RoboCop statue in Detroit. I thought this was a joke.

[Melocoton]

While Robocop depicts a cyberblitzed, post-catastrophic, hyperreal, technified world, it also suggests that technology cannot achieve its goal of a perfectly enclosed, self-referential entombment, that simulation strategies do not necessarily succeed, and that the human subject is not so easily erased. Robocop's struggle to understand what has happened to him and who he is, his identification with his former human self irrevocably entrapped within a steel body, his rebellion against bureaucracy and his corporate creators, and the forging of his own will against a technological determination, constitute this film's undeniably utopian moments. Robocop dramatizes the resilience of a subject, albeit a cyborg, amidst the most incredibly reified and subjugating conditions, and allegorizes its attempts to find meaning and value within a corrupt and decadent postmodern world."

OK, but this overlooks two things: 1, Robocop's only job is to shoot criminals on sight--that qualifies him as "a figure of rebellion against bureaucracy" I guess, but not the liberating one you want to make him out to be.

2, the film is a satire of the Reagan era, which is why it's set in Detroit, since Detroit was [[and maybe is) synonymous with failure, disorder, crime, etc. This description makes Robocop sound more like the Scarecrow from The Wizard of Oz or something. He is, let's remember, a killing machine and a symbol of the secret desire for fascism in America.

I think that if the Imagination Station people are serious about this it suggests that they are out-of-touch with that portion of the city that is not made up of ironic 22-year-olds. Maybe I'm underestimating people's senses of humor, but many of our fellow residents, particularly those who have been around a while, are understandably sensitive to portrayals, no matter how tongue-in-cheek, of Detroit as a violent wasteland. I love Robocop the movie, but it doesn't make sense to celebrate it as a city icon.

I'm surprised no one has posted this, which hits the nail on the head: http://supergaydetroit.blogspot.com/...-bad-idea.html

[Magnatomicflux]

OK, but this overlooks two things: 1, Robocop's only job is to shoot criminals on sight--that qualifies him as "a figure of rebellion against bureaucracy" I guess, but not the liberating one you want to make him out to be.

Weeeeeeell...technically his job was:

1 - Serve the public trust

2 - Protect the innocent

3 - Uphold the law


Sounds like what a cop is supposed to be to me

[Lt. Dan Bassett]

Weeeeeeell...technically his job was:

1 - Serve the public trust

2 - Protect the innocent

3 - Uphold the law


Sounds like what a cop is supposed to be to me

. . . and for added value in the narrative, Robocop was crucified, died and rose again to reclaim his humanity -- a reach for his original Creator's plan. The best cops join to serve and help others -- love their city and its people.
Let's not overlook the Christ-figure aspect of the story.
This thread and the one over at supergay proves the value of the project. Think of all the conversations that can be initiated at the foot of Robocop's likeness. Every day is a choice. Whom have you exalted today?

[Melocoton]

. . .This thread and the one over at supergay proves the value of the project. Think of all the conversations that can be initiated at the foot of Robocop's likeness. Every day is a choice. Whom have you exalted today?

Well, by that logic the Imagination Station should raise $50,000 to raise a giant middle finger in Roosevelt Park---it would also generate a lot of blog postings about
why it's a bad idea. Matter of fact, maybe they might as well do that.

[Lt. Dan Bassett]

Well, by that logic the Imagination Station should raise $50,000 to raise a giant middle finger in Roosevelt Park---it would also generate a lot of blog postings about
why it's a bad idea. Matter of fact, maybe they might as well do that.

Perception is reality for each of us I suppose. Where I see healthy discourse about an idea, you apparently see only "postlings about why it's a bad idea." Consider this: While on the surface a RoboCop icon may look like a giant F.U. to you, there is embedded there much deeper symbolism and some difficult to accept truths about how we've chosen to live so far. Meddle [[posting above) wisely recognized that the quote about Murphy/RoboCop's struggle mirrors Detroit's [[Steve Best's philosophical view of the movie). History doesn't repeat itself, but often it does rhyme. So said Mark Twain. The Joe Louis "Fist" was widely discussed and was a locus of controversy for a substantial time. The Rivera mural inside the DIA was damn near painted over soon after its unveiling. Art elites may say how dare you compare "fine art" to inappropriate trash.
The naked babe in front of the gas building on Jefferson called. She said to tell you to lighten up -- and it's OK to look at her tatas with proper intentions.

[Tig3rzhark]

It's been a while since I've seen Robocop. All three movies are pretty good, I was hoping to see another one after the third one, but I guess three was a enough for the producer.

Putting a statue here in Detroit would probably bring more tourists. I'm pretty sure another movie could be made here in Detroit. After all, most of the scenes in the movie, weren't in Detroit. However, a Robocop statue should be built here.

Maybe the mayor didn't see any of the movies. I'm pretty sure that if someone gave him some copies of the movies, he'll change his mind and support the statue being built in Detroit. Despite the ruin porn around here, Robocop is a part of what defines Detroit.

As for the placement of the statue, I think it should be placed at Police Headquarters. It would be more.... appropriate. Not to say that placing it near MCS is a bad idea. I just think that placing it at the Police Headquarters would be a better one.

[Meddle]

Yeah, I thought it would be better at 1300 with the first floor made into some sort of Police Museum and Memorial.

[RickBeall]

Imagine you were a tourist with a camera, you were walking downtown, and you came upon the RoboCop statue. What would you do? You would have some fun. Think of it as an adult playscape.

Playscapes are not designed to last forever, so it does not matter if in 20 years no one knows who Robocop was..

Do not think of it as a monument to anything. If you want a more typical monument type statue, then raise money for it.

[fryar]

I don't mean to be a Debbie Downer, I'm still all for it, but I wonder if they think they need to address the potential for someone to just drive by and make off with all that scrap-able metal.

[Meddle]

Well, the DetNews has picked up the campaign........................


"Serve the public trust. Protect the innocent. Uphold the law."

From The Detroit News: http://detnews.com/article/20110215/...-and-donations

[Thruster315]

Imagine you were a tourist with a camera, you were walking downtown, and you came upon the RoboCop statue. What would you do? You would have some fun. Think of it as an adult playscape.

Playscapes are not designed to last forever, so it does not matter if in 20 years no one knows who Robocop was..

Do not think of it as a monument to anything. If you want a more typical monument type statue, then raise money for it.

I think this is the best attitude to have. Why not have some fun with it for once? Heck, half the folks probably donating to this campaign probably have never had to sit [[or is that suffer) through the RoboCop movies.

Rather than trying to look at it as a personal indictment on Detroit's failures- think of it as a low brow tribute to a cheesy movie supposedly set in our future.

[Thruster315]

I don't mean to be a Debbie Downer, I'm still all for it, but I wonder if they think they need to address the potential for someone to just drive by and make off with all that scrap-able metal.

One could've probably said the same about the Children's Museum's chrome bumper horse years ago and it's still standing. No Debbie Downer about it- some practical thought here I'd say.

[buildingsofdetroit]

Pretty damn funny video on the proposal:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cgxx7Q-FuPM

[RickBeall]

If you are worried about the metal being stolen, then make it out of inexpensive metal, or wood or fiberglass.

[Johnlodge]

I won't be using any of my money for it, but if people want to spend their own money on it, fine. They earned their money, let them do what they want. Part of me likes it because it's absurd, and I like absurd. The argument that there are better things to spend money on is irrelevant. It's not your money. Go spend your money on better things, then. People giving money for this were just going to spend it on something equally stupid.

[Johnlodge]

Suffice to say, another Wings jersey will need to be sewn.

[MSUguy]

I was against this project at first, because of the negative connotations it could put on the city. But the project and its origins are just so silly that people will be more inclined to laugh about it than make stereotypical Detroit jokes. I still think it's a waste of money and energy that could be used toward making a real difference in Detroit, but it's a free world

[East Detroit]

Doesn't it bother anyone else that the movie was filmed in Dallas? Detroit, the name represented the archetype of crime ridden scum infested hell hole of a city........what better to represent that than Detroit?

Doesn't bother me. Dallas is the crime ridden scum infested hell hole that the media portrays Detroit to be. So, they had to use Dallas to showcase that type of pictorial.

[canuck]

Robocop sitting on the hood of an '86 Ford Taurus holding his head in one hand, helmet in the other.

[Melocoton]

I won't be using any of my money for it, but if people want to spend their own money on it, fine. They earned their money, let them do what they want. Part of me likes it because it's absurd, and I like absurd. The argument that there are better things to spend money on is irrelevant. It's not your money. Go spend your money on better things, then. People giving money for this were just going to spend it on something equally stupid.

I don't really get this argument. Can't I just be against stupidity in all its forms?

[p1acebo]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cgxx7...layer_embedded

not sure if it has been posted yet.

[Gannon]

I won't be using any of my money for it, but if people want to spend their own money on it, fine. They earned their money, let them do what they want. Part of me likes it because it's absurd, and I like absurd. The argument that there are better things to spend money on is irrelevant. It's not your money. Go spend your money on better things, then. People giving money for this were just going to spend it on something equally stupid.

Good point. I guess this means PBR sales on Michigan Avenue bars will be down this spring then.

[Gannon]

Robocop sitting on the hood of an '86 Ford Taurus holding his head in one hand, helmet in the other.

Can we get a mock-up of a defeated face-palming Robocop this way? Or have him emulate Rodin's Thinker?!

Either way, having him ponder the MCS debacle would be nice.

[canuck]

I tried this version out with the old taurus...

[izzyindetroit]

Holy fuck, goal reached!

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/...tue-of-robocop

Looks like Detroit will have a privately funded robocop statue in the near future.