In the world of advertising, mascots play a significant role in creating brand presence and recognition. These characters are carefully crafted to embody the values and personality of a brand, making them relatable and memorable to consumers. They often undergo makeovers or variations over time to stay relevant and catch the attention of new audiences. One such transformation that can have a powerful impact is when an advertising mascot dons epaulets. Epaulets are ornamental shoulder decorations commonly associated with military and naval uniforms. They signify rank, authority, and prestige.
They signify rank, authority, and prestige. When an advertising mascot adds epaulets to their attire, it conveys a sense of importance and credibility. By portraying the mascot as a figure of authority, the brand aims to establish trust and reliability in the minds of consumers.
Review: Occult Detective Magazine #6
Occult Detective Magazine, formerly Occult Detective Quarterly, publishes fiction and non-fiction related to, well, the occult detective. Think John Constantine or Jules de Grandin or even Batman at times, investigating strange goings on that have no earthly explanation. ODQ offers up a decent mix of stories, though I will confess that I was surprised by the number of vampires present (and equally happy with the decided lack of zombies). That said, on to the stories:
“The Rending Veil” by Melanie Atherton Allen: Two members of a particular club are called out into the English countryside to deal with some troublesome ghosts. The ghosts themselves aren’t quite the problem, but when two of them overlap, it weakens the boundaries, and then an old forgotten God can make its way through. While I enjoyed the overall setup of the story, it felt like a much smaller piece of a whole. As well, the somewhat stodgy characters of Pendleton and Anderson didn’t engage me as much as I might have cared for as I found the character of Wake more intriguing.
“Komolafe” by Tade Thompson: is a tale told via poem, about a man and a temptress who may or may not be human and the man’s dead friend. I would have enjoyed a bit more to this, as the lines are extremely short and the tale itself abbreviated. I wouldn’t mind seeing someone take a crack at it and delving into the world of it a bit more. That said it was effective in telling the story it set out to tell.
“The Way of All Flesh” by Matthew Willis: A young woman’s lover is dead… only the locals believe he has become a vampire, a curse put on the village because of the affair the woman and the dead man were carrying on. Another priest from outside is called in to deal with the matter as he has more experience dealing with such matters. The story plays with the idea of supernatural vs mundane explanations rather nicely, though the twist at the end wasn’t a complete surprise.
“Blindsider” by Cliff Briggs does a nice job brining Appalachian backwoods folk lore in with a bit of cosmic horror. Horace Cole is a bit of a hermit, but when things go supernaturally wrong, he’s the man the locals go to and that’s exactly the kind of trouble Vergil Campbell has. He managed to attract a Blindsider, a type of cosmic parasite that feeds off a single person and does its best to make sure that it’s victims are isolated, usually by driving off or killing anyone its victim might be close to. Unfortunately, there’s only one real way to deal with a Blindsider and that’s to make it’s victim appear dead. This a story where the curse is almost as bas as the disease, but I applaud the writer for not going with what might have been a more traditional resolution.
“Vinnie de Soth and the Phantom Skeptic” by I.A Watson revolves around the dilemma a psychic has trying to convince a recently departed skeptic and debunker that he’s a ghost and the reason why he’s a ghost is because someone placed a curse on him- two things the recently deceased steadfastly refused to believe in. The overall setup almost reads like a one act play, with all of the real action confined to a limited location and all of the characters clearly defined. In this case, it works well, even if I did find the ending wrapped up a bit too neatly.
“The Empanatrix of Room 223” by Kelly M. Hudson I found one of the more creative pieces in the magazine. August Marks is a private detective currently engaged by Hell to find the mother of the Antichrist. As a result, he has his very own personal guardian demon. Mr. Marks isn’t a stupid person, however, so he takes on side gigs as well, knowing that he’s got Hell’s own bruiser on his side. This case involves August tracking down a woman, but it quickly goes in directions he didn’t fully anticipate. I thoroughly enjoyed the worldbuilding and level of detail that went into this piece… plus I’ll admit I have a soft spot for main characters that aren’t on the side of the angels.
“The Unsummoning of Urb Tc’Leth” by Bryce Beattie is a different kind of urban fantasy tale. Here, our intrepid meddler is investigating what looks to be a mild case of demon summoning, but quickly turns out to be something much, much worse. The story was definitely lighter in tone than some of the other pieces included in the collection, and at least some of that was due to how the story was filtered through the main character… a person who’s superpower is that he doesn’t get afraid. Normally, you would think such a trait would lead to an early death when you should be running away from the bad guy instead of into its maw, but it works here, for the most part. I wouldn’t have minded seeing the side characters developed a bit more, but I also acknowledge there is only so much you can do in the short story format.
“In Perpetuity” by Alexis Ames highlights that writers can blend the occult detective genre in with others, in this case science-fiction. An investigator is called to a space station where an accident has recently occurred, resulting in a demon entering our reality. The space station, as a matter of course, is crewed by not only humans, but vampires and werewolves as well. What follows is the investigator trying to narrow down the current host of the demon, without getting killed himself. I found stacking the different styles to be a bit much, and I don’t recall if there was much of an explanation as to how the government came to be working with supernatural creatures. The main character is memorable, and while he does possess some talent, he is mundane enough to ground the story to give the reader a way to connect with the rest of what is going on.
“The Way Things Were” by S.L. Edwards follows to men, Joe and Johann who are steeped in the occult and who work to keep it secret from the unknowing masses. This particular instance involves them facing off against The Great Savini and his assistant, two practitioners masquerading as common stage magicians. Over the course of the tale, I felt like I had seen this story, or one like it before as I was reminded (favorably) of Clive Barker’s “Lord of Illusions” which had a similar premise. The magic is more overstated in this piece, and there’s an inkling that the world powers are in an occult arms race, a facet that is driven home by the end of the story. I enjoyed it, but also found myself more sympathetic to the antagonists in this piece, more so than in any other story in the collection.
“Angelus” by John Paul Fitch is an over the top bit of urban fantasy, complete with angels, Enochian magic, a snarky ghost sidekick and a magical homeless man. While the story isn’t quite apocalyptic, it does come across as apocalyptic-lite, but well done even so. A current of humor (dry) runs through the piece, and you can’t help but feel for the main character, Anna, as she tries to balance a love life with all of the otherworldly happenings that, well, keep happening to her.
“The Last Performance of Victoria Mirabelli” by Ian Hunter is another vampire tale, this one about the main character’s attempt to acquire a new domicile, a cabinet rumored to be haunted. Only the rumors turn out to be all too true, as the late owner’s spirit still possesses the object, along with the spirits she had trapped over the years. What follows is a battle of undead vs undead, and an ending that sent a chill down my spine.
Finally, we have “Occult Legion: He is the Gate” by James A. Moore and Charles Rutledge. I’ll admit I was skeptical going into this story, as it is the sixth part of a six-part story. Only, this stands well on its own as a PC in Scotland investigates a missing castle. She is quickly sucked in to events beyond her control as things outside of our world us the castle to bridge the gap between us and them. There is quite a bit more action in this piece than in some of the other stories, and I found myself fully engaged in the story even if I did feel I was missing some pieces (filled in, presumably if I had read the other five parts.
Filling out the magazine is an interview with Jonathan Raab, as well as a number of reviews of works that fall within the occult detective genre which makes for a nice bonus on top of the excellent fiction.
Illustration for ‘The Voice on the Moor’ by Melanie Atherton Allen
The addition of epaulets to an advertising mascot also serves to elevate their image and make them more visually appealing. These shoulder decorations draw attention to the mascot's appearance and create a sense of uniqueness. They give the mascot a distinctive and professional look, which can help them stand out in a sea of competitors. Furthermore, the presence of epaulets on an advertising mascot can help to reinforce a brand's message or values. For instance, if the mascot represents a security company, the addition of epaulets can reinforce the notion of safety and protection. If the mascot represents a luxury brand, epaulets can convey a sense of elegance and high-class status. However, it is important for brands to carefully consider the context in which they incorporate epaulets into their advertising mascots. The use of military or authority symbols can be perceived differently across cultures and may have unintended consequences. Brands should ensure that the addition of epaulets aligns with their overall marketing strategy and does not alienate or offend their target audience. In conclusion, the decision to have an advertising mascot don epaulets is a strategic one. It can help to establish authority, enhance visual appeal, and reinforce brand values. However, brands must take care to consider the cultural implications and ensure that the addition of epaulets aligns with their overall brand messaging. When executed thoughtfully, this transformation can make a lasting impact on consumers and contribute to the success of a brand's advertising campaign..
Reviews for "The Power of Perceived Authority: How Epaulets Benefit Advertising Mascots"
1. Sarah - 2/5 - I found "Advertising mascot dons epaulets" to be quite underwhelming and unoriginal. The concept of an advertising mascot dressing up in military attire seemed forced and did not make much sense to me. Additionally, the artwork and design of the mascot did not impress me either. Overall, I felt like the idea behind the ad was not executed well, and it left me feeling disappointed and uninterested.
2. John - 1/5 - "Advertising mascot dons epaulets" was a complete waste of my time. The ad lacked any creativity or substance, and I couldn't understand the purpose behind the mascot wearing epaulets. The whole concept seemed utterly bizarre and failed to capture my attention. The visuals were dull, and I felt like I was watching a poorly made amateur project. I would not recommend wasting your time on this ad.
3. Emma - 2/5 - I was left confused and unimpressed by "Advertising mascot dons epaulets." The ad didn't clearly convey any message or promote any product. The mascot wearing epaulets felt out of place and didn't add any value to the overall ad. The animation and visuals were mediocre at best, and I believe there are far better advertising campaigns out there that are more deserving of attention. Overall, it was a forgettable experience for me.