Viva The Pop Culture Revolution!

An unknown artist repainted a Soviet monument in Sofia, Bulgaria as the Joker, Santa Claus, Superman, Ronald Mcdonald, Captain America and more, captioning it "Moving with the times." Below, the unaltered version. Now that's fine graffiti! (Stoyan Nenov/Reuters; link via Daily Mail)

Popped Culture...

Viva La Resolution

Communist Mariofesto

The Mao Is Equal To, Or Greater Than The Word

Fast Food Final Fantasy

Ronald McDonald Sephiroth and Colonel Sanders Cloud. So the final victor will be KFC? I wouldn't have guessed. Shot by Steve Burt at the 2008 Anime Expo in Los Angeles.

Previously on Popped Culture...
Fast Food, Fast Times
Super Col. Sanders Mario
And I'll Whisper, "Would You Like Fries With That?"

It's Tough Out There For A Mascot

Won't somebody please think of the advertising icons? Poor things only know how to shill. (From artist Sarah Ingledew's final major project - thanks to John at Neatorama for the tip)

Yep, it's an empty life for these one-dimensional marketing puppets. (Link via Medium Large)

Previously on Popped Culture...
They're Always After Me Lucky Charms!
The Wrath Of Old Big Boy
Cereal Mascot Reunion

Everybody Loves A Clown, So Why Don't You?

It was National Clown Week last week. Who knew? Well, maybe you did but it's the kind of thing you miss when you fall off the grid like I have. But it appears pop provocateur Ron English also knew and he celebrated with this adorable tramp in clown camouflage. Aww, aren't they cute when they're heavily armed?

My three favourite clowns of all time are:
1) Krusty the Clown (Krusty Brand Seal of Approval: It's not just good, it's good enough!)
2) Shakes the Clown (Bobcat Goldthwait in the Citizen Kane of alcoholic clown movies)
3) Ronald McDonald (I have such love/hate for that burger-pushing Harlequin)

Previously on Popped Culture...
Insane Clown Last Supper
I Find Your Lack of Mask Disturbing
Wil Wheaton And The Unicorn Kitteh Of Death!

Ronald McDonald Purge

Oh sure, it implies that it was the food from McDonalds that made old Ronald toss it in an alleyway, but I don't think so. I've seen how that clown parties and it looks like he was into the same stuff as the pandas. Damn sanctimonious kid. (Not So Happy by Lora Zombie)

Previously on Popped Culture...
The Wrath Of Old Big Boy
Ronald McBuddha
Super Sized Last Supper

The Wrath Of Old Big Boy

A recreation of the hallway hammer fight from Park Chan Wook's Old Boy with all of the characters re-cast as fast food icons, by Gimetzco at Dutch Southern.

I haven't seen the film myself — it's one of those pop culture blind spots -— but I do enjoy watching fast food mascots beat on each other.

Previously on Popped Culture...
And I'll Whisper, "Would You Like Fries With That?"
Fast Food Kills
Fast Food, Fast Times

Ronald McBuddha

"In most people's minds, Tibet is an ancient, mysterious and exotic place," says Gade, a Tibetan artist. "The notion of 'Tibet' is a conundrum. When outsiders actually visit Tibet, especially Lhasa, they get culture shock when they see all the pop culture, fast food, rock music, Coke and beer, brand name clothing, Hollywood movies, the nightlife scene, etc. I think Lhasa ought to be renamed Lhasa Vegas."

"Paintings from his 'New Buddha Series' and his 'Diamond Series' reflect this culture shock with images of such American iconic pop figures as Mickey Mouse, Spiderman and the Hulk appearing in the centre of traditional-looking works." (A fabulous find by The Zeary Gazette)

Previously on Popped Culture...
Matthew, Mark, Luke and Optimus Prime
Creation of Homer
Suddenly Last Supper

Super Sized Last Supper

Your eyes are bigger than your Last Suppers, at least according to a study of 52 of the most famous paintings of the Last Supper painted between 1000 and 2000.

“The last thousand years have witnessed dramatic increases in the production, availability, safety, abundance and affordability of food,” said Brian Wansink, a professor of marketing and applied economics at Cornell University in New York.

“We think that as art imitates life, these changes have been reflected in paintings of history’s most famous dinner.”

Over a thousand years, the size of the main dish progressively grew by 69.2%, plate size by 65.6% and bread size by 23.1%, they found.

No doubt they were looking at my collection of pop culture Last Supper parodies which are rife with fast food and  mascots for restaurant and sugar cereals.  We are what we worship.

Above: The Fast Supper by Sam Carter. "To me this has nothing to do with Christianity, it's more about the Religion of Fast Food. I felt that these commercial icons were my disciples." I've eaten at that religion.

Previously on Popped Culture...
Suddenly Last Supper
Insane Clown Last Supper
Muppets Last Supper

Fast Food, Fast Times

RAD OMEN - "Rad Anthem" from Nicholaus Goossen on Vimeo.

And here I thought fast food icons were either mortal enemies or armed thugs. Turns out they just want to get wasted. Good for them!  I imagine there are some very unhappy corporate PR folks right now. (Link via BuzzFeed)

Previously on Popped Culture...
And I'll Whisper, "Would You Like Fries With That?"
Fast Food Kills
Insane Clown Last Supper

Insane Clown Last Supper

The Last Supper is the image that keeps on giving. Today's iteration, evil, murderous clowns. Here's who I can identify:

(L-R): Joker (Jack Nicholson), Joker (Ceaser Romero), Joker (Heath Ledger), Krusty the Clown (The Simpsons), ?, Captain Spaulding (House of 1000 Corpses), Pennywise (It), Saw clown, Jack in the Box (fast food mascot), a jack-in-the-box, Homey D. Clown (In Living Color), John Wayne Gacy, Ronald McDonald.

So I don't recognize the clown with the KFC bucket in front of him, sitting in the traditional Judas spot. Perhaps he is betraying the Christ figure/Pennywise by being good. Anyone know who that is?

I also question Krusty's inclusion, unless it is actually the evil Talking Krusty Doll. In any case, he's at least Jewish. (Link via Dark Vomit, by way of Super Punch and Zeray Gazette)

Previously on Popped Culture...
Suddenly Last Supper
Big Lebowski Last Supper Abides
Th-th-th-That's Sacrilegious Folks!