But does anyone really believe he did it for freedom of self-expression?
I don't believe he really did it at all.
Who needs to do all that research on snopes. He says its a fake right there on his sight. Hidden away in
his links section, under legal disclaimers.
Please read the language set forth herein carefully as it may affect, inhibit, modify or otherwise influence the interests or perceptions of any end user (hereinafter "you" or "end user") viewing the preceeding video (also referred to herein and hereas as "The Still Free Video"). You, the viewer of the preceeding are hereby advised that the video does not depict a real event. It is intended for the sole, limited and express purpose of entertainment and to induce you, the viewer of the video, to think critically about freedom of expression and speech and the government's responses to the same.
And this from his company's site regarding his video game about grafitti.
While my work was feeble by comparison - a suburban fatty standing on the shoulders of giants trying to fly once again - I nonetheless tried to leave my mark. My first tag was scrawled on my desk in sixth grade art class. It said "Ecko" after a nickname my mom gave me before I was born. I was such a herb. But regardless,. . ., I felt like I was a part of something bigger than me. I couldn't articulate that, but I knew that scrawling my sorry-ass tag gave me and my na??ve [sic] sense of being an artist at that age a purpose. It was like hearing Ultramagnetic for the first time. It was foreign, but I was home.
I've spent the rest of my life chasing that feeling. Everything I do stems from my desire to touch on the emotions I first had when I fell in love with this stuff. Yet as hard as I tried, I always felt removed. But with this game, I get to be right back on the street. And so do you. It's a love letter to real life superheroes who fly every night. While I may not have the can in my hand, I get to tap that nerve and see a little bit of what it's like through their eyes. And so will you. Enjoy!
So basically, this urban-wannabe "fashion designer" has taken a practice that is only marginally considered an artform and that is barely oppressed by even the most sensitive of standards and he has blown it out of proportion to exploit it for his own profit.
Oh yeah. He's a big old tool.
Forgive me if I find greater issues in the world than whether or not an 18 year old can buy spraypaint in New York, and if I find it difficult to see any credibility in a wealthy white man building a company enterprise on the backs of those he claims are oppressed and then promoting that company by renting a 747 in order to pretend to be something that he is not. I doubt it was even him hopping the "razor wire" in the video. Probably had a stunt man.
