Dismaland is Banksy’s new bemusement park in Weston Super Mare and as soon as I saw on the news that it had opened I wanted to go. Then I heard just how difficult it was to get tickets for this six week opening and I pretty much put it to the back of my mind. We live in the South West and Chloe is actually doing her geography coursework on Weston and whether it needs regenerating.
Somehow I got lucky and just popped onto the ticket website as they were being released. I couldn’t type fast enough to get the golden ticket, but lady luck was on my side. We had our tickets for the 2pm slot and arrived in good time at 1.15 to be towards the front of the queue. We knew the staff were expected to be disengaged and disinterested and whilst yes there were, the interaction is better than you get at many an amusement park.
As we went through the ticket office I was sneered at for joining the queue when there was an empty lane and the security guards interacted with many visitors.
Entering the park it is hard to know where to look first. Eerie music plays and a monotonous girls voice trips into your conscience with thought provoking statements. We all know that Banksy has a message he wants to get across and I wondered how much of that messsage my 11 yr old would get. But get it he did, yes he asked me lots of questions but that was the aim of the exhibition. He found the caravan that illustrated designs made to maim and harm fascinating. A growing understanding spread across his face as he started questioning more and more. I am glad I had the opportunity to visit and for those unable to do so I have put together a short youTube of our experience.
What I took away from the visit was to keep talking to my children about politics, about the power of the media and about our role in society. I would love to take Sociology students to the exhibition as it covers so much about responsibility and forces you to question how we are living. I purposely avoided reading reviews or looking on youtube before I went as I didn’t want spoilers but really feel people need to go to this. I hope that the exhibition is extended beyond the initial timeframe.
6 Responses
I’ve seen quite a few images shared about this on social media, it’s good to get an in depth review of the attraction. It looks thought-provoking and will hopefully encourage us to talk to our children more about politics etc.
I’m very jealous that you’ve been! Like you, I desperately want to go, but like you I’ve accepted that I probably won’t go. It will be hard to get there with kids at school, even if I do manage to get onto the website at the right time! It would be great if they could extend it for a few months as there is so much demand.
glad you all enjoyed it – it really is very thought provocking isn’ it – I hope they extend it too so more people can experience it but I bet they won’t. I was so pleased we mnaged to go as normally I always miss this sort of thing!
This seems so popular and I can see why. It would be a great thing to experience, fab review x
Fab. Wasn’t sure whether to watch the video and spoil the surprise but you’ll be glad to know I did 🙂 Guess I won’t be able to get there myself sadly. Love the selfie hols. Think you’re right, so much thought-provoking stuff. He is one genius of a guy (and the team he works with)!
Wow, this is a powerful place! I don’t think my kids would be ready for this yet but I’m sure it would be very thought provoking for an older child. The staff seem really entertaining! x