Source
r/whatstheword•
Spectrobit

WAW for the imitation of a real product/institution's image for satirical purposes?

Unsolved

Perhaps a variant of "Bland-name Product" and "Fictional Counterpart", even though it has a more specific use case.

Some examples come from the Grand Theft Auto series, such as "eCola", "Sprunk", "Cluckin' Bell" and "Burger Shot". They're also used when a company wants to make fun of another one, without explicitly naming them.

IIRC, it's quite the technical term; you'd hear it in a marketing class, and then, never again. So here are a few words that are NOT what I'm looking for:

Caricature, mimicry, facsimile, spoof, counterfeit, counterpart, simulacrum, generic, Acme, Brand X, parody, burlesque, tribute, homage, knockoff, sham, feign, misrepresentation, duplicate, replicate, copycat, impersonation, travesty, synthetic, stand-in, reference, scapegoat, etc.

Posted Dec 22, 2023, 5:33 AM UTC

1119
InspectorNoName:karma: 2 Karma•

I am still trying to find the word for you, but I wanted to say I appreciate you taking the time to make a thorough list of all the words that it's NOT because the two I was almost certain it was (ersatz and simulacrum), you've already taken out of contention.

I have faith we will solve this! haha.

5
SpectrobitOP•

It's probably been over two years since I first saw the word, so I can't share your optimism, haha. This post exists out of desperation, at this point.

At the very least, I know for certain there is a Wikipedia page about it, with multiple language options, even.

2
AllUltima:karma: 4 Karma•

Are you maybe thinking of Subvertising?

3
SpectrobitOP•

Wow, that's actually pretty close.
The main difference is Subvertising refers to advertisements, rather than products and/or instituions.
Thank you, regardless!

2
AllUltima:karma: 4 Karma•

There are some related terms on the article such as Détournement, Brandalism, Doppelgänger brand image, all seem fairly close. But if it's not any of those then I'm out :)

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SpectrobitOP•

They do seem fairly close indeed. Under the right circumstances, they could even be synonyms, I'll add them to the list, thank you for the contributions!

2
turtle-wexler•

The sub-trope “iPhony” is close too.

2
Dump-ster-Fire:karma: 5 Karma•

These are "Prop brands" if you're referring to the movie/film industry.

If you need some work done, here is a company that does it: https://www.emgroupuk.com/

2
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1
Artsy_traveller_82•

An analogue.

In the DiscWorls novel The Last Continent, Terry Pratchett used the fictional continent of Fourex as an analogue for Australia.

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SpectrobitOP•

Thank you, but that's not it either. I'll add it to the list.

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Spinacky:overriden:125 Karma•

Fictionalized product displacement?

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SpectrobitOP•

That would be removing a real product, rather than satirizing it with a new, analogous one.
The term is also a single word, so thank you, but that's not it.

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Spinacky:overriden:125 Karma•

Got it. I want to clarify that product displacement is the removal of a real product, whereas [fictionalized] product displacement is the creation of a new one.

Fictionalized product displacement is when the production creates a fictional brand that is similar but not an exact match to an existing brand. This can be a form of satire/parody..

Source

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unihorned:karma: 5 Karma•

mimetic, often in a dystopian vein

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SpectrobitOP•

I thought I had listed it already, but it seems I haven't.
Thank you, though.

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adrianmonk:redditgold: 24 Karma•

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fictional_brand :

A fictional brand is a non-existing brand used in artistic or entertainment productions, such as paintings, books, comics, movies, TV serials, and music. The fictional brand may be designed to imitate, satirize or differentiate itself from a real corporate brand.

1
SpectrobitOP•

The article doesn't go into much detail, but from what I've gathered, it uses "protobrand" in the context of intentional reverse brand placement.
Thank you for the suggestion, though, I'll add it to the list.

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PinkyLizardBrains•

Parody?

1
Excellent_Strain5851•

I know you said it wasn’t “parody,” but what about the phrase “parody advertisement”?

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SpectrobitOP•

It's one word, technical term. Unlike parody advertisement, it always draws parallels to a real product/brand.

1