The Afternoon Oasis of Familial Beguilement

November 7, 2014 9:50 AM

Wes Anderson intends to build a theme park with Devo's Mark Mothersbaugh. Or so claims his introduction to Mark Mothersbaugh: Myopia, a new book collecting the best of the Devo frontman's work as a visual artist. Skeptical readers may see this as mere hyperbole meant to direct praise at Anderson's frequent collaborator. But then, you'd have doubted the Wes Anderson cruise too, no? FastCompany helps out by proposing a few rides.

Myopia will be accompanied by a touring exhibition of Mothersbaugh's work. That part, at least, is entirely real.

posted by DirtyOldTown (16 comments total)

DisTwee Land?
posted by Atom Eyes at 9:55 AM on November 7, 2014 [1 favorite]

Imagine a symmetric panning roller coaster!
posted by oceanjesse at 10:02 AM on November 7, 2014

OK, "Slow-Motion Walking: The Ride" got a chuckle out of me. I look forward to the disorienting "Hall of Patterned Wallpapers," and the boat ride through rooms full of animatronic dolls singing Parce que j'ai revu Francoise or Toi que je vieux.
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 10:04 AM on November 7, 2014

Xylophone futures shot up 250% on the announcement.
posted by boo_radley at 10:04 AM on November 7, 2014 [6 favorites]

Wes Anderson heavily influenced my style tasted, however. That's why I'm wearing jhodpur boots, a tweed vest and pink knit tie today (this is a real thing)
posted by boo_radley at 10:12 AM on November 7, 2014 [2 favorites]

....I had no idea Tilda and Wes were part of the same cloning project.
posted by The Whelk at 10:16 AM on November 7, 2014 [1 favorite]

This story frustrates me, because it hinges on a fundamental misunderstanding of Anderson's quote. Even though pop culture media has jumped all over the idea of a Wes Anderson theme park, Anderson clearly states in his introduction that he wants a theme park designed entirely by Mark Mothersbaugh. Sorry, but Devoland trumps Quirky Auteurland any day of the week.

It'd be a beautiful, beautiful world...
posted by Strange Interlude at 10:24 AM on November 7, 2014 [1 favorite]

Strange Interlude: "It'd be a beautiful, beautiful world..."

For you, maybe. At least there would be decadent herb gardens everywhere in Devoland. Such Toni Basil plots would Devoland have.
posted by boo_radley at 10:27 AM on November 7, 2014 [1 favorite]

The Fast Company article makes the distinction that Anderson proposed a Mothersbaugh-designed park with his backing, not an Anderson park. It also points out that even that proposal was almost certainly a joke. And that an Anderson Park is more fun for riffing about.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 10:27 AM on November 7, 2014

There's a kid's show, aimed at toddlers, "Yo Gabba Gabba." In almost every episode, an avuncular, slightly rotund man in his late middle-age, wearing a terrible shirt and a beret, shows the kids how he draws things. Like a potato bug riding a skateboard. Or a robot-gorilla. These are terrible drawings of strange things. The segment is called "Draw with Mark" - as in Mark Mothersbaugh. Yup, the frontman of Devo is teaching your kids things.

Where do the weird go after they turn pro? Kid's television, apparently - the same show also features Evan Dorkin cartoons and Biz Markee giving beatboxing lessons.
posted by Slap*Happy at 10:41 AM on November 7, 2014 [2 favorites]

Saw DEVO in concert a few years ago, at a House of Blues (Anaheim IIRC), and they were just as awesome as ever. And they rocked hard. I have a picture of me after the concert: half-deaf, sweaty, and a huge smile.

It was February, but still hard to believe Bob 2 is gone now. RIP.
posted by Celsius1414 at 10:49 AM on November 7, 2014 [1 favorite]

The segment is called "Draw with Mark" - as in Mark Mothersbaugh. Yup, the frontman of Devo is teaching your kids things. Where do the weird go after they turn pro? Kid's television, apparently - the same show also features Evan Dorkin cartoons and Biz Markee giving beatboxing lessons.

The missing link here is Yo Gabba Gabba creator/producer Christian Jacobs, aka the MC Bat Commander from The Aquabats. The band is unapologetically influenced by both Devo and Biz Markie (among other things), and this is Jacobs' way of paying back his inspirations. Evan Dorkin gave The Aquabats some shout-outs in the pages of DORK! back in the '90s, too.
posted by Strange Interlude at 11:36 AM on November 7, 2014 [2 favorites]

Regardless of what amusement park it is in, there needs to be a roller-coaster called "The Gates of Steel."
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 12:13 PM on November 7, 2014 [2 favorites]

And a giant Energy Dome, looming like Space Mountain, which would be the world's largest orgone accumulator, and in turn power all of the park's attractions. Devoland would also be a very popular honeymoon spot.
posted by Strange Interlude at 12:51 PM on November 7, 2014 [1 favorite]

But "Caress of Steel" is already taken by the Rush theme park.
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 3:14 PM on November 7, 2014

The design was going splendidly until they cut all the rides in half to get cutaway shots...
posted by maryr at 3:39 PM on November 7, 2014