Absurd Gallery
The Absurd Gallery presented a collection of weird--but real--advertisements, labels, and signs. For your own safety, please keep an ironic distance.
The content below is from the site's 1999-2001 archived pages.
"IT'S AN AWARD, A MAJOR AWARD!"
Bob Clark's film A Christmas Story
The Gallery of the Absurd is Happy to Have Been Written Up in the Following Newspapers and Magazines:
Internet Underground - May 1996
Boston Herald - October 27, 1996
The Web Magazine - October/November 1996 & January 1997
Los Angeles Times - December 17, 1996
Philadelphia Inquirer -
San Francisco Chronicle - March 7, 1997
San Jose Mercury News - March 19, 1997
San Jose Mercury News - March 23, 1997
Entertainment Weekly - June 6, 1997 (Received an "A")
The Cavalier Daily - October 8, 1997
P.O.V. Magazine - November 1997
And Delighted to Have Been Featured on the Following Television Shows:
The Discovery Channel's Cyberlife - August 14, 1996
WGN Morning News - June 10, 1997
And Proud to Have Received Two Webby Awards:
Winner of the 1997 Webby Award
DEREK'S WEB PAGE PROMISE
These little bits of popular culture will make you laugh, they'll make you cry, and maybe, just maybe, you'll learn a little bit about yourself.
Specialty Pages
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The Annoying J. Crew |
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The Arch Deluxe |
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Jenny McCarthy, |
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The Scary |
The Arch Deluxe Hate Page
What is going on here? I'm watching television, and I see Ronald McDonald in a series of "adult" situations (I'm sure the McD corporation could have taken this "adult" thing further). This is to announce a new food item geared toward a mature population. This is how the McDonald's FAQ site describes this new monstrosity: "A quarter pound of beef, with lettuce pieces, tomatoes, cheese, onions, ketchup, and special 'Chef' or 'Arch' sauce which seems to be a mix of dijon mustard and mayonaisse [sic]. Also available with peppered bacon, this new sandwich is served on a 'bakery fresh' potato flour roll."
Does this sound like just another hamburger to you? Is this another attempt at foisting something akin to the imbicility of the "McDLT" on everyone? And just what is "Chef" sauce anyway? And why does the FAQ place "bakery fresh" in quotations? Does this satanic product announce the beginning of a new fascist (or Republican) regime?
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Letters of insight and McDonald experiences that are guaranteed to both frighten and amuse. |
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YES, believe it or not, poems on the Arch Deluxe inspired by this site. |
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Fun letters from present McD's employees and Arch Deluxe zealots. |
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McDonald items in the Gallery of the Absurd: McMemories, McDeath, MacMan, McBaby, Speedee, My Own McDoll, Eric's First Fries. |
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When it comes right down to it, the McDonald's site is scary in and of itself. |
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The circle is complete.......... |
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McSpotlight, a couple's attempt to highlight the evils of McDonalds. Very eye-opening. |
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This has got to be one of the most disturbing things the McD corporation has ever come up with. |
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Danny Mulligan's thoughts on "The Grimace Conspiracy." Check out also the threats he has received. |
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Fastfood Reality. Even though I don't totally agree with their anti-meat stance, this site nonetheless displays a healthy criticism of the phenomenon of fast food (and McDonald's specifically) |
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Other anti-McDonald items. |
I'm looking for ads, signs, images, and slogans that highlight the horror that is this new McDonald's product and could easy fit quite comfortably into the The Gallery of the Absurd. If you come across anything, then please email me at:
The J. Crew Annoying Model of the Week Page
"J. Crew women seem like bastard children of Martha Stewart and Iggy Pop. Pedigreed Junkies who shot smack in their dorm room at one of the Seven Sisters. The men look like goofy-ass frat boys from Sigma Delta Geekalon and are the type found murdered outside of "hip, slummy, dowtown nightspots" while purchasing crack to maintain their 8% bodyfat. They suck!"
- Ryan Mann
Welcome to the J. Crew Annoying Model of the Week page. If you're like me, you hate fashion models, those non-human pop cultural paint canvases with their well-chiseled emaciated looks. As role models for impressionable teens and adults, their existence probably causes more harm than does the most enthusiastic politicking of the Christian Coalition.
Perhaps some of the most annoying models, at least from what I've seen, populate the photo studios of J. Crew. I happen to be on J. Crew's mailing list, and from the abundance of catalogs I receive, I've noticed that their models strike the most ridiculous poses of any models in any other catalogs. Call it coincidence, call it profitable business, call it the rise of a new Nazi regime: all these people sport a look that genuinely frightens me. I could go on about how absurd they seem to me, but I'll let you take a look and decide for yourself. So here, for the first time anywhere, I bring to you a page devoted to the exposure of this mail-order malignancy, this catalog catastrophe, this feast of fashion fallacy. Whether you like the clothes or not, I hope you'll join me in mocking this bizarre bastion of semi-conscious conservativeness called
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Jenny McCarthy, Enough Is Enough | |
Not long ago I had the ill fortune of witnessing Jenny McCarthy in a television commercial for Candies shoes, where she is in an elevator and she farts out loud. At this point, I threw my hands up and screamed, "Jenny McCarthy, enough is enough!" After that, I knew that Jenny would have a permanent place in The Gallery of the Absurd.
And this is not her only foray into idiotic advertising. Getting her start as a Playboy centerfold, she "progresses" onto MTV, cultivating an extremely annoying persona as she goes, and as a result lands a number of advertising deals. So, in the irreverent nature of The Gallery of the Absurd, I hereby dedicate this portion of the site to that utterly vapid media and advertising phenomenon, Jenny McCarthy. Enjoy, won't you.
Relevant: I know, I know, as annoying as she is she's nonetheless a very attractive woman, and has a large (almost entirely male) following. But before any of you diehard Jenny fans start sending me hate mail, know that I'm only ridiculing her advertising potential and not her two-dimensional media personality. Please use whatever energies you would have spent typing a hate letter and apply them to something more constructive...such as "appreciating" the plentiful number of nude photos of Jenny easily found on the web. And BTW, that decorative pillow she's resting her head on in that ad where she's wearing almost nothing (we know you know the one), well that pillow is actually one of the luxury round dog beds from Good Night Dog - go look it up, or click the link. What does it mean?
Clowns are indeed scary. And since a good portion of The Gallery of the Absurd is devoted to clown-related products, I thought I'd create a specialty page devoted to clowns in advertising. Please don't view these images while alone in a dark room.
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Clown Toilet Brush Holder |
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The Clowns Are Coming! |
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Dr. Doda, Clown Doctor |
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Clown Punching Bag |
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Circus O's |
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Toy Clown Transforms into Violator |
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Ronald McDonald and the Arch Deluxe Hate Page |
Underage Third World Laborers Welcome!
Click LARD for the artery-cloggin' icon version of the Gallery, or click LEMONS for the smooth, gentle relief of the non-icon version.
More Background on Absurd Gallery
Absurd Gallery is recognized as a distinctive digital space, celebrated for its offbeat, surreal, and often humorous approach to web content. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the website, delving into its ownership, history, awards, cultural significance, audience, and more. The goal is to offer readers a thorough understanding of what makes Absurd Gallery a notable presence in the digital landscape.
Ownership and Origins
The specific ownership details of Absurd Gallery are not widely publicized in mainstream media or web design industry reports. The site is often referenced in discussions about creative, experimental, and "weird" web projects, suggesting it is the brainchild of an individual or small team with a passion for digital art, satire, and internet culture. The ethos behind the site aligns with the broader movement of independent web creators who use the internet as a canvas for unconventional ideas and playful experimentation.
Location and Accessibility
Absurd Gallery is a digital-only entity, with no physical location or brick-and-mortar presence. Its reach is global—accessible to anyone with an internet connection. This universality is a hallmark of many experimental web projects, which often eschew traditional geographic boundaries in favor of a worldwide audience.
History and Evolution
The concept of absurdity in art and web design has deep roots, tracing back to movements like Dadaism and Surrealism, which sought to challenge conventional norms and embrace the irrational. Absurd Gallery is a modern digital extension of these traditions, using the web as a platform for absurdist humor, visual puns, and satirical commentary.
The site is frequently mentioned in lists of "weird" or "unusual" websites, often alongside other internet oddities that have become cult favorites for their creativity and unpredictability. Over time, Absurd Gallery has evolved to include a variety of interactive projects, digital art pieces, and satirical experiments, each designed to provoke thought and entertain.
Awards and Recognition
Absurd Gallery has been recognized within the web design and digital art communities for its unique approach. It has been featured in discussions about award-winning and innovative websites, particularly those that push the boundaries of conventional web design. The site’s playful and irreverent tone has earned it a place in the annals of internet culture, and it is often cited as an example of how the web can be used as a medium for artistic and comedic expression.
Menus and Content
While Absurd Gallery does not offer a traditional "menu" in the sense of a restaurant or e-commerce site, its content is organized into various themed sections. These sections typically showcase collections of bizarre advertisements, labels, signs, and other artifacts of popular culture. The site’s curatorial approach is both humorous and critical, inviting visitors to reflect on the absurdities of everyday life and mass media.
Goals and Mission
The underlying goal of Absurd Gallery appears to be the celebration and critique of absurdity in modern culture. By highlighting the strange, the surreal, and the unintentionally funny, the site encourages visitors to question the norms and assumptions that shape our perceptions of reality. This mission aligns with broader trends in digital art and satire, which often use humor and irony as tools for social commentary.
Reviews and Audience Reception
Absurd Gallery has garnered a loyal following among fans of internet humor, digital art, and cultural criticism. Reviews and mentions in online forums, blogs, and media outlets often praise the site for its originality, wit, and willingness to embrace the bizarre. The audience is typically composed of individuals who appreciate offbeat humor, creative experimentation, and the subversion of mainstream cultural tropes.
Press and Media Coverage
The site has been featured in various media outlets and online publications, often in the context of articles about unusual or noteworthy websites. Its inclusion in lists of "weirdest websites" and "best of the web" roundups has helped to cement its reputation as a digital oddity worth exploring. Media coverage tends to focus on the site’s unique aesthetic, its role in the evolution of web-based art, and its impact on internet culture.
Cultural and Social Significance
Absurd Gallery occupies a unique place in the cultural landscape of the internet. It serves as both a repository of absurd artifacts and a commentary on the nature of media, advertising, and popular culture. The site’s embrace of the ridiculous and the surreal reflects a broader cultural fascination with the absurd, as seen in everything from meme culture to avant-garde art.
By curating and celebrating the strange, Absurd Gallery invites visitors to reconsider the boundaries between art and everyday life, humor and critique, reality and imagination. Its influence can be seen in the proliferation of similar projects that use the web as a platform for creative expression and social commentary.
Details, Insights, and Examples
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Curated Collections: The site is known for its carefully curated collections of odd advertisements, product labels, and public signage. These artifacts are often presented with witty commentary that highlights their absurdity and invites deeper reflection.
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Interactive Features: Some sections of the site include interactive elements, such as user-submitted content or commentaries, which foster a sense of community and engagement among visitors.
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Satirical Tone: The site’s tone is consistently satirical, using humor and irony to critique the excesses and contradictions of modern consumer culture.
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Visual Aesthetic: Absurd Gallery employs a distinctive visual style that combines elements of retro design, collage, and digital art. This aesthetic reinforces the site’s themes of nostalgia, parody, and cultural critique.
Audience and Community
The audience for Absurd Gallery is diverse, but tends to skew toward individuals with an interest in art, design, humor, and media studies. The site’s community is active in sharing and discussing content, both on the site itself and through social media channels. This engagement has helped to sustain the site’s popularity and relevance over time.
Absurd Gallery is best known for its:
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Collections of bizarre and humorous advertisements
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Satirical commentary on popular culture
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Innovative use of web design as an artistic medium
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Role in shaping the genre of "weird web" projects
Absurd Gallery stands as a testament to the creative potential of the internet. By embracing the absurd and the unconventional, the site has carved out a unique niche in the digital landscape. Its influence extends beyond its own pages, inspiring a new generation of web artists, satirists, and cultural critics to explore the possibilities of online expression.
Whether you are a longtime fan or a curious newcomer, Absurd Gallery offers a rich and rewarding experience for anyone interested in the intersection of art, humor, and digital culture.