Where a kid can be a kid
YouTube user christhrash appears to own his very own Chuck E. Cheese animatronic display, which he has in his home where he uses it to put together totally disturbing videos for popular songs. The above, “Pop Lock and Drop It” is probably my favorite, though others, like his version of “Hey there Delila” are interesting because you can actually hear the creaks and pops that the machines make as they move and sing, adding a second layer of audio to the music. christhrash programs not only the machines, but the lights, and the effects are often pretty captivating.
The effectiveness of the displays reminds me of Todd Haynes’s Superstar: The Karen Carpenter Story which relies on a cast of Barbie dolls yet manages to tell a story that’s heartbreaking. christhrash’s work is ultimately a very troubling culture jam, with childhood bumping and grinding against the angst and lust of popular radio music and the quaint creepiness of obsolete technologies.