Ballardian

Nicholas Cobb’s architectural model of a corporate campus, photographed with a malevolent, dystopian flair, and exploring parallel themes to Ballard’s Super-Cannes.

Announcement of the new Ballard World theme park in Dubai, following on from the Egypt, London and Shanghai versions.

I’ve finally captured my impressions of Barcelona and Kosmopolis, with main ingredients: Lou Reed, Claire Walsh, Laurie Anderson, Kafka, Brecht, Dali, brilliant public space, Ballard, and the sheer unbridled thrill of one of the most amazing cities in Europe.

+ CATALOGUE OF CONTEMPORARY ATROCITIES

Jeannette Baxter, organiser of this weekend’s J.G. Ballard Conference at the University of East Anglia, delivers a challenging examination of Surrealist influences in Ballard’s Running Wild for Issue 5 of the online journal, Papers of Surrealism.
‘The Surrealist Fait-Divers: Uncovering Violent Histories in J. G. Ballard’s Running Wild’: Abstract
In this paper I [...]

Egyptian Ballard World: dead monorails hanging against the sky like guillotines (photo by Dubai Dave).
Dickens World is set to open next week, according to this report. It’s a recreation of ‘a dark, dirty and dank London…populated by thieves, murderers and ghosts…[with an] air of authenticity as it was built in consultation with experts from the [...]

J.G. Ballard has often said he doesn’t use the internet. So what’s he doing with his own myspace page?
It’s another fake celebrity myspace entity, although I see that in the comments someone has already invited ‘Ballard’ to do a reading.
With all due respect to the people who erected this (and thanks for the link, by [...]

Since posting about Ballard World, it would appear things are moving quicker than we imagined.
According to this newspaper article, “A sex theme park designed to enhance its visitors’ lovemaking skills will open in the heart of London within months, the academy’s director announced on Wednesday. Amora — The Academy of Sex and Relationships is hoping [...]

Following on from Ballardian’s breaking coverage of plans to open a string of Ballard Worlds (amusement parks themed after JG Ballard’s work) in Britain, we thought it was high time we paid massive respect to the original Ballard World — in Alexandria, Egypt. The original and the best — the one that started it all. [...]

Am I reading too much into these bits of news that catch my imagination? I’m reminded of HELLO AMERICA. Why? Because Vegas itself is more of a theme city than a real city. And terror in theme parks anywhere carries along an extra whallop since one has already taken a step into a different world.
Man [...]

Work has already started to turn the 166 acres of the former B52 airbase near Cambridge into the first J.G. Ballard entertainment park of what will become a world wide chain of themed resorts based on the work of the infamous British SF writer.
Expected to open in 2007, Ballard World will be [...]

From the Guardian, Saturday June 25, 2005
CSI … as characterless as life
It has no car chases, no shoot-outs, no emotions. So what makes Crime Scene Investigation so utterly compelling? The answer, writes JG Ballard, goes to the heart of our most basic fears.
JG BALLARD: “Television today is an ageing theme park, which we visit out [...]