NationStates Jolt Archive

Is this a legitimate form of protest? No one was hurt, the point made quite effeciently and ironicly. Or have things become so that even this is appeasement?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/5335400.stm

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.

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.

So much modern art passes right over my head, but this guy amuses me no end. His Palestinian wall stuff was great

I don’t see how this could be called appeasement. A legitimate, intelligent and amusing form of protest art. I'm a big fan of Banksy's work, there's a couple of his graf pieces not far from my flat.

You gotta find a way to be heard, might as well be creative about it.

Banksy is absoulety amazing.

I love it.

Wake up america!!

I like his stuff, it's really clever.

He makes me happy. :)

I like Banksy. The cheating couple in Bristol is quite an impressive piece of art. And how can anyone not laugh at the British Museum displaying a prehistoric shopping trolley for 3 days?

I like Banksy. The cheating couple in Bristol is quite an impressive piece of art. And how can anyone not laugh at the British Museum displaying a prehistoric shopping trolley for 3 days?


Yeah....the shopping trolley was a classic... :D

Not seen the Cheating Couple though!

I do like his method of protest or highlighting issues.

He makes me happy. :)

Ditto.

Even if I don't agree with everything he stands for, Banksy gets my support for his cleverness and his artisitic taste. It's easy to walk in a protest march and shout a slogan; what he does is far more difficult, but also far more powerful.

He is a self important **** who enjoys wasting other peoples time and money with corny half assed art which carries shallow incomplete messages. He is a cornpone artist, but he is an entertainer one step removed from jackass and half a step removed from punk'd

He is a self important **** who enjoys wasting other peoples time and money with corny half assed art which carries shallow incomplete messages. He is a cornpone artist, but he is an entertainer one step removed from jackass and half a step removed from punk'd

We all know that. He's an artist, after all.

I like his stuff too.

He is a self important **** who enjoys wasting other peoples time and money with corny half assed art which carries shallow incomplete messages. He is a cornpone artist, but he is an entertainer one step removed from jackass and half a step removed from punk'd

awwww

He is a self important **** who enjoys wasting other peoples time and money with corny half assed art which carries shallow incomplete messages. He is a cornpone artist, but he is an entertainer one step removed from jackass and half a step removed from punk'd

wow! thats a bit strong!

Why do you say that? I'd have thought that if he was self important he'd be doing interviews left right a centre...

Incomplete messages? In what way? Name an example...I'd be interested in hearing this to be honest...not heard many anti-Banksy people...

I have no idea what a cornpone artist is but it sounds unpleasant! How can he be an entertainer if he only a step removed from jackass and punk'd?

I do like what he has done too. Not exactly a fan, and I would reconsider naming him an "artist", but he is an awesome prankster.

Not bad, why are you so grumpy today?

However, what attracted me the most was to see how exactly the english note was to the spanish one. Perfect translation. I guess congratulations to the BBC team are in order, both brit BBC and BBCmundo.

wow! thats a bit strong!

Why do you say that? I'd have thought that if he was self important he'd be doing interviews left right a centre...

Incomplete messages? In what way? Name an example...I'd be interested in hearing this to be honest...not heard many anti-Banksy people...

He has a spokeswoman explaining what he meant by placing a hooded figure in Disneyland

A spokeswoman for Banksy said the stunt was intended to highlight the plight of terror suspects at the controversial detention centre in Cuba.



Having a spokeswoman means that he is too self important to discuss such tedious hings with the tedious media yet desperately wants the fame and credit for his art. Otherwise nobody would know who had done this masterpiece.The fact that the spokeswoman had to explain the art's meaning clearly illustrates that his message was incomplete in the work of art. Certainly before this explanation nobody who viewed a dummy in a hooded red cloak next to a roller coaster could possibly know that it was a protest against Guantanamo detainees rather than a sophomoric prank pulled by drunken students.



I have no idea what a cornpone artist is but it sounds unpleasant! How can he be an entertainer if he only a step removed from jackass and punk'd?

I never said he was a good entertainer.

Bansky is an art and stealth genius

Spokeswoman - He's always used one. Bit hard for him to do his stuff if everyone recognises him....

Explanation of his Art - Artists have never had to explain their art? Jackson Pollock anyone?

Entertainer - you got that right :)

Having a spokeswoman means that he is too self important to discuss such tedious hings with the tedious media

actually, since most of what banksy does is illegal, having a spokeswoman means he doesn't get arrested. at the very least, it would be difficult for him to continue if everyone knew what he looked like.

Not bad, why are you so grumpy today?



Ive waited in line to ride a rollercoaster for over an hour at Disneyland before only to have the ride closed down for repair as I nearly made it onboard. I dont care for Disneyland much but I really dislike the people who decide to close down rides for shits and giggles and because they want to be famous. Any fame I give a prick who does this will be negative in nature rather than fawning over his magnificence and saying "I love his work too"

actually, since most of what banksy does is illegal, having a spokeswoman means he doesn't get arrested. at the very least, it would be difficult for him to continue if everyone knew what he looked like.


You'd think that would be obvious enough that you wouldn't have to explain it. I guess some people just dont get it. Even Banskys spokesperson needs a spokesperson.

Ive waited in line to ride a rollercoaster for over an hour at Disneyland before only to have the ride closed down for repair as I nearly made it onboard. I dont care for Disneyland much but I really dislike the people who decide to close down rides for shits and giggles and because they want to be famous. Any fame I give a prick who does this will be negative in nature rather than fawning over his magnificence and saying "I love his work too"

Bansky did not close the ride. Frightened authorities of the amusement park did. I am pretty sure the doll could had been removed without actually closing the ride.

I am not sure if he just wants to be famous. There are easier ways to do that. Look at Paris Hilton.

actually, since most of what banksy does is illegal, having a spokeswoman means he doesn't get arrested. at the very least, it would be difficult for him to continue if everyone knew what he looked like.

Where is the downside of arresting people for criminal acts? Is Banksy meant to be above the law and allowed to hide behind his spokeswoman's skirt? Is he not proud enough of his wanks of art to stand behind them 100% and consequences be damned?

Ive waited in line to ride a rollercoaster for over an hour at Disneyland before only to have the ride closed down for repair as I nearly made it onboard. I dont care for Disneyland much but I really dislike the people who decide to close down rides for shits and giggles and because they want to be famous. Any fame I give a prick who does this will be negative in nature rather than fawning over his magnificence and saying "I love his work too"

You say repair? So it had nothing to do with Banksy?

Protesting Gitmo is a 'for shits and giggles' exercise? While an the US runs an illegal detention centre in your name?

And your pissed about missing a few fleeting moments of enjoyment?

Dude...you need more coffee!

I guess some people just dont get it.

though one has to suspect that it takes an effort of will to not.

Protesting Gitmo is a 'for shits and giggles' exercise? While an the US runs an illegal detention centre in your name?

And your pissed about missing a few fleeting moments of enjoyment?

welcome to my world - i don't even know that it is possible to make sense of it anymore.

Bansky did not close the ride. Frightened authorities of the amusement park did. I am pretty sure the doll could had been removed without actually closing the ride.


Are you serious?

You say repair? So it had nothing to do with Banksy?

Protesting Gitmo is a 'for shits and giggles' exercise? While an the US runs an illegal detention centre in your name?

And your pissed about missing a few fleeting moments of enjoyment?

Dude...you need more coffee!

My wait had nothing to do with Banksy. The people who were there at the time of Banksy's publicity stunt did wait because of him however. I can relate to them. You cannot I take it.

Banksy's publicity stunt did not help a single prisoner of Guantanamo bay nor did it make the atrocities of justice happening there more well known. The publicity stunt effectively made Banksy more famous, which is of course Banksy's aim. He would no more protest Guantanamo personally and risk going to jail for it than he would risk going o jail for his art. He is a flashy punk with a need for fame and a plan to make that happen.

Are you serious?

Well, it was put there without the ride being closed.

My wait had nothing to do with Banksy. The people who were there at the time of Banksy's publicity stunt did wait because of him however. I can relate to them. You cannot I take it.

Boo-fucking-hoo. I really feel for them...

No honestly.

Not seen the Cheating Couple though!


I believe it may be this one

http://www.banksy.co.uk/cuttings/images/metro_scan_large.jpg

My wait had nothing to do with Banksy. The people who were there at the time of Banksy's publicity stunt did wait because of him however. I can relate to them. You cannot I take it.

Banksy's publicity stunt did not help a single prisoner of Guantanamo bay nor did it make the atrocities of justice happening there more well known. The publicity stunt effectively made Banksy more famous, which is of course Banksy's aim. He would no more protest Guantanamo personally and risk going to jail for it than he would risk going o jail for his art. He is a flashy punk with a need for fame and a plan to make that happen.

Well seeing that there is about much chance of me going to Disneyland as there is of me going to the moon your question is rather moot regarding my relating to 'them'.

However here is some news....protest does inconvieniance people....in fact most protests do....its part of the function of protest.

I have a question....you seem to know a fair amount about Banksy and his aims and objectives....could you elaborate perhaps how you know this?
Fair enough.

Well, it was put there without the ride being closed.

I rather wonder if he would have sued Disneyland if he had gotten hurt while placing the damned thing.

And they shut it down to remove the figure because that is a safety measure. You don't send your people to do any work on or around a rollercoaster while it is running.

Commonsense really.

I have a question. If this Banksy character really wanted to make a statement about Guantanamo, why didn't he place it in front of the White House, or The Lincoln Memorial, or the Senate? Somewhere it would be noticed and discussed and seen by alot more people than just those in a largish park.

Well, it was put there without the ride being closed.

That is debatable. My guess would be that they brought it in the cowards way in the dark of night while the park was closed.

That is debatable. My guess would be that they brought it in the cowards way in the dark of night while the park was closed.

You mean the way he always did with galleries... wait, no, obviously not, because those he managed to do in public and during opening hours...

Well seeing that there is about much chance of me going to Disneyland as there is of me going to the moon your question is rather moot regarding my relating to 'them'.

However here is some news....protest does inconvieniance people....in fact most protests do....its part of the function of protest.

I have a question....you seem to know a fair amount about Banksy and his aims and objectives....could you elaborate perhaps how you know this?
Fair enough.

You seem to dispute my claims. Prove me wrong. Show all the selfless good that Banksy does and I will gladly eat my words for you.

I believe it may be this one

http://www.banksy.co.uk/cuttings/images/metro_scan_large.jpg

hey...thats pretty cool! And funny! LOL

You seem to dispute my claims. Prove me wrong. Show all the selfless good that Banksy does and I will gladly eat my words for you.

How do you define selfless good?

That is debatable. My guess would be that they brought it in the cowards way in the dark of night while the park was closed.

Considering that the article says:

"It is understood to have remained in place for 90 minutes before the ride was closed down and the figure removed."

you'll need something other than character assassination.


(And yes "the cowards way," somehow I don't get the impression that you'd like it if disneyland employees were described as taking "the cowards way" by shutting down the ride before retrieving it)

You mean the way he always did with galleries... wait, no, obviously not, because those he managed to do in public and during opening hours...

But it was the cowardly security guards who ruined the fun ;)

But it was the cowardly security guards who ruined the fun ;)

Its a tendency they have, yeah... jackasses.

You seem to dispute my claims. Prove me wrong. Show all the selfless good that Banksy does and I will gladly eat my words for you.

Dispute your claims? Not at all....just wondering how you came to make those claims....that all....there's is nothing to be worried about...I'm not gonna get Banksy to graffiti yer PC ;)

I have a question. If this Banksy character really wanted to make a statement about Guantanamo, why didn't he place it in front of the White House, or The Lincoln Memorial, or the Senate? Somewhere it would be noticed and discussed and seen by alot more people than just those in a largish park.

Half of art is personal interpretation, so I won't pretend that I'm interpreting this the same way anybody else is, or how the artist intended, but here is my reasoning:

It's an insertion into one of the greatest benefits of liberty(the amusement park ride/vacation) of the fact that a great injustice is occurring in the same country that is providing you with the fruits of freedom.

Personally, if I were the artist, I would place those in other places as well; places that represent the day-to-day lives of americans. Places like: A New York subway car. An elevator in a corporate highrise. On the median of I-95. In a Starbuck's.

I think putting it on the ride at Disneyland was 'trying too hard'. It came out kind of preachy to me. But then again, I'm a goofball. :)

Considering that the article says:

"It is understood to have remained in place for 90 minutes before the ride was closed down and the figure removed."

you'll need something other than character assassination.


(And yes "the cowards way," somehow I don't get the impression that you'd like it if disneyland employees were described as taking "the cowards way" by shutting down the ride before retrieving it)

I'll need something other than character assassination for what? Spreak prain.

The ride could very well have opened in the morning, and 90 minutes could have passed before the weird foreign object was found where it did not belong.

The reasons Disneyland would close the ride for 90 minutes are that thjey dont know what exactly some maniac has placed near the ride, and they also do not know what else might have been placed on or near the ride.
All they know is that some deranged individual has put something there. It might be dangerous.

As I stated the point of whether the ride was open or not is debatable, however it really doesnt matter. Placing bizarre objects to cause trouble and concern is cowardly. Making sure that no person is hurt by them is sane and prudent.

Protesting against abuses in Guantanamo is sane and prudent. Fucking with the park goers and employees of Disneyland who have absolutely nothing to do with Guantanamo is cowardly and pointless. There is the difference.

Banksy is a pseduonymn of an unknown artist who specialises in illegal, high-profile graffiti art. That is why he had someone else conduct his media contact - so people would not know for sure who he is. Not Bad, if you're going to attempt a character assasination, I'd advise you to at least have a working knowledge of who you're talking about. It is likely that the media attempted to contact him than the other way around, and he merely provided an outlet - I fail to see how this is being a "self important ****". All artists want recognition for their labours. That's how it works.

He is a self important **** who enjoys wasting other peoples time and money with corny half assed art which carries shallow incomplete messages. He is a cornpone artist, but he is an entertainer one step removed from jackass and half a step removed from punk'd

Awww who pissed in your cereal?

Bansky rules!

Never heard of him before. Thanks!

Never heard of him before. Thanks!

If you live in the UK, chances are there's some Banksy art in an alleyway in the nearest city center.

I think putting it on the ride at Disneyland was 'trying too hard'. It came out kind of preachy to me. But then again, I'm a goofball. :)

Sorta like Conan O'Brien telling a joke. You relize that the scary part of that is that you also manage to be the most rational? Next to Smunkeeville of course.

I think this Banksy character blew it. People who were there aren't gonna remember the figures' political statement, they are just gonna remember that some jackass caused them to have to stand in line for a couple of hours after having to pay a couple hundred dollars to get into the damned place.

Protesting against abuses in Guantanamo is sane and prudent. Fucking with the park goers and employees of Disneyland who have absolutely nothing to do with Guantanamo is cowardly and pointless. There is the difference.

you may have missed it, but disney just came out as part of the official propaganda arm of the bush movement

Sorta like Conan O'Brien telling a joke. You relize that the scary part of that is that you also manage to be the most rational? Next to Smunkeeville of course.

I think this Banksy character blew it. People who were there aren't gonna remember the figures' political statement, they are just gonna remember that some jackass caused them to have to stand in line for a couple of hours after having to pay a couple hundred dollars to get into the damned place.

Perhaps that was what he wanted. To inconvenience people in a way that made them angry - then they could find out why they were inconvienienced... then they would realize that compared to the individuals in the detention center, they really werent all that inconvenienced afterall.

Perhaps he targeted disney because of their pro-Bush admin stance and the Path to 9/11 docudrama on ABC

because disney has alot to do with Guantanamo Bay?:confused:

...
The reasons Disneyland would close the ride for 90 minutes are that thjey dont know what exactly some maniac has placed near the ride...

no the article doesn't say that - it says the figure was there for 90 minutes... not that the ride was clossed for 90 minutes.

Perhaps that was what he wanted. To inconvenience people in a way that made them angry - then they could find out why they were inconvienienced... then they would realize that compared to the individuals in the detention center, they really werent all that inconvenienced afterall.

Perhaps he targeted disney because of their pro-Bush admin stance and the Path to 9/11 docudrama on ABC

Maybe it's the prankster in me, but I don't see the point of ruining someone's fun. If I disrupt something, I prefer to disrupt routine. There's nothing routine about a visit to Disneyland.

But like I said, interpreting art is a personal thing an I am not the same kind of artist as Banksy.

Maybe it's the prankster in me, but I don't see the point of ruining someone's fun. If I disrupt something, I prefer to disrupt routine. There's nothing routine about a visit to Disneyland.

But like I said, interpreting art is a personal thing an I am not the same kind of artist as Banksy.


Yeah but its all a perhaps isnt it? I cant say why he does anything or what his intentions are but its possible that the 'prank' (if that's what it can be called) is on Disneyland itself. Associating Disney with Guantanamo and the Bush Administration. That seems like the most likely thing to me.

Yeah but its all a perhaps isnt it? I cant say why he does anything or what his intentions are but its possible that the 'prank' (if that's what it can be called) is on Disneyland itself. Associating Disney with Guantanamo and the Bush Administration. That seems like the most likely thing to me.

I guess we'll never know for sure if it was directed at the park or at the riders. *shrug*

I guess we'll never know for sure if it was directed at the park or at the riders. *shrug*


Besides the article doesnt even say how long the ride was closed down for. It could have been 2 minutes for all we know.

Yeah but its all a perhaps isnt it? I cant say why he does anything or what his intentions are but its possible that the 'prank' (if that's what it can be called) is on Disneyland itself. Associating Disney with Guantanamo and the Bush Administration. That seems like the most likely thing to me.

It's possible. Banksy is anti-capitalist. He may be comparing the artifically enclosed, "everything you'll ever need is within these four walls" mentality of Disneyland with a prison. He may be commenting that those visiting are prisoners of their consumerism. Disneyland was probably chosen because it is, traditionally, a highly conservative organisation, and Walt himself was a prominent Republican.

I interpret it as: "you're may be American, but while you're here, you're similarly imprisoned, and your money may be funding state-sanctioned terrorism in Iraq and elsewhere. You're a terrorist."

While I don't agree with some of his sentiments, it's still a clever and provocative piece.

Not Bad - Well I think I could say that I can see where you are coming from...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/5344676.stm

After much hype and secretive planning, the event opens to the public on Friday following an invitation-only, celebrity launch party.

The organisers have said Cameron Diaz, Colin Farrell and Orlando Bloom are all expected to attend.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v427/vonbek/bigun2.gif