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Imaginary brand as actual sponsor

Imaginary brand as actual sponsor

Posted by Rob Walker on April 4, 2008
Posted Under: Imaginary Brands

I’m really not much of a convention guy, but I have to admit a certain curiosity about ROFLCon, the gathering of living memes and “brainy academics” who go on about them. (Details here.)

Somehow I had missed the fact that the event’s “partners” include Brawndo: The Thirst Mutilator. This is the combination energy drink and crop irrigation product featured in the dark comedy cult favorite Idiocracy. In other words, it’s an imaginary brand — one that has crossed over into reality. (Here is a review.) So it’s a pretty great choice for a co-sponsor.

I was interested to note on the Brawndo site, up in the upper-right corner, the logo for Omni Consumer Products, a fictional entity from Robocop. (You can show your support of non-existent OCP by sporting a T-shirt from Last Exit To Nowhere, subject of a November 18, 2007 Consumed.) I’m assuming the implication is that somehow Brawndo and OCP are linked — a particularly meta suggestion, connecting imaginary brands from two different fictional worlds.

I don’t recognize that other logo up in there corner, though. Do you? This is answered in the comments now. Thanks!

Anyway, I unfortunately have other plans during the April 25-26 time frame, so no ROFLCon for me. But if you go, pick up a Brawndo, and let me know what you think.

Further diversion may be found at MKTG Tumblr, and the Consumed Facebook page.

Reader Comments

It looks like that’s the logo for Redux Beverages. I don’t think it’s a fictional brand, but I am not so savvy in the ways of pop culture.

#1 
Written By McChris on April 4th, 2008 @ 5:27 pm

You’re right — I just checked them out as a result of your comment. They’re the real-life producers of Brawno, I don’t know why I didn’t think to check that. Thank you!

#2 
Written By Rob Walker on April 4th, 2008 @ 8:29 pm

Omni Consumer Products is a real product development company, in San Francisco. Check the Idiocracy wikipedia page.

#3 
Written By Josh P on April 10th, 2008 @ 12:41 am

Josh P:

Thanks much for that. The Omni site is static, and kind of odd. Is it really real or just pretend real? I’m quite puzzled but looking into it and very intrigued. Thanks so much for this comment.

Cheers/ rw

#4 
Written By Rob Walker on April 10th, 2008 @ 6:14 am

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