Thoughts on Parody Names in Stories?

[SinclairGroupLLP]

The problem is that those of your readers who did NOT grow up in that specific culture may not understand the references, or even understand what the brands are.

This is certainly true, but I find it isn't that big of a deal.

I can only speak for myself, but my writing is absolutely littered with little references that I don't expect that average reader to understand. Movie quotes, song lyrics, locations - some details are absurdly precise because I have personal experience with them and somebody who does as well will recognize what I did, but 99.9999% of the population likely won't. They're like easter eggs in the story, and I love it when I get a note or a comment that says "I caught that egg" or "I see what you did there." Many folks won't get it, though.

That's okay - I like throwing in a few "if you know you know" kinds of things in a story and generally not getting it won't have a major impact. If somebody doesn't recognize a brand, they don't recognize a brand. If somebody has never heard of Applesin, for instance, but the story says the MC orders one and drinks it, it doesn't really matter if they're aware its an Icelandic brand of orange soda - it's a drink, it got drunk.

I don't think many stories are going to turn on whether a soft drink is a Coke or a Fanta or a Bickford's, so if folks don't catch the reference, it's probably not going to make much of a difference.

 

[YmaOHyd]

As I said earlier, a brand association probably shouldn't be a single point of failure when doing character description. It's a spice, not a staple grain.

I did pick up Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World and opened to a random page -- 187 in the Vintage paperback. The narrator mourns the loss of his Somerset Maugham and John Ford collections. On p. 188 there's a Skyline (the Nissan sedan) with Duran Duran playing on the stereo, and the woman in the front seat looks at the narrator like he's a Denny's sign. On page 189, the narrator and the chubby pink girl order a Coke. Again jumping back randomly, from pages 69 to 71 we've got the Mainichi Shimbun, more Coke, the Berlin Philharmonic, Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall and Key Largo and The Big Sleep and Polaroids. If it's good enough for Murakami it's good enough for me.

 

[ElectricBlue]

If it's good enough for Murakami it's good enough for me.

That's part of the vibe with Murakami, I think, being so thoroughly aware of his era.

I suspect many folk here wouldn't know him, but he's one of the world's great authors. 1Q84 is a favourite read of mine, that's for sure.

 

[TheLobster]

I suspect many folk here wouldn't know him, but he's one of the world's great authors. 1Q84 is a favourite read of mine, that's for sure.

Mine too. I even listed Norwegian Wood as one of my 10 books in the other thread. But 1Q84 is probably his weakest work; the whole concept really overstays its welcome.

 

[ElectricBlue]

Mine too. I even listed Norwegian Wood as one of my 10 books in the other thread. But 1Q84 is probably his weakest work; the whole concept really overstays its welcome.

It was the first thing of his I read, then I went on to read his earlier work. I think that's why I like it, the strangeness, but you're right, it could be tighter. The neo-punk Aomame was enticing.

 

[YmaOHyd]

Mine too. I even listed Norwegian Wood as one of my 10 books in the other thread. But 1Q84 is probably his weakest work; the whole concept really overstays its welcome.

"The concept outstays its welcome" was how I felt about The Windup Bird Chronicle, though it's better than 1Q84. I should probably have had all three of Norwegian Wood, Sputnik Sweetheart and South of the Border West of the Sun on my 10 books list.

 

[TheLobster]

One thing about Murakami to keep in mind is that although the cultural context of his novels translates surprisingly well, it might not be case when it comes to language.

Japanese is pretty far linguistically from English, and I vaguely recall hearing that the English translations of his novels aren't particularly amazing. I was lucky to have read him in my native language which apparently translates much better from the original.

 

[Kelliezgirl]

Simon is correct on that, but I'd also add you can't create the appearance of the company endorsing your work.
On the off chance you angered the House of Mouse they are going to fire off a cease and desist letter, which means you'll need to take the story down and edit out the reference.
I suspect the odds of that are vanishingly small.

I've always felt that made up names cheapen a story. Either use a real brand appropriate to the character or leave the brand out altogether.

She pulled up in a sporty red convertible. - Fine.
She pulled up in a red Mazda Miata. - Fine.
She pulled up in a red GargleBlaster 3000. - WTF just happened.

 

[WittyUserName]

Simon is correct on that, but I'd also add you can't create the appearance of the company endorsing your work.
On the off chance you angered the House of Mouse they are going to fire off a cease and desist letter, which means you'll need to take the story down and edit out the reference.
I suspect the odds of that are vanishingly small.

I've always felt that made up names cheapen a story. Either use a real brand appropriate to the character or leave the brand out altogether.

She pulled up in a sporty red convertible. - Fine.
She pulled up in a red Mazda Miata. - Fine.
She pulled up in a red GargleBlaster 3000. - WTF just happened.

If the name is intentionally ridiculous, sure, it'll cheapen the story. I just got sick of constantly saying 'they watched a new movie' or 'they watched the season finale.' So, I used parody names that made it obvious what I was talking about. If you call a sports car a 'GargleBlaster,' you're obviously being ridiculous. Make the name something fitting and I think it can really broaden the world you created.

 

[Kelliezgirl]

If the name is intentionally ridiculous, sure, it'll cheapen the story. I just got sick of constantly saying 'they watched a new movie' or 'they watched the season finale.' So, I used parody names that made it obvious what I was talking about. If you call a sports car a 'GargleBlaster,' you're obviously being ridiculous. Make the name something fitting and I think it can really broaden the world you created.

Even if you say, "she pulled up in a red Typhoon convertible" it sounds silly.
Just name a show, or car, or movie or whatever.

What is the downside?

 

[YmaOHyd]

What if it was a red Spitfire?

 

[Kelliezgirl]

What if it was a red Spitfire?

Well... that's entirely different... if it was a red Corsair it would be even better...

 

[SinclairGroupLLP]

Well... that's entirely different... if it was a red Corsair it would be even better...

What about a red Mustang?

Wait. Shit.

 

[YmaOHyd]

Well... that's entirely different... if it was a red Corsair it would be even better...

Hopefully it's not a Corvair, though. At least not one with evenly-inflated tires.

 

[SkyBubble]

In my stories, I often use stand-in companies to avoid naming real ones, like "Quarry" for "Target" and "Ishmaels" for "Starbucks".

-Annie

Thinly disguised.

 

[SkyBubble]

Most people seem to like this, but I've had a few people comment that this breaks the immersion for them. One person sent me a scathing email about how unprofessional it was and how I need to just use the proper names(Star Trek, Grey's Anatomy).

When I get criticism like that, I usually just reply ""Thank you for your comment."

 

[SkyBubble]

There are sites that don't allow stories about celebrities. I've found that if you're not too specific and don't use their last names, you can probably get it through.

 

[TheLobster]

Thinly disguised.

I beg to differ; those substitutions require a modicum of thought to decipher. (Especially “quarry”, since it’s the less used / more archaic meaning).

If I can offer an actually thinly veiled example… In one of my stories, a character “read about something on WhiteCloud.”

 

[WittyUserName]

When I get criticism like that, I usually just reply ""Thank you for your comment."

Yeah, I've used similar responses to criticism. "Yup. Sure, whatever you say. I'll go fuck myself."

 

[Djmac1031]

One person sent me a scathing email about how unprofessional it was

So one loser emails hate you and now you're questioning your methods?

Ignore them and carry on.

 

[SkyBubble]

I beg to differ; those substitutions require a modicum of thought to decipher. (Especially “quarry”, since it’s the less used / more archaic meaning).

If I can offer an actually thinly veiled example… In one of my stories, a character “read about something on WhiteCloud.”

Bluesky?

 

[TheLobster]

Bluesky?

Yup.

 

[Areala-chan]

She pulled up in a red GargleBlaster 3000. - WTF just happened.

This Douglas Adams/Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy fan just snorted her drink onto her desk, thank you very much.

 

[iwatchus]

If I can offer an actually thinly veiled example… In one of my stories, a character “read about something on WhiteCloud.”

My first reaction to this is 'they read it on toilet paper?'

 

[Kelliezgirl]

This Douglas Adams/Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy fan just snorted her drink onto her desk, thank you very much.

Happy to be of service.