This image featuring the face of George Bush II with the ears of Mickey Mouse was found on the pavement between Belsize Park and Hampstead tube stations, not far from the Royal-Free hospital. I get the impression that the author of this image dislikes the Disney Corporation, and the President of the USA, which narrows him or her down to anywhere in Europe, Asia or South America. There are reports of these images appearing elsewhere in the Camden area.
While notionally allied to one another (Disney Corporation have provided a great deal of funding to the president’s brother), The juxtaposition of these icons is done in a way that neither would enjoy, despite having similar values. I doubt that a joining of Castrol and Cadburys would yield the same response.
The caption reads “Disney War”, as if to say under the bush presidency warfare is now a form of entertainment to be marketed and delivered in handy sound-bites by big-media. At least that is what I think I am supposed to think - the best protest art can be interpreted in whatever way you like; for example the artist might be suggesting that Bush is a mouse-like coward for not persecuting his recent battles with enough vigour… that wee timorous beastie.
At the risk of pedantry, it is also worth noting that the character depicted here appears to have both human and mouse ears. It’s unsual in any kind of chimeric creature for major anatomical features to be duplicated, so let us more safely assume that the president is wearing a “Mousketeer” hat: The naff outfits worn by the child-presenters of Disney’s Mickey Mouse Club.
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