UK guerrilla artist Banksy apparently uses YouTube now and uploaded his own, horribly depressing The Simpsons “couch gag” that aired last night which somberly shits all over the show’s decades-long merchandising efforts. I capped a couple screens, but definitely give it a watch in case 20th Century Fox has it removed. I mean, wow, what a scathing look at the exploitation perpetuated in the name of Western capitalism. And on National Rape an Indigenous Person Columbus Day no less.
*makes cup of coffee using disposable Keurig K-Cup, checks iPhone, tosses half-eaten granola bar into Cuisinart stainless steel trash can*
Just powerful stuff.
UPDATE: The New York Times just posted an interview with Simpsons producer Al Jean regarding how little they edited Banksy’s original storyboard. Still can’t believe they aired this. (Thanks to wilko in the comments.)
UPDATE: And Fox pulled the YouTube version. Just added the Hulu clip going around.
Photos: YouTube
i love it!
Hams and fists don’t really ever go well together.
http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/10/11/the-simpsons-explains-its-button-pushing-banksy-opening/
http://www.thedailybeast.com/video/item/banksys-simpsons-intro
you can watch it here, fox removed it from youtube… how morbid.
It’s so over the top with it’s use of left wing stereotypes about the evils of capitalism, that you have to assume he’s mocking the left. Then again, it could be that most leftards aren’t too bright and this is the level of conversation that they’ve sunk to.
We have a winner!
FFS For the last time Banksy is not attacking capitalism, it’s very specificly about 20th Centruy Fox. Anyone who understands Banksy would know he never attacks ‘the left’ or even ‘the right’, just the absurd.
I didn’t like it at all. The couch gags are usually funny and creative. There was no couch gag at all, just somber, depressing political satire.
Oh no how dare someone break you out of your zombie-like conciousness and make you think bad things happen. Quick grab your stars and stripes underwear and chant USA #1!
so, did banksy do this for free, or did he donate his fee to the exploited asian workers? oh, wait–it’s probably neither.
If it wasn’t pointed out, I would’ve thought it was a regular episode…
Clearly satirizing the perception on the left of the “exploitation” of Asian workers. South Korea (where The Simpsons is animated) is part of the G-20 and is widely recognized as one of the most open, fair, and exciting economies in the world. It also has the highest average internet speed in the world. Pretty sure there aren’t too many sweatshops using unicorns there. Read the interview. “Obviously the animation to do this was pricey.” Only a show with producers with clear consciences would do something like this, and it’s absolutely brilliant, playing off of so many preconceived notions.
Clearly you don’t understand Banksy, his motives or his work.
Oh and there are sweat shops in lots of developed countries, including the USA. They get around it by using illegal labour. Instead of Mexicans in Korea they use Chinese immigrants.
You think this is satirazing the left? And the “perception of ‘expliotation’”? Watch the Banksy film ‘Exit Through The Gift Shop’ and view some of his other work to see how wrong you are, as I don’t think there are enough words to express it
Ahhhh … you’ve never been to Korea, have you? I have to admit that “Open, fair and exciting” is probably a pretty good description of the “hostess bars,” which are chock full of victims of human trafficking from all over the world. OK, so maybe the “fair” adjective is a little out of place.
That was well done. Banksy is the first worthwhile artist this world has seen in a very long time.
the dolphin head is great. its like, so telling of how those creepy asians have no souls.
This is a celebrity gossip site, so STFU with your political bullshit. I don’t go to your lame political sites to talk about Kim Kardashian’s ass, do I? Fuckers.
This is a celebrity gossip site comments section so STFU with your whiny bullshit. I don’t go to your lame Tea Party forums to talk about Kim Kardashian’s ass, do I?
Fuckers.
Hey, if you don’t like it, go hang out with Fox and Friends. You won’t be missed.
And Swift’s “A Modest Proposal” was mocking people that where for helping the poor?!
That was for Jim btw.
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Hey Hen, how’s that Megaphone program working for ya?
boooo hoo. Stuff is made in some shitty country.
BTW who made Banksy king turd of shit mountain in the first place? Not that I don’t appreciate some of the stuff he’s done but he’s on this fuckin pedestal now.
Or FOX & Matt Goening have no souls, and are sell outs using cheap labor in the form of Asian people as slaves in Bart Simpson work camps to keep up with the demand for Simpson related products & cheap cartooning at slave wages. Well look at the credits on the Simpson’s it pretty much spells it out. Gotta love Banksy, and Matt is a total sell out so there you go.
I’d destroy Lisa Simpson’s ass!
1. The Simpsons’ ratings have been steadily declining for quite a while now;
2. The show creators/producers needed to UP those ratings;
3. Cut to ‘controversial” couch gag created by a pseudononymous artist;
4. Raise ratings for a short time;
5. Collect $$$
Case closed, class dismissed.
This
D- Bag – “illegal Apartheid wall”? 1) Read UN Resolution 242; 2) Look up the work “Apartheid” in a dictionary and; 3) the fence/wall has stopped the murder of Israeli civilians…is that what animates you? Or is Jewish blood cheap? Douche.
uhhh.. are you fucking kidding me? banksy NEVER auctions his shit. other people tear his art off of the sides of buildings and auction them off- he’s always been extremely outspoken against that.
I was just gonna say that. It was actually a pretty good joke, mostly because anytime a job gets outsourced to an east asian country, we automatically assume sweatshop.
I don’t think most people realize that this was the opening that ran on last night’s ep of The Simpsons. And I may be a dark and twisted bitch, but I found it utterly delightful!
I think you’ve hit the nail on the head. The one most consistant think about Banksy’s work is his obvious love of irony, both pointed at others AND at himself. He sells his work for large amounts of money, while simultaneously bashing capitalism. He paints under a pseudonym and hides his real name, then comments on the flawed logic of anonymity when everyone knows your work and stage name.
I agree that he’s not one of my favorite artists either, but I enjoy his attitude. He seems a lot less interested in sniffing his own farts than most artists.
Sure, I don’t think he bases capitalism either, but he certainly makes an implicit comment on it.
link to WORKING link: http://www.flabber.nl/linkdump/animatie/the-simpsons-banksys-intro-6416
@ La Chica
why does satie have to be a light touch. i remember having to do an english assessment at school for my first tier of educational qualifications which involved as analysis of some 19th C satircal writings. Those writings talked about using the many abandoned babies in cities as a food source. was crazy shit but it was just to provoke thought on the issue. whether is heavy handed or not is irrevelant, so is whether or not banksy is biggin` himself up loads. what is relevant is the the issue he is raising, in this case its capitalism’s exploitation people.
some people/issues need a heavy handed approach cos some people dont understand or care until you use a “hammer” or in this case drawn them a picture.
the ultimate irony of it is that to get his message across he used the poor people supposedly being abused to do so
Banksy never ‘bashes capitalism’, he attacks greed, hypocrisy and people/companies acting like assholes. Criticising McDonalds does not make you a communist
I can assure you there’s no ironic intent in selling his works for large amounts of money. Any sellout can make that claim.
@hen
Yes ILLEGAL apartheid wall.
“In a 2004 advisory opinion, the International Court of Justice considered that “Israel cannot rely on a right of self-defence or on a state of necessity in order to preclude the wrongfulness of the construction of the wall”. The Court found that “the construction of the wall, and its associated régime, are contrary to international law The Court found both the wall and the associated regime that had been imposed on the Palestinian inhabitants is illegal”
Next!
Could you give any examples of his work where he makes implicit comments on the system of capitalism as a whole rather than at specific greedy, immoral corporations?
*Boom, tisk*
PWNED!
um, la chica, hate to point out the obvious, but … Banksy’s whole schtick was plastering his name (and all sorts of other random things) on any available flat surface. Kinda, well, self-parody, you know.
Of course you don’t. It’s OK, though, because Simpsons episodes are really drawn by good ol’ American working stock in a studio in Iowa, where they make $20 per hour plus bonuses. They have killer health care, flexible hours, maternity AND paternity leave, and a retirement plan to die for. In fact, I believe Glen Beck regularly shows up to give the workers motivational lectures before they go home (at 5 p.m., on the dot) to their suburban-dwelling families. It’s all a page ripped right out of Norman Rockwell’s portfolio. (well, his non-political stuff, anyway)
I just assume: “a job an American could be doing.” *shrug*