Torture As Street Entertainment

Clean the Sky - Positive Eco Trends & Breakthroughs

Coney Island Waterboarding Sideshow

— August 7, 2008 — Unique
Politics are a carnival of life, so why not make a side show out of a torture technique like waterboarding?

Ya pays yo money, ya gets a show that “Don't Gitmo Better.”

Steve Powers opened the sideshow in the shadow of the famous Cyclone rollercoaster. After peeking in a small window, you see a lifesize figure in a hooded sweatshirt that leans over another figure. If you plug in a few bucks, the waterboarding scene is played out for your viewing enjoyment, including convulsions.

Trend Themes

  1. Controversial Entertainment — The trend of providing entertainment around controversial and taboo topics presents opportunities for companies to create niche experiences for adventurous audiences.
  2. Immersion-based Shows — As consumers crave more unique forms of entertainment, the trend of immersive-based shows allows for companies to disrupt the traditional viewing experience and create a more engaging environment.
  3. Political Satire — The trend of incorporating political commentary into entertainment presents opportunities to address important societal issues while also providing a unique form of entertainment for audiences.

Industry Implications

  1. Amusement Parks — The amusement park industry could incorporate controversial and immersive-based shows as a way to attract a wider range of visitors and differentiate themselves from competitors.
  2. Live Events — Live events companies could explore the trend of immersive-based shows and political satire to create unique experiences for audiences looking for more engaging forms of entertainment.
  3. Streaming Services — Streaming services could create and distribute political satire content to reach audiences looking for a more nuanced approach to societal issues while adding a unique form of content to their platform.
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