Confessions of an Outlaw, with Philippe Petit | Big Think.
Confessions of an Outlaw, with Philippe Petit
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High-wire artist Philippe Petit, who four decades ago performed illegally between the World Trade Center towers, explains how his personal brand of outlaw creativity can be harnessed to inspire and solve problems.
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PHILIPPE PETIT:
Philippe Petit has performed on the high wire more than eighty times around the world. He is famous for his 1974 high-wire walk between the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City. Petit is also a magician, street juggler, visual artist, builder, lecturer, and writer. He is the author and illustrator of several books, including To Reach the Clouds, the basis of the 2009 Academy Award–winning documentary Man on Wire.
Petit’s latest book is titled Creativity: The Perfect Crimes. His World Trade Center act is the subject of the 2015 biographical film The Walk directed by Robert Zemeckis and starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt.
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TRANSCRIPT:
Philippe Petit: I didn’t go to school much. I was thrown out of different schools and my university is the street. I am a thief of knowledge and in a survival way, I had to solve all the problems around me. When you read actually my testimony about creativity, which is very personal; it’s not using the Beatles and Einstein as an example, but the author, you immediately relate because my out-of-the-beaten path, although unusual, can relate to everybody. I think in that sense people will immediately pick up things and make them theirs, you know. It will help them either open doors, either actually go through a problem that they couldn’t resolve.
High-wire artist Philippe Petit, who four decades ago performed illegally between the World Trade Center towers, explains how his personal brand of outlaw creativity can be harnessed to inspire and solve problems.
@OmniphonProductions
December 15, 2025 at 9:36 pm
Being a "true artist" is a great weight loss program. Most of the world's true artists ultimately die broke and obscure. That said, once one chooses the "career path" there's suddenly much less time to pursue one's art. It's hard to become great with only part-time artistic dedication. In an Either-Or equation, the choices are (A) Pursue your art, and try not to starve, or (B) give up your art and choose the safe path. Thankfully Life doesn't have to be Either-Or. In my case, I chose a career (that I don't like) to pay the bills and support my family, WHILE developing my art, first as a hobby, then as a part-time paying gig. Now, as the balance has shifted over the years, I can see the day when my art BECOMES my full-time job.
@cachattacks2045
December 15, 2025 at 9:36 pm
There are many ways to live ones life. Different folks different strokes… For me, the life model I choose is to work my job and have a career in my first half (say 30 years) then to retire early around 50-55 to pursue a life during my second half (until I die). This model will allow one to enjoy life fully by having both security and creativity. Above all wrapped myself in the love and provisions of God and through Jesus Christ, I will have a blessed life on earth and eternal life forever after. What else can one ask for?
@Pythag012
December 15, 2025 at 9:36 pm
These are the big thinks I love. The ones that give me a peek into the mind of somebody who's life is entirely different from my own.
@PsychopathUltimate
December 15, 2025 at 9:36 pm
Because of course the only way to be a true artist is to magically meet unrealistic expectations.
@Xaines13
December 15, 2025 at 9:36 pm
Basically… If you have something you love, don't make it your career, make it your life…
@telepathicteddybear
December 15, 2025 at 9:36 pm
Jesus Christ, this is amazing.
@GrandMoffTarkinsTeaDispenser
December 15, 2025 at 9:36 pm
Very french indeed. Good video.
@Neueregel
December 15, 2025 at 9:36 pm
Amazing. After, so many 'Big Think' attempts to argue by scientists, engineers, commentators and we finally get (after a long time) the most decent and coherent talk by an foreign Artist ! Props.
@iEfrenR
December 15, 2025 at 9:36 pm
I think what he means is the you shouldn't focus on making money with what you do because it will give you tunnel vision.
I have always loved just drawing whatever, but in the past few years I've been trying to make money off my drawings. Whenever I want to draw something now the first thing that comes to mind is: What will sell? It's no loner: What do I want to draw?
This is the saddest thing that could happen to an artist of any type.
I then start considering only drawing uninspired work (Video game character, movie characters, celebs, etc.) at that point I am becoming what Philippe Petit calls a "false artist." That's what I've gotten from the video.
Van Gogh became famous doing his own thing, he strayed from what was successful in his career choice at the time. Was it the easy life? No.
same applies to actors/music artists, I would think. You start to think "Well who's a very successful actor/music artist?" and you try to mimic him/her and live up to him/her but you never will. You will always be his/her shadow.
@mosdef4543
December 15, 2025 at 9:36 pm
Unfortunately most of what he's saying could and probably would lead to poverty and ignorance. The lack of rationality this guy is using is confusing.
@coastalumbra2682
December 15, 2025 at 9:36 pm
Thank you for this, Phillip is a true artist
@MrSanford65
December 15, 2025 at 9:36 pm
I wonder how a true artist pays the bills
@artai0sdev968
December 15, 2025 at 9:36 pm
Good speach since a while.
@Sebanoe
December 15, 2025 at 9:36 pm
I am always impressed when people are articulate in a language that is not their native language .
This guys is more articulate than 98% of the people who are native speakers of the language.
@Ramezml
December 15, 2025 at 9:36 pm
Now this is a good Big Think video.
Comments are closed.