Retro-Edit: Scarface

This painting we saw last night in an art gallery’s window in West Kensington reminded us just how big the image of Scarface really is. It’s not big. It’s colossal. There’s something about the concept of Scarface that people today are looking back on, in a nostalgic way. English artists paint pictures of the film character, Brooklyn home boys ride the subway with his face stitched into their leather jackets, LA kids walk the sidewalks with the gangster hanging off the back of their black shirts.

What is it about brand Scarface that gives it such attention? Is it simply Al Paccino’s moody acting skills or are people looking back to a time when Hollywood produced real anti-heroes we loved, hated but also respected. Or maybe something else. We’re not too sure it’s the reality of the character or our ‘retro-edit’ of the past to fit the reality of today.

Thoughts?