Watch The Fall of an Icon

As a documentary, The Fall of an Icon from BBC Select is a fascinating look at the rise and fall of one of the most influential figures in the world of art, Jeffrey Deitch. Jeffrey Deitch was the director of the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles, California, from 2010 to 2013. Prior to this, he was a notable art dealer who also ran his own gallery in Manhattan. Over the course of his career, he represented many high-profile artists and was widely regarded as one of the most important figures in the world of contemporary art.

However, things began to unravel for Deitch in the early 2010s. In 2011, he was criticized for a performance art piece called "Rebel Dabble Babble," which many people saw as offensive to the hip-hop community. Later that year, the museum he directed came under fire for hosting a controversial exhibition featuring work by the street artist Blu, which included a mural that depicted coffins draped in dollar bills adorned with the initials of major banks. The mural was painted over by the museum after complaints from community members.

The criticisms of Deitch and the museum continued to mount, culminating in his resignation as director in 2013. The Fall of an Icon takes an in-depth look at the events that led up to Deitch's fall from grace, including interviews with many people who were involved in the art world at the time. The documentary explores the tensions that existed between Deitch and various artists, critics, and community members, and examines the ways in which these tensions came to a head in the early 2010s.

What makes The Fall of an Icon particularly interesting is the way it delves into the power dynamics within the world of contemporary art. The documentary shows how Deitch's rise to power was fueled in part by his relationships with wealthy collectors and high-profile artists, and how these relationships contributed to the controversies that ultimately brought him down. It also examines the role that social media played in shaping the public perception of Deitch and the museum he directed, and how this perception helped to fuel the controversies.

Overall, The Fall of an Icon is a thought-provoking look at one of the most high-profile controversies in the art world in recent years. It provides valuable insight into the power dynamics that underlie the world of contemporary art, and highlights the challenges that institutions and individuals face when navigating the complex and often fraught landscape of cultural production. Whether you are a fan of contemporary art or simply interested in the dynamics of power and influence, The Fall of an Icon is definitely worth watching.