| So last night a friend and I went to see Candace Bushnell speak. She talked about all sorts of topics--the movie, the shows, her newest book, New York, yadda yadda. She also spoke about the sociological implications of our consumer culture ... or something. I can't be sure cause I was too busy being hypnotized by her shoes. And it got me thinking. It must be pretty good to be Candace Bushnell. In addition to being thin, blond and rich, she's got another advantage--she probably never has to pay for shoes. Think about it, Sex and the City sometimes became a thirty minute ad for Manolo Blahnik. You know Manolo sends Candace truckloads of shoes. I've decided to apply this theory to my own writing. If I want something I'll just put it in a book. Like right now I'm craving chocolate. Thus the scene I'm writing will include at least three references to Godiva. I wouldn't mind free shoes, but I don't think I want a closet-full of bunion-makers. So I'll put lots of references to Reef flip flops. (But never, NEVER, Crocs. The only place those shoes belong is on the devil's hooves.) I'm still working on this idea. It's possible I'm still drunk from my post-reading drinking session. Or maybe I'm so genius it's scary. Either way, I'd love to hear your opinions on brand use in fiction. |
Blog Archives
Latest Entries
Coming Soon
Very freaking funny, Jaye! I agree that being Candace B. must have its good points. Glad you had fun and that you're sweeping along on that second book. Godiva chocolate...that is a good one, but how about putting lots of diamonds in your book--don't vampires especially love them???? Or black pearls? Pearls are prob. too Babs Bush for a modern vamp, but black ones???? Maybe...
Ooh, yes, Kathie. Forgot about the jewelries. Rubies might work too.
Call me the devil....I wear Crocs. They have some nice stylin' ones now. And I do wear the cloven hooved ones for gardening...that's my story and I'm sticking to it.
Good idea on product placement....black pearls are nice...black diamonds maybe??
Make a list of favorite sparklies, yums, leather goods, shoes, hottie clothes (all high end labels).....then start sprinkling in liberally. Then let the companies know. Then the reviewers will notice and then when your books are on TV and made into movies you will be golden.
Vickie, I think my aversion has something to do with psychological damage left over from the jellies craze in the 80s.
HAHAHAHA!
You are too funny.
*thinks of list of consumer products to place in books. Damn! forgot I write for children. Damn!*
You made me LOL--which you always do.
:-)
Chris, as any advertising exec would tell you, kids are excellent targets for product placement manipulation.
I have been attempting to do this with Coke and various auto makes for years; none of them have ever picked up on it.
I'm not familiar with too many cases where the companies are endorsing the use of their products in books, but you certainly see it a lot. Amazing how many heroes survive on Diet Coke...or the fully leaded stuff. I wonder how much of it is on purpose and how much just reflects what we like in our day to day personal lives and creeps into the writing. :)
Oh...I must do a little blog pimpage here. I did an interview with Anton which is up today at http://realitybypass.blog.com
~J
I've yet to receive crates of Christian Louboutins, though they feature heavily on Amanda's feet.
I was hoping to consign them here at the League.
It's going to be a tough Christmas, now.
Please, for the love of all we hold dear in our paranormal/urban fantasy reads, do not go on a fashion writing frenzy in your books! Chocolate is fine. Jewelry is good. Colas, coffee, food, booze, anything but clothes. I read a book recently that I swear the writer had to be getting kick backs from the fashion designers she mentioned so many. Absolutely hated it.
Just stay here on the dark side. Do not be fooled by those designers trying to tempt you with their haute couture.
Aww! Why no Crocks? ::snickers::
They are ugly s sin, but they are one of the most comfy shoes I've found for hours on your feet at the hospital, lol.
I was pretty sure Daelith was talking about Happy Hour.
Could be wrong.
No, no no! Not talking about Happy Hour. I've not read that yet. I have it on my wish list though.
It's not anyone here.
And I don't mind some mention of designers. I just don't need clothing description and fashion critique for every single character.
Yeah, I noticed that about Happy Hour, too. It was a little off-putting.
I am not a fan of brand use in any aspect of art. When art is used for the purpose of obtaining or pushing product it cheapens the work. JMO
Sometimes mentioning real stuff in a book is good, makes it more realistic. Sames name dropping is downright annoying. Like LKH's over used Nike references. If the overblown sex hadn't driven me away that was about to do it.
My previous post didn't post. Product "displacement?" I wonder.
But, my MC will only drive Ford Mustangs. She loves them to death, literally, she goes through a few. She's hard on everything, cars, houses, MEN. But now I'm starting to wonder, where is my brand spanking new Ford Mustang? I want.
Tom Gallier
[PS - it won't accept my LJ account, so I'm anonymous. Must be run by a former editor.]
Habibi, I'll give you a pass since you're helping people.
For the record, Happy Hour was a satire. Without the shoes and clothes it wouldn't have worked. (I'm just saying this in case Mark ends up getting the case of Louboutins, of course.)
The Man, I don't know that we can say all use of brand is bad. After all, Warhol's Campbell Soup labels earned him a lot more than a year's supply of chicken noodle. Also, I wonder if in one hundred years, historians will say the proliferation of products in today's art was merely a reflection of our consumer culture. After all, art serves as a mirror for civilization. Just sayin'.
Psistriker, I think we each have our own thresholds for such things. Like if a character insisted on wearing Crocs, for example. We all know that would be a wall banger for me.
Crap, guys, Tom slipped through the block we did on his account.
Slipped through? I'll have you know I had to use a sledge, three disguises and then slip in behind Psistriker.
I felt like James Bond or John Candy.
Tom. Tom Gallier.
Funny. Ah, but then what do you do when you are really successful and Coke (or whoever) offers you a handsome sum to work x number of references to their product into your next book?
Must say I agree w/you on the Crocs. [shudder]
The Man, I know who you are! Lol. You thought you could be sneaky but I recognize you.
See, I think as long as the product placement doesn't go overboard it adds realism. Remember how in Repo Man they drank "Beer" and ate "soup" and stuff? Which was cute, but in a conemporary book it would be kind of weird. It's nice to have a character drink a Coke (and all mine drink Coke because that's what I drink). It's nice to have Greyson Dante drive a Jag instead of "a sportscar", because that could be anything. Giving brand names adds to precision, and it's important. If I tell you my heroine is drinking a Coke you can picture the can in her hand; it puts you a little more firmly in the scene, as opposed to "a cola" or "a soda" which could be anything. Your eye skims right over "Coke"; it skips on "cola" while your brain tries to puzzle ut exactly what I'm describing.
But yeah, we don't need to know every detail of someone's clothing right down to what color the Nike swoosh is. It's not the brand name in that bit that's irritating, it's the laundry list description.
"I think as long as the product placement doesn't go overboard it adds realism."
Perfectly put, Stacia!