The Best Science Fiction for Marketers – Part 3
Science Fiction can often predict the future. This is true not only for technology but for societal trends as well. The Strongpages team started talking about how some of our favorite sci-fi stories have dealt with advertising and realized there were some great examples here. So, we flipped through our book-shelf and are pleased to present these tales from our future and alternate present:
Syrup, by Max Barry
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syrup_(novel)
After covering Disney in Part 1 and McDonalds and Nike in Part 2, it seems the only brand missing is Coca-Cola. Syrup, by Max Berry is about marketing from top to bottom. Although not strictly sci fi, many of the plot elements might be interpreted as fantasy, or perhaps existing in a sarcastic alternate universe. Maybe it’s the same alternate universe where Quentin Tarantino shoots his films.
In any case, the story of Scat, 6 and Sneaky Pete, and their battle to run the greatest cola ad campaign in the history of ad campaigns is beloved by marketers all over the world. As our narrator, Scat views everything through a marketing-tinged lens. It’s easy to get drawn into his world, where everything from name choice, to wardrobe, to the way that we speak is a choice driven by marketing. If you’ve ever felt like your friends might secretly be plotting against you and the competition really is out to steal your ideas, this is the story for you.
Even if you’re familiar with this book, you may not have realized that they recently made an indy movie based on Syrup. It didn’t get a very wide run and wasn’t particularly successful. It was also generally panned, but if you’re a fan of the book, you just might enjoy this interpretation. Unfortunately the ad campaigns for the movie weren’t run by Scat and 6.
Here’s the trailer:
Or you can watch it on Amazon for a buck:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CM3ODQK?ref_=imdbref_tt_wbr_aiv&tag=imdbtag_tt_wbr_aiv-20
Or get a cheap ebook or paperback on Amazon here:
Bonus:
This beautiful opening sequence from Blade Runner includes a fly-over of LA in 2019
including ads for Pan Am, Cuisinart, and the Off-World Colonies.
If you liked that fly-over of LA, you’ll also enjoy this flyover of a future NYC from Babylon AD: