monumental kitsch

[connealy]

Pentax Spotmatic, Kodak Gold 200

[Malkav41]

Is that one of those carnival rides that looks like a ship, and swings back and forth? Called some thing like " The Pharaoh's Barge"?

[connealy]

Yes, that's the one, though I think they called it something like Pharaoh's Revenge in this case.  It's one of the regulars at the Doña Ana county fair in southern New Mexico.  Kitsch for sure, but it is so massive in size that it has a kind of unique presence.  I think it is also interesting that it is representative of the long-time use of Egyptian symbolism in carnival environments and that it continues to evoke the desired response from people.  
 . . Coincidentally, there is currently a show at the Las Cruces Museum of Art which is showing reproductions of objects from King Tut's tomb.  Not very far removed from the carny, I think.