1/6 World; Going Down in History: This American Life
May 20th, 2008 by Haley
We are fans of This American Life. Last night we watched a new episode with the theme “going down in history.” Each episode has a few different stories all with the same theme. This episode showcased high school year book photographs, two inmates who tried to escape from prison using a dental floss rope, and a man who recreated WWII fantasy scenarios at 1/6 scale. This is a man who I cannot find any publication about; who creates stunning scale models. This man is an artist. His name is apparently Mark Hogancamp.
This man was severely beaten by a group of men outside a bar which left him with brain damage. His photographs were then taken as revenge plots against the men who had beaten him. Using 1/6 scale WWII model action figures he would live out his fantasies. He would use bright red nail polish for blood. He would fantasize with action figures in his own little 1/6 scale town that he built in his backyard. There were bars, houses, stores and roads; all with lights and perfectly to scale. His photographs are amazing. He would re-create fantasy love interests in a model home using an action figure that surprising looked just like him. He explained how the women with green hair from the future would visit him and would snap soldiers necks for him; showing how much she loved him. The photographs were amazing. The construction and detail is impeccable. This man is alone living through these fake action figures. He talks to no one and lives in a small mobile home spending all of his time in the 1/6 world that he created.
I wish I could find information about this man. I wish I could see more of his photographs taken with a small cheap consumer camera. I wish I could hear him talk about his photographs.
All I was able to find were these two sentences. “The second profiles a man who, after a brain injury resulting from a vicious beating, turns to World War II re-creations using scale models, incorporating revenge fantasies that he discusses freely. It’s a sad story, and as powerful as almost anything I’ve heard in years of listening to - and now watching, with growing admiration” - “This American Life.”
UPDATE: We collected images and put them in a new post, Mark Hogancamp Photos. Thanks Jim for the corrected name and we appreciate the info you’ve provided, especially since it seems the This American Life really edited his story to appear much different. I think it’s great that he shares his photography somewhere and I look forward to finding more out about the 1/6th action figure community. - Nicole
May 20th, 2008 at 10:46 pm
I thought it was absolutely amazing, also. Until that story, I had no idea that such models existed. But what was even more amazing was how creative Mark was. I think he has found an amazing and positive (in my opinion) way of dealing with his life…
May 20th, 2008 at 10:50 pm
By the way, Ira did mention his name - Mark Gugancamp (no idea how to spell Mark’s last name but that’s what it SOUNDED like…) - I cannot find anything online about him. That’s probably good, since the guy wants to be left alone. But you’re right - what an amazingly creative person…
May 22nd, 2008 at 4:26 pm
OMG. I spent an hour today trying to find info on this guy. I am dying to know more - I want to own some of his work. Please let me know if you find anything out about him.
His work reminds me a lot of Henry Darger, both created a fantasy world filled with violence. Henry was impaired in some way as was Mark… check out http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Darger
thx!
May 23rd, 2008 at 2:10 am
yes…that was provocative and very cool in a loner’s world kinda way…please let us know if you find any more info or pics…I know modelers have done diaorama’s but this seems to be something a bit different…I especially like the part about the future girl who saves his life…trippy stuff.
May 23rd, 2008 at 10:17 am
As you probably know, searching the internet proved to find nothing more about his work. We pulled some photos and put them in a new post, Mark Hogancamp Photos for display.
May 24th, 2008 at 12:01 am
The mans name is Mark Hogancamp, we call him hogie (hogie309), he is a regular at a 1/6th scale action figure site and his ongoing story is all there and waiting for you all to visit. Hogie is a great guy and has a teriffic story going with awesome photography.
This site deals with 1/6th action figures, you may know the original as G.I. Joes.
But your right, Marks not a freak and i wont let you know where to find his story if your just going to bug him.
He is not living through these “Fake” action figures, he depends on them as a creative therapeutic release, and the BS about talking to no one is ridiculous. He even has a part time job.
May 24th, 2008 at 9:14 am
Okay. I tried to post on http://www.onesixthwarriors.com but they won’t let me for another 48hrs.
@Jim - I’m sorry you didn’t like my article. And for the record, I didn’t say Mark was a freak and I have only the up most respect for him. I was just regurgitating what was on Showtime’s “This American Life”. It seems Showtime has skewed Mark’s story, making it seem like he was living alone, mostly isolated. And the fact that they mispronounced his name didn’t help either. So when I tried to find more info on him I could not. If Showtime had said his actual name and that he’s an artist with works in galleries and he’s been featured here and there.. etc… he wouldn’t of sounded so alone. Perhaps you should watch the episode as there are some interesting quotes from Mark himself. Again, this article is just my perception of what I saw on “This American Life” and how they portrayed him on the show. I’ve got nothing but respect for Mark and I think his images are fascinating.
May 24th, 2008 at 11:44 am
No prob Haley, i didnt see the episode myself, i do converse with Mark thru e-mail, he does so with many member of the site he visits, as well as alot of phone conversations with members.
And as his scale town goes it quite nice, i have even made a few items for his town as have a bunch of the members of the board he visits.
btw the site is not one sixth warriors that he frequents.
Sorry if i came across the wrong way as well.
May 26th, 2008 at 10:58 am
I was intrigued with Marks photography as well as his story. I too have tried to find as much as I could and to see if he ever did showings of his work in California. I am a photographer as well and I use to shoot Breyer Model horses. I would love to see more of his work. I am glad he was profiled on the series.
May 28th, 2008 at 12:01 am
Does anyone know where to buy his prints? They are incredible and I can’t find them anywhere!
June 6th, 2008 at 10:52 pm
Thank you everyone, for the kind words. Jim, your still in the story, as one of the POWs in Marwencol (the Russian from Siberia), that me and my tank crew are coming to liberate.
Yes, I am essentric, in a way. I do talk to people, but mostly women, because men were the close-minded iceholes that killed me, 8 years ago. The ONLY men I trust, are in the club that I belong to, and it’s a comfort to know, that they would defend the Honor of one another
June 15th, 2008 at 7:52 pm
Hey there all. Hogie is a real good friend of mine and I consider him a brother. His story (dream) of Marwencol is an inspiration to all of us. I have created a town of my own in my back yard and pay homage to Hogie every time I go out there and take photos of it. He is a terrific person and a wonderful friend.
Ali, his prints are not for sale as of yet but I am sure that he would be open to it. Let me know if you are interested in purchasing any of them and I will talk to him personally about it. thank you
IrishSEAL13
June 17th, 2008 at 12:32 am
For those who are interested - I found out about Hogie through the web - SEARCH “MARWENCOL”. He had a photospread in a gallery (the village I think).
I have spoken directly with Mark on several occaisions.
He is just a man. A man that has had to deal with horrors - REAL HORRORS, NOT TV or Movies… The blood he has seen was NOT nail polish, it was his own.
He is walking a brighter path these days. The catharsis provided by Marwencol has proven the test of time.
My hat is off to you Hogie!
Bear Johnson
September 1st, 2008 at 3:40 pm
don’t know if it has been posted
http://www.marwencol.com/