Category: Sociology and Psychology of Pranks

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Santa Claus is coming to town!

You better watch out…

“‘Most hated event on the planet’: New movie shows the rise of San Francisco’s SantaCon,” by Dan Gentile, SFGATE, October 31, 2025.

The trailer just dropped for ‘SANTACON,’ which premieres at the DOC NYC film festival on Nov. 13.

There are few San Francisco events as divisive as SantaCon. The yearly, debauchery-filled bar crawl features hundreds, if not thousands, of costumed Santas rampaging through cities across the country, leaving a trail of inebriated chaos in their wake. But it wasn’t always this way.

A new film is set to premiere on Nov. 13 at the DOC NYC film festival and is simply titled “SANTACON,” directed by Seth Porges, whose previous work includes “Class Action Park” and “How to Rob A Bank.” The first trailer, released on Friday, begins with footage of violent Santas and also shows Jimmy Fallon mentioning the New York Police Department’s understanding of the event as “the nightmare before Christmas.” Local news anchors declare that locals want the event to be canceled, and text appears on the screen proclaiming SantaCon the “most hated event on the planet.” Read the whole article here.

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Bring on the Clowns!

Using the power of humor and satire to de-escalate confrontations.

“Why people are really wearing silly costumes at protests against Trump,” by The Conversation, AlterNet, October 24, 2025.

Three frogs, a shark, a unicorn and a Tyrannosaurus rex dance in front of a line of heavily armoured police in riot gear.

Over the past few weeks, activists taking part in protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) across the United States have donned inflatable animal costumes. The aim is to disrupt the Trump administration’s claim that the protests are violent “hate America” rallies.

The result is a sight to behold, with many encounters between police and protestors going viral.

Whether they know it or not, these costumed activists are contributing to a rich history of using humour and dress to mobilise against and challenge power. Read the whole article here.

Related posts:

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  4. Homo Velamine Interviews Joey Skaggs “Maestro of the Farce” [Spanish and English]
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Art & Place Conference Keynote, May 2, 2025

I thought I was getting on a flight to Germany to deliver my keynote at the
Art & Place conference in Saarbrücken.

Instead, I wound up giving it via Zoom—from a prison cell.

Not literally, of course. But I dressed for the part. A fitting backdrop for a talk on creative dissent.

Guerrilla theater, unsanctioned public art, protests in disguise—these are the tools I’ve used to question authority and reclaim public space. Sometimes with humor. Sometimes with a bullhorn. Always with intent.

While my prison cell was symbolic, the consequences of challenging power are very real. So, this was a reminder: dissent isn’t just a right. It’s a necessity. And we need to protect the freedom to speak out—especially when it’s uncomfortable.

Thanks to the organizers for inviting me. And to everyone still raising hell where it matters.

Related posts:

  1. Stop BioPEEP before it’s too late!
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The Great White Hoax, by Philip Kadish

Heads up! The Great White Hoax, Frauds, Forgeries, and 200 Years of Selling Racism in America, a new book by Philip Kadish, is available for pre-order and will be out in June here, here, and more.

Blurb:

“Fake news, outright political lies, a shamelessly partisan press, and the collapse of truth, civility, and shared facts, Philip Kadish argues, are nothing new. The Great White Hoax, a masterpiece of history and literary sleuthing, reveals that the era of Fox News and Donald Trump is simply a return to form. We have been here before.”

Related posts:

  1. Flashback: Operation Fortitude
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Flashback: Operation Fortitude

The heroism, courage and outrageous deception that helped the allies win WWII.

D-Day deception Operation Fortitude: The World War Two army that didn’t exist, by Taylor Downing, BBC, June 1, 2024

“When it came to planning for D-Day, the biggest amphibious operation ever launched, the need for a detailed deception plan was even greater. When discussing the invasion with Joseph Stalin at Tehran, Winston Churchill used the phrase, ‘In wartime truth is so precious that it should always be attended by a bodyguard of lies.’ This perfectly summed up the Allied view of deception.” Read more here.

The Army That Never Was, Taylor Downing’s new book, is available now.

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