Dismaland Opens This Weekend

Dismaland is an art exhibit in England that opens this weekend for a couple of months. It looks fascinating.

Meh. I mean, Banksy's work is pretty cool and all - but the whole "escaping from mindless escapism" and "down with the man" message is a little stale to me.

Personally, I spend my week slaving and using my mind. I like to go some place mindless and just chill when I'm off. Call me mindless, a lemming, sheep, whatever you will but I like owning "stuff" and I like having experiences. I'm a consumer, and I'm OK with that.

To be clear, I'm horribly superficial when it comes to art. If it looks pretty, I'm good.

What fascinates me with Dismaland (and is that pronounced "Disma-land" (which sounds more like Disneyland) or "Dismal-and"?) is the expense of time and money invested in exhibits of people being attacked by birds, Orcas jumping out of toilets and the Grim Reaper riding Dodgems.

Dismal-land.

I think it's pretty cool. I don't know what statement it's supposed to be making because I don't care to waste my valuable brainpower thinking about this kind of "art." But it's cool looking. Expensive looking too.

Oh, for a second there I thought it was Darien.

Anyway, I'm interested particularly in this abandoned, decrepit Tropicana, which he hilariously describes as "popular with low-income holiday makers".

I shall be going =)

Jealous.

I am *never* opening a hospitality business with the word "dismal" in the name.

gator, graduate cum laughe of the Gonch School of Hospitality Management

The Cinderella crash scene is rather striking. It feels like it could somehow be part of an interesting haunt attraction.

There are some additional videos of Dismaland that offer even more. Especially view the "A Look Inside" video. It's a real place. Very interesting.

Don't forget the trailer!

I got into an argument on Reddit over the Orca jumping out of the toilet. Obviously, it was interpreted as "the toilet represents the tiny tank those poor animals are forced to live in..." etc.

Raven-Phile said:

I got into an argument on Reddit...

Your first mistake.

I just can't let people go around spouting nonsense that they got from a "documentary" as if it's science.

Can't let it happen. Wouldn't be prudent.

Better than an argument on Ashley Madison I suppose...

Raven-Phile said:

I got into an argument on Reddit over the Orca jumping out of the toilet. Obviously, it was interpreted as "the toilet represents the tiny tank those poor animals are forced to live in..." etc.

Whether or not that represents the true living conditions of the orca, I'm pretty sure that was indeed the point the artist was trying to make. Doesn't mean he/she is right, but that sort of statement is what drives this style of art, right?

Of course that's the beauty of art, it's open to interpretation.

I know that's the point he was trying to make, and that person agreed with him. That person is wrong, but they agreed with him.