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Clever mash-up or rock sacrilege? Disney's Joy Division-cribbing T-shirt design
Somewhere in the Magic Kingdom, someone’s getting a rigorous talking-to right now.
Since it was first reported in the online music site Pitchfork earlier this week, a certain story has brought together the heretofore incongruous communities of wholesome family entertainment and ferociously-opinionated music geekdom. Believe it or not, the above T-shirt design – which some might recognize as the iconic sleeve art of Unknown Pleasures, the debut album from storied British post-punk band Joy Division, manipulated to form the silhouette of Mickey Mouse – is not the work of an artist attempting to make an ironic statement (or not intentionally, anyway), but rather an actual, officially-endorsed product that was being sold at retail outlets at Disneyland, DisneyWorld and via Disney’s online store. Presumably, the Disney organization was trying to tap into a hipper market by mix-and-matching images from their own brand with some of rock’s uber-cool iconography. While arguably a shrewd and inventive marketing ploy, this particular venture has backfired, and Disney has subsequently pulled the shirt from its shelves and Website.
neworderonline.com
The original sleeve of Unknown Pleasures by Joy Division
For a start, the disparity between the well-established Disney brand and the music and overall aesthetic of Joy Division could not possibly be greater. Formed in grim, industrial Manchester, England in 1977, Joy Division’s stark, haunting music dealt almost exclusively in bleak, abjectly dark themes. The very moniker of the band is said to have been taken from a cryptic nickname for the prostitution wing of a Nazi concentration camp. More to the point, Joy Division’s lead singer, Ian Curtis, hung himself in 1980, on the eve of the band’s inaugural American tour. Had anyone at Disney done even just a little bit of research into any of these readily-accessible facts, they might have discerned that Joy Division was not the perfect band to allude to. The Mouseketeers they were not.
On a more practical level, music purists around the Internet have been crying foul over the audacity of the T-shirt design, given Disney’s somewhat strident reputation for copyright control. That said, the album cover’s designer, Peter Saville himself did a bit of appropriating, manipulating the image of successive pulses from the first discovered pulsar from the Cambridge Encyclopedia of Astronomy. The kerfuffle reached even greater heights when it was reported that the surviving members of Joy Division (who continued on and found global success in the wake of Ian Curtis’ death as New Order) had no involvement in the shirt's creation.
While the pairing of Joy Division and all things Disney might be a juxtaposition that seems alternately awkward, hilarious or positively profane to some, it should be noted that black-clad goths have been flocking to Disneyland in California for annual “Bats Days” for over a decade. While Disney does not officially recognize these gatherings, perhaps this influx of stylized gloom inspired the creation of the T-shirt.
These points are now all academic, however, as Disney has since pulled the offending garment from their stores and website. For their part, Disney is reported by Pitchfork to be “reviewing” the situation. Meanwhile, existing editions of the divisive garment have since been elevated to collector’s item status. If you’re an avid Joy Division fan, curio-collector or Disney completest, I’m afraid you’ll just have to start scouring eBay for it. At the time of this posting, one such shirt was up to a bid of $255.00.
And for the sake of context, here’s a little Joy Division…
Alex Smith is a Senior Editor for TODAY.com and probably takes his music and his T-shirts more seriously than he should.
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That shirt would give me a headache.
I really don't see a problem here. Joy Division didn't invent the image. The wave output that they used was around long before New Wave Music.
It's very different than using the mouse ears, which is a trademark of Disney.
@Dumb-in Miami, im sure it would.
M-I-C-K-E-Y..M-O-U-S-SUED
Good one Buster!
That so called music gives me a headache.....
Such trivial C*R*A*P !
I am sooo offended!
Disney needs to pull this shirt immediately (or at least after a few more thousand have read this and other similar articles.) And I'm not just saying that because I just bought 100 of them and am selling them on eBay for $300 a pop.
The author is impressed with his own perceptual difference between Eraserheadesque music and lyrics, and Disneyland. For me, "grim, industrial Manchester, England" couldn't be a better description of the Disney reality and its intense commercial crassness. If I went to any Disneyland, how many smiling faces would I see, really. Way overpriced worker entertainment. Take the kids camping. If the Joy Division product is as implied in this artcle, it would serve well as the Disney theme. Also, if one has ever used, even once, an audio editor, the appearance of IP theft in these patterns as alleged here will be much mitigated. And trying to imagine the resultant sound from the patterns will be more interesting, especially for Mickey.
I'm a life-long fan of Joy Division and New Order and I have very little love for the Mouse but I fail to see an issue here.
Based on the logic being argued here, the first musical act to release an album cover in full-color should file charges against every act which has ever had a full-color album.
I found a site that is selling them for 10 bux www.betterthanpants.com/joy-division-mickey-mouse-unknown-pleasures-waves-shirt-replica.html
so it's like the music, but more quiet!
Oops.
Learned a new word today--rankles. Only reason I clicked on the article to begin with.
Huh, Ayame, that word Rankles has been around for a few generations. Just wanted to let you know. :)
So much new information to glean from the article. 1. People care about t-shirts 2. The Nazi's had prostitutes 3. New Order used to be Joy Division 4. Punk rockers have no sense of irony 5. Darby Crash (from the Germs) thought to immortalize himself with suicide on Dec. 8th 1980. But this other guy got shot on the same day.
(#5 courtesy of my husband that thought the t-shirt was almost as funny as Che Guevarra with a Mercedes symbol on his beret)
Joy Division, the sound of my youth, Disney....Micky Mouse has grown up a cow.
I love that shirt.
...Who the hell likes Joy Division and Disney? If your into one of the greatest post punk bands ever (JD) then your either a super hipster (with good taste). or almost 40+. I...don't get it. Is this for Soccer mom's and dad's t stay hip with their tweens, while still endorsing Ian convulsing on stage AKA his dancing?
Sky why can't you be plus 40 and enjoy both... I like hard punk it reminds me of my youth and I love Disney because it friggin fun!!!!
BTW nice name - awesome game (even us elders can enjoy a video game lol)
And Sky... my kids play soccer, but my son plays drums and daughter plays bass... I remember listening to the Dead Kennedy's on 8 Track (still have my player somewhere)... so I am a Soccer Mom.. I like hard punk music (as well as some mainstream), I like video games and enjoy the beach or hiking in the mountains... You cannot group people it never works
Ian Curtis suffered from epilepsy and severe headaches as well as depression and drug issues. People who suffer from epilepsy have seizure activity while fully conscious. He wasn't really faking it.
He was talented and I'm a Joy Division fan. My favorite song by them is Shadowplay. Sure beats a lot of the @!$%#e out today that people think is music. Yeah, I'm over 40...LOL. The other day my husband and I were out on the town and heard a classic rock song on the radio and we were singing along to it. I lamented sadly, "remember the times when almost every song on the radio was your favorite song...they just don't make nice records anymore, do they?"
My understanding is that Ian Curtis had quite a sense of humor. I bet he is smiling broadly at this.
Peter Hook of Joy Division said "it’s a hell of a compliment to be bootlegged by someone like
Disney."
So what does this have to do with the shirt lighten up people...
It's only a tshirt!!! who cares.
I am still trying to figure who did this offend ? Mickey Mouse, I thought he was only a cartoon character. You mean we can now offend things that are not real ??????? In that case, F off Andy Capp.
Bet Alfred E. Neumann is also offended !!! ----- Live long and prosper !!!
Keep it up and they'll have Ricardo Montalbon haunt you for infringing. That whole "Hell's heart" thing and all.
I like the shirt-it's a very cool and ironic juxtaposition. People will complain about anything these days.
I don't know which is worse , the shirt or the band.
the band
Yeah, the band by far. They should thank disney for giving them some exposure, but in the end, the truth is, they suck. So there you have it.
Seriously? This is beyond ridiculous.......There are far better things in the world to cry FOUL over.....!!! It is very sad that something of this nature even makes into the news considering the myriad of problems of the planet......
ACarlos Tampoco banned. Their first and only comment was in really poor taste and a nasty personal attack.
Flame out.
Good grief, Charlie Brown!!!
I'd love to see Joy Division put the screws to Disney over this. You know if the tables were turned, Disney would be bending them over in a big way.
Why? There is no copy right infringement here. And, Disney has brought about WAY MORE JOY, to millions, upon millions of people the world over than the joy luck club, I mean joy division ever has or ever will. Now, if they would have used one of their songs in a commercial with out proper compensation, then yeah, but, they didn't steal anything from that group, so why another frivolous law suit?
for real Bryan, maybe you don't like Joy Division, I don't either...but Disney=evil empire. Do some research on labor, union busting, and blowing their lids over people copy-righting them.
So, your making this political then. And if you use your line of thinking, then, you should really hate so many of America's companies. Most, do not like unions, just think Wisconsin and their Governor. Most big corporations couldn't care less about it's actually hourly paid employee's, as just like the military enlisted, they are expendable and easily replaced. And back to the article, just my opine, but Joy Division Sucks.
I think it's a great idea for Disney to tap into that market. Some cool album covers parodies I would buy would be Wish You Were Here, Holiday in Cambodia or Mother's Milk just to name a few.
I don't see the problem if this was not the work of the band.
Who cares, joy division sucks any ways..... And for any one who actually finds that shirt offensive, you are a bozo idiot. You could have done a Q & A with 10,000 people and I betcha not more than 10 people(and that seems an extremely high number) would even have a clue as to who the joy luck club is.......You PC idiots, seriously need to just get the F**K over it already.
bryan, you are a fool and a tool.
I'll never forget playing "Shadowplay" for a young co-worker who thought it was a song by The Killers. The look that crossed his face when he heard the real McCoy was priceless. Nothing against The Killers, but it was similar to when R.E.M. bum-rushed "Strange" by Wire--there is nothing like the original.
Shadowplay is my fave Joy D song...Killers do a good job, but they don't do it justice...
No need to sell or advertise graphic design T- Shirts...Nowadays anything goes to say the least that goes like this "what is bad is good & what is good is bad" that is sad....................
Disney is a private company and can either keep or nix the shirts. Their call.
Calm down bryan. I doubt the band even cares. It's all about the greed of the label--always has been. Arguing about the artistic merits of a band is like fighting over whether a Snickers bar tastes better than a Hershey chocolate bar. I would have to disagree with you on one thing--I promise you that more than 10 people know who Joy Division were. Whether you like them or not, the band was influential.
Influential to who? Maybe to kids over in Europe who were misfit teenagers in the late 70's early 80's. And, I too, can promise that most people under the age of 40 have never even heard of these guys, and for good reason, They were not very good at all. And, just so you know, I am very calm, and I like my music to actually be good, not wannabe trash like the joy luck club division or who ever they are....
To plenty of people. Know more about music, newb. New Order was arguably even bigger.
Anyway, extra points for the person that knows where the name 'Joy Division' comes from.
Influential to many other bands you've never heard of or care about. There is a whole world outside the one in front of your face. By the way, Joy Luck Club=book by Amy Tan you didn't read, and assume no one else cares about, Joy Division=New Wave band from early 80s you didn't listen to and assume no one else cares about. Conflating the two as you keep doing isn't as witty as you think.
Off the top: The Cure and by extension Siouxie and the Banshees, U2, Smashing Pumpkins, RadioHead, Gang of Four, Echo and The Bunnymen, Talking Heads, Tears For Fears, Morrissey, and his entire career, just to name a few. A lot, or "many", as Calven states. All of whom have went on record stating they were inspired by, and most every one even covering JD songs. JD was a lot bigger than most give credit for. In the late 70's they were pretty much inventing and pioneering the Post Punk, alternative 'new wave' (a name which most bands of that era hate) sound. 1978-79 JD sounds like something from the mid 80's, and even newer.
I'm thinking whether it's as "Witty" or not, it's the truth. It's like trying to tell me that the Sex Pistols were a great band, Ha! Not even close, they were just a bunch of British wankers, heavy drug using, scum bags making noise. The Joy Division will never be more than just bottom end band and given another generation, will be totally forgotten from the music listening world. Joy luck club, joy division, Hitlers prostitutes, they are all very old news and best relegatedto the dust bin of history. I wish I had several of these T-shirts, just to annoy some of you..... LOL.... gimme bands like Zeppelin, Hendrix, Pink Floyd, Metallica, Pantera, SRV, this is real music, not that punk/new wave crap from joy division.
Ah, so a 15 year old that just discovered psychedelia and classic rock and generic metal. I should have figured. Don't worry newb, once your a little older you'll understand the late 70's and 80's. Technical proficiency does not always = good music, nor does non technical proficiency always = bad music.
SkyrimFTW, my first thought about the origin of the name "Joy Division" was that it came from the Korean women slave "Joy Women" that the Japanese Army used.
Harldy 15, and have been listening to great music for decades. And who uses the worthless, outdated term newb? Give me real music like Gary Moore, Ritchie Blackmores Rainbow, Dio, Jeff Beck, SRV, even bands like KISS kicked the crap out of joy division. Heart, Van Halen, Queen, Dire Straights, I could go on and on, but I don't need to prove anything. JD has never been, nor will they ever be a good band, just the facts. And for you to say that Metallica and Pantera is generic metal, show's who the "newb" is....what a stupid word that is, newb.... if either of us use that word again, we need to be bitch slapped, just saying....
Bryan- your taste in classic rock bands is impressive (I agree). But you have to admit that Joy Division WAS influential in the development of alternative, grunge, and ska music; even if you did not care for them. Their sound was very raw, cold, and unpolished- much like the dive town the band members were living in. The music is really their attitudes and THAT is the artistry in their sound.
Cool story newb. Know more about music. Music that isn't played on every other classic rock/oldies station.
Ummmm..... if any of you buttplugs who are negating Joy Divisions talent and influence know anything about music history, these guys were a MAJOR influence on many of the current artists you love today. U2, the Cure, Radiohead, the Killers, Interpol, etc... were bands that have covered songs by, and credit Joy Division as heavily influencing them. "love will tear us apart" is about as iconic and classic a song as one can get. learn about ALL music history instead of starting with your childhood crushes on New kids on the Block !! seriously !!
fine bryan, stick to your little, narrow box.
I like not only all the bands you mentioned, but every one of the bands that skyrim mentioned. my tastes also include jazz in it's many forms, R&B and classical to name a few.
some of us have a wider view of the world
Going to look around and see who I could possibly sue or cause problems for for they are infringing on my rights====oh heck yes the government.
I'm thinking Im would like to see a Stewie with Mickey Mouse ears tee shirt......now that would be iconic.....lol