coca-cola and iconic celebrities of the time, Marilyn Monroe and Elvis Presley, Michael Jackson. Even though he was attacked for capitulating to consumerism, pop art asked what is art, who decides what art is, Warhol painted soup cans and openly embraced the market culture, courting the rich and famous and gaining commissions for their portraits.
Fourty years later we have Mr Brainwash, a pseudonym for Thierry Guetta, his art of choice involves stencils and silk screens of well known icons in the pop art style used by Warhol. How far can intertextuality and pastiche or parody go before they become plagiarism? The hyperconsciousness of Mr Brainwash’s art is far from subtle, while all art is linked in the evolution of genre and style and reference the past in a global communication while evolving, where is the line between referencing and property theft drawn? Mr Brainwash commented on Andy Warhol saying, “I think that Warhol would have done the same if he were still alive” .
Another artist Mr Brainwash flatters with imitation is Banksy the popular and controversial graffiti artist out of Bristol. Banksy’s distinctive stenciling style encompasses political and social commentary, satirizing famous artwork, artists and public figures.The stencil style of Banksy is a nod to parisian graffiti artist, Blek le Rat. Unlike Mr Brainwash, Banksy’s graffiti parodies the very people who clamor to buy it. At his inception as a graffiti artist, Banksy was considered a counterculture artist, with his stencils and artworks a scathing commentary on consumerism and politics. But how can you comment on a culture that makes you wealthy, is it wrong to profit from social commentary and profit well? In the age of capitalism and consumerism, counter culture cannot exist for in a post -modern age the boundaries between high and low culture are blurred, and that which is outside the mainstream culture will simply be appropriated by it and become part of it.
And so the cycle continues, from Warhol to Blek le Rat, Banksy and Mr Brainwash, art at it’s finest, retouched, reproduced and referenced or plagiarized. To read the exclusive interview with Mr Brainswash get your copy of one small seed issue 24 out on sale in January and hear his thoughts on his art, Banksy and Andy Warhol.
images: Mr Brainwash
9 comments
Be Pop Art says:
Dec 21, 2011
I still didn’t decide what I think about Mr. Brainwash…
The Given says:
Jan 11, 2012
I love this debate, mainly because when Mr Brainwash says that he is Banksy’s greatest piece of art he means in the most literal of ways possible, as I believe they are probably one and the same. Banksy’s greatest artwork is also his biggest practical joke, a mickey mouse type character used to illustrate how desperate the world is to conform to what is deemed as cool.
Moving away from that notion, with the possiblity that Mr Brainwash could be real, then, no. I do not believe he is a true artist, purely from the aspect that he does not create the pieces himself, but rather employs a team which does it for him.
UU says:
Aug 30, 2012
So you are saying Hirst is not an artist neither! He employ a team of other artists to make his work and also plagiarize others work.
thom says:
Jan 11, 2012
“at that point i realised thierry [mr brainwash] might not be a filmmaker. he might just be a guy with mental problems who owned a camera … i used to encourage everyone to make art. i don’t really do that anymore” – banksy, exit through the gift shop
MARTY says:
Aug 1, 2012
Mr Brainwash is a moron who does not really have any talent or understanding of art. He makes art superficial & demotivates real artists!
uu says:
Aug 30, 2012
I think you are a moron. Seriously, stop been jealous and make art, if it is good enough it will sell, if not you were never an artist. This also can happen after you die of course but highly unlikely. I have met him, he is lovely. He has some rubbish work but seriously some of his silkscreens are to die for.
Karma says:
Nov 27, 2012
Can’t figure out if I rate this brainwash dude is a douche or has an idea. It sounds empty, either way. I’m not inspired at all.
Dr. Ramon says:
May 18, 2013
I am so far out of the alleged art movement after post-modernism that I have no idea who “Blek le Rat, Banksy and Mr Brainwash” are. I suppose that is the anti-thesis of what culture whores and media-cestuous artists are today. They want fame and popularity (after a type) and the common man (I count myself as common) don’t know who they are. I don’t hate them, I don’t love them, I don’t have time to pay attention to them.
Betoog Theory Audio Visual – Intertekstualiteit | AVtheoryjaar1 says:
May 13, 2014
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