Plans for giant 14ft high blue 'French' cockerel in London's Trafalgar Square causing a flap

[ChickenGuy]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-22367931

Blue cockerel 'inappropriate' for Trafalgar Square

A giant blue cockerel would be "inappropriate" for the fourth plinth in Trafalgar Square, a conservation group has said.

Katharina Fritch's 14ft (4.3m) work is due to go up on 20 June - subject to approval by council planners.

But conservationists the Thorney Island Society have written to Westminster Council branding the bird as "a feeble distraction".

The council said it would "cause a stir" but was "worthy for display".

I like it.

But what exactly is so French about it?

Quote of the day goes to a local Westminster council member....

"I do wonder what Nelson's reaction would have been after returning home from battle only to be greeted by the French emblem standing proudly in the centre of London”

(Nelson's column will be right beside it in the centre of the square)

The paper headline writers are also keen to get in on the act:

Reuters UK:

Feathers fly over French cockerel statue in London's Trafalgar Square

The Independent:

Controversy and a cock-up on Trafalgar Square's Fourth Plinth

So what would YOU put on the fourth plinth?

(it changes between various sculptures and artworks as it's the only one 'missing' a statue)

I'd put a dancing banana on it.

 

[palbert]

Awful. Just awful.

 

[johaninsc]

So what would YOU put on the fourth plinth?

 

[Telstra]

I'm curious about the history of this statue

 

[nycguydowntown]

I'm curious about the history of this statue

I posed for it a few years ago.

 

[zoltanspawn]

Static of course.

Although I agree with June Stubbs of the Thorney Island Society that the fourth plinth isn't the right place for a bad blue chicken, I feel differently about your idea. Jeff Koons has even already shown it in London.

Bonk. Bonk. Bonk.

 

[pat grimshaw]

Is it made of PVC?

Will it fade?

Will all the drunken yobbos break the model's two skinny legs?

Does it have a subversive meaning?

Who is paying for it?

How do the idiots assure the taxpayers that this joke will bring in extra tourist dollars?



BTW: Has this mess, below, paid for itself yet?

 

[palbert]

It has now been erected.

Big blue cock erected on fourth plinth in London's Trafalgar Square

http://www.guardian.co.uk/artanddesign/2013/jul/25/big-blue-cock-trafalgar-square

(article with video)

ChickenGuy did warn us.

 

[pat grimshaw]

^ Thankfully, it is just a temporary thing from the german sculptress.

 

[m1thousand]

I was there when I was 8 yrs old
Leave it alone.
Say no to blue

 

[rareboy]

The choice of the Gallic rooster as a symbol for France dates back to the collapse of the Roman Empire and the formation of Gaul. It finds its origin in a play on word on gallus (Latin for rooster) and Gallus (Gallic). Despite its frequent use as a symbol for France, in particular by sports federations, the rooster has never been an official emblem.
“Cocorico !” (French for “cock-a-doodle-doo”) is often used as an affirmation of French patriotism, usually in an ironic manner.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Symbols_of_France#The_Gallic_rooster

sigh.

I despair when people just don't get the idea......

 

[pat grimshaw]

…I despair when people just don't get the idea......

Those English are SO stupid, aren't they?

 

[rareboy]

....during the Renaissance, the rooster became a symbol of France as a Catholic state and became a popular Christian image on weathervanes, also known as weathercocks.

The popularity of the Gallic rooster as a national personification faded away until its resurgence during the French Revolution (1789). The republican historiography completely modified the traditional perception of the origins of France. Until then, the royal historiography dated the origins of France back to the baptism of Clovis I in 496, the "first Christian king of France". The republicans rejected this royalist and Christian origin of the country and will trace back the origins of France to the ancient Gaul. Although purely apocryphal, the rooster became the personification of the early inhabitants of France, the Gauls.

The Gallic rooster, colloquially named Chanteclair, had been a national emblem ever since, especially during the Third French Republic. The rooster was featured on the reverse of French 20-franc gold pieces from 1899 to 1914. After World War I it was depicted on uncountable war memorials.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gallic_rooster

http://www.midi-france.info/06141212_cockerel.htm

 

[palbert]

Could it demonstrate that the English are down and blue over having lost France?

 

[refujiunderground]

LMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!! dying @ the headline, "Big blue cock erected on fourth plinth in London's Trafalgar Square".

the way dude saying "fest your eyes, fest your eyes, on this beautiful new 4 feet sculpture, this beautiful, big blue, cock".

 

[Ryuukie]

What are on the other plinths?

 

[SLOPPYSECONDS]

hole

sure 1st world public figa it out

thankyou

 

[ChickenGuy]

The big cock has been erected!

What are on the other plinths?

According to Wiki the other three plinths are:

- an equestrian (horseback) statue of King George IV
- a statue of General Sir Charles Napier
- a statue of Major-General Sir Henry Havelock

I'd never heard of the last two before at all, so I looked them up. Turns out they were both 19th century colonial Empire generals most famed for conquering and subdueing the masses on the Indian sub-continent.

Off-topic:

Wiki also has some interesting pics of Trafalgar Square through history.

I really like this picture, painted in 1865.

Also this early moving picture sequence, taken in 1890.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trafalgar_Square

 

[Kahaih]

The big cock has been erected!

. . . .

Just out of curiosity, if one happened to be a huge cock supporter, might that also make one a member of a large cock ring?

Or, perhaps the cock turned blue because it was a rather small cock ring?

 

[unloadonme]

I think it's time Margaret Thatcher was honoured by a statue on the fourth plinth.