UKParkGeek Posted September 13, 2006 Posted September 13, 2006 If this has already been done someone punch me in the face, I couldn't see it anywhere. Artist Banksy targets Disneyland A life-size replica of a Guantanamo Bay detainee has been placed in Disneyland by "guerrilla artist" Banksy. The hooded figure was placed inside the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad ride at the California theme park last weekend. It is understood to have remained in place for 90 minutes before the ride was closed down and the figure removed. A spokeswoman for Banksy said the stunt was intended to highlight the plight of terror suspects at the controversial detention centre in Cuba. Banksy is notorious for his secretive and subversive stunts - such as sneaking doctored versions of classic paintings into major art galleries. In 2005, he embarrassed the British Museum by planting a hoax cave painting of a man pushing a supermarket trolley, which he said went unnoticed for three days. Last week, he smuggled 500 "alternative" versions of Paris Hilton's album into record shops around the UK. Topless fake cover The artist replaced Hilton's songs with his own remixes, which were given titles such as Why am I Famous?, What Have I Done? and What Am I For? He also changed the artwork to show the US socialite topless and with a dog's head. The Bristolian is most famous for his graffiti artworks, which are often created in prominent public places. Last year, he produced nine stencil sprays on the Palestinian side of the West Bank barrier. The satirical images showed images of life on the other side of the barrier. One depicted a hole in the wall with an idyllic beach, while another showed a mountain landscape. Earlier this summer, a piece of Banksy's graffiti art on a Bristol building was allowed to remain in place by the city council after the public voiced overwhelming support. The stencilled image, which showed a naked man hanging onto a window ledge, won a 97% approval rating from residents on an internet discussion forum. Banksy is due to hold what is billed as a "three day vandalised warehouse extravaganza" in Los Angeles this weekend. Story from BBC NEWS: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/entertainment/5335400.stm
flyby208 Posted September 13, 2006 Posted September 13, 2006 I wonder how he got that in the park Im not into radical statemates or politics but is was kinda funny in a way. Also funny that he is from bristol as that place makest the worse inbred places in the deep south of america look good
UKParkGeek Posted September 13, 2006 Author Posted September 13, 2006 I'm usually a fan of his stunts but not so sure about this one...I mean it's quite funny but I can't see why he targeted Disney. Juxtaposition perhaps? Maybe he thought it would have the most impact in such a happy setting, I can't see how he would think it would seriously achieve anything other than reminding people what's going on. Edit: Well I never, I take the above back, I've jusy been told that Mickey and Goofy are on a boat on their way to Cuba right now to engage in guerilla warfare with the US troops at Guantanamo to set the prisoners free.
Sean Menefee Posted September 13, 2006 Posted September 13, 2006 I'm usually a fan of his stunts but not so sure about this one...I mean it's quite funny but I can't see why he targeted Disney. Publicity for an upcoming show in L.A. I would think.
UKParkGeek Posted September 13, 2006 Author Posted September 13, 2006 *slaps forehead* Ha good call, you would have thought I might have got that from the bit at the end of my OWN POST. Good of Britney to chip in and help out an underground artist with his advertising.
Ed Posted September 13, 2006 Posted September 13, 2006 Lmao! I love this guy. The fact he actually got this thing into a DisneyPark is what ammuses me.
SharkTums Posted September 13, 2006 Posted September 13, 2006 Any pictures?!? Anyone else find it disturbing that one of his stunts sat for 3 days in the British Museum vs. 90 minutes at Disney!??! Go Disney!
arrowfanman Posted September 13, 2006 Posted September 13, 2006 The article had one... ...I think this is rather funny, but what does it matter--I have homework to do. -Jahan
flyby208 Posted September 13, 2006 Posted September 13, 2006 Pic on bbc news link on bottom of first post. Im suprised they found it at all over here in the uk. They are always a bit on the slow side here its the slow boring english way of life Damn got beaten to it well done arrowfanman damn I always come second
ECZenith Posted September 13, 2006 Posted September 13, 2006 It's funny and all... but why would he pick Disneyland to show off the figure? They have nothing to do with the treatment of terror suspects. Or do they??? I too can't believe they didn't notice a painting was switched over 3 days! This guy is pretty clever.
arrowfanman Posted September 13, 2006 Posted September 13, 2006 Well, I would assume that whatever gets the most publicity would be the best place to showcase the piece. At Disneyland, every family has a camera, the fanbase would recognize the alteration.....some people even go as far as to visit the place every Friday! I mean, the piece was out there for only 90 minutes, and there were still pictures leaked onto the internet. He had a way better chance of getting publicity by placing it in Disneyland, than by placing it in front of the Federal Building, or White House or something. ...just my guess. -Jahan
Gutterflower Posted September 13, 2006 Posted September 13, 2006 hee hee. im never sure weather to support or condone Banksy. Being from Bristol im probably on the support side mostly This one is just down the road from me back home. always raises a smile in the morning.
speedracer Posted September 13, 2006 Posted September 13, 2006 ^^ Also, if I were from outside the States and looking for a location, what could be more of an American icon than DL? Besides NYC, DL would be my next guess, so maybe there was a point to placing a representation of such a horrible atrosity in the ultimate Americana icon of fun. Obviously had some insider help, no way he could have gotten all that past the security check and front gates.
Usf geek Posted September 13, 2006 Posted September 13, 2006 It's funny and all... but why would he pick Disneyland to show off the figure? They have nothing to do with the treatment of terror suspects. Or do they??? I too can't believe they didn't notice a painting was switched over 3 days! This guy is pretty clever. Looks like he's got a grudge against them.... http://www.banksy.co.uk/indoors/index.html
UberBeavis Posted September 13, 2006 Posted September 13, 2006 Obviously had some insider help, no way he could have gotten all that past the security check and front gates. What security check? You mean the front gate employees who glance in bags but don't notice the multitool/pocketknife hanging from your belt loop? It was probably an inflatable, just deflate it and put it in a backpack.
ECZenith Posted September 13, 2006 Posted September 13, 2006 A lot of this guys stuff is actually pretty cool. Check out his flea market masterpiece remixes!
speedracer Posted September 13, 2006 Posted September 13, 2006 Obviously had some insider help, no way he could have gotten all that past the security check and front gates. What security check? You mean the front gate employees who glance in bags but don't notice the multitool/pocketknife hanging from your belt loop? It was probably an inflatable, just deflate it and put it in a backpack. Makes sense, judging from the pic, I assumed it was some sort of full size manaquin or something. Which proves your point, can even walk through DL security with a folded blow up doll and won't be stopped .
TPDave Posted September 13, 2006 Posted September 13, 2006 Putting it at disney gets publicity which is good for Banksy (although this is a man who refuses to have his picture taken, so its anyones guess really) but i think there might be something deeper than that with this one. Disney is seen as a great family place where fun can be had and memories made, but I think it's also important to consider the fact that Disney could be seen as false by some people, where they're nly nice because you pay them, where you can have anything you want if your wallet is heavy enough. He might be conveying the idea that we are all "prisoners" at disney (something made more real with the fingerprint scanners), that we are kept from the ruthless, almost evil side of the money grabbing (with Eisner at the top) company by a man dressed as a mouse. That picture with mickey mouse and ronald McDonald kinda says something about the happy facades of these companies when there is something bad going on right under our noses. I've kinda gone on a tangent there but yeh, thats one way of looking at it. And for the record, i love Disney
Calvin Posted September 14, 2006 Posted September 14, 2006 This guy sort of reminds me of one of the characters in one of the short stories in Chuck Palahniuk's Haunted...the one with the stickers...
Jew Posted September 14, 2006 Posted September 14, 2006 http://www.woostercollective.com/2006/09/08/bankdis3.jpg Shouldn't the figures shadow be pointing the same way as the fences? Hmm....
BlueThunder Posted September 14, 2006 Posted September 14, 2006 It's funny and all... but why would he pick Disneyland to show off the figure? They have nothing to do with the treatment of terror suspects. Or do they??? I too can't believe they didn't notice a painting was switched over 3 days! This guy is pretty clever. Many people tend to see Disney like say a Microsoft or a Ford. They are #1 in their industry for sales (best selling Windows or Ford F-150) but their products are generally considered lackluster (at least compared to competitor offerings). Just a guess, though.
cfc Posted September 14, 2006 Posted September 14, 2006 It's funny and all... but why would he pick Disneyland to show off the figure? They have nothing to do with the treatment of terror suspects. Or do they??? I too can't believe they didn't notice a painting was switched over 3 days! This guy is pretty clever. Perhaps Thunder Mountain was one of those "secret" CIA prisons. Actually, I think using It's a Small World would be far more effective as an interrogation tool. "Aghh! Yes, Great Satan, I will tell you everything! Just stop the singing of that hideous song!"
Luxo Posted September 15, 2006 Posted September 15, 2006 Yess!! I love Banksy's excapades (see the 'favorite artist' thread). I'm actually surprised because to me, this doesn't look like a jab at Disney. It just looks like he placed it there because thousands of people would see it in the 90 minutes it was up. Maybe that's just wishful thinking. Still, bravo Banksy.
Twister II Posted September 15, 2006 Posted September 15, 2006 blah blah blah we are all "prisoners" at disney (something made more real with the fingerprint scanners) blah blah blah They are NOT fingerprint scanners, they like memorize your hand shape or something. When I was at Disney in December, they DUMPED, I mean took every item out of my bag for search. And proceeded to do that all day. WTF is up with that?
ChrisFL Posted September 16, 2006 Posted September 16, 2006 blah blah blah we are all "prisoners" at disney (something made more real with the fingerprint scanners) blah blah blah They are NOT fingerprint scanners, they like memorize your hand shape or something. When I was at Disney in December, they DUMPED, I mean took every item out of my bag for search. And proceeded to do that all day. WTF is up with that? No, they replaced the finger shape ones with fingerprint scanners. As for picking Disneyland..Disney owns ABC which got a LOT of negative comments about the docudrama "path to 9/11"
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