Random Waves of Insight

A few months ago, we all kept hearing the same type of one-liner again and again in movie trailers:

"This, Is, Sparta!"

"I, Am, Beowulf!"

"This, Is Our, City!"

And then, even in a movie's title: "I Am Legend"

I can almost hear someone shouting it... "I, Am, LEGEND!"

I'll bet most people didn't know or didn't care. You probably noticed, saw the pattern. I thought it was mildly amusing. A bit annoying on some days, though.

Because when you think about it, it represents creative copycatting.

One ad executive is told, "Come up with a new idea, something that works!" And he watches other ads, looking for something that is "proven." Sees that people are lining up to see "300," and boy, isn't that powerful when the guy says, "This Is Sparta!"

Let's copy it!

Stop copying me, little bro, it's getting old.

Then some maternal figure shows up and says, "Can't you see he admires you?"

Be original! Like that SoBe super bowl commercial that ripped off Thriller. Now there was a unique masterpiece... Not!

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