A 20-year-old masked man patrols the town square in Columbia, Tennessee. He calls himself ‘The Viper,’ carries batons and ninja stars, and wears a face covering in defiance of the town’s ‘no mask’ ordinance.
The townsfolk aren’t sure what do-gooder good he’s doing, but some speculate he may be out to defend the town’s mules -- Columbia, Tennessee is the ‘Mule Capital of the World,’ after all. Be that as it may, the police aren’t impressed. They just want The Viper to go home.
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- Citizen Vigilantes
- Opportunities to create business models for public safety through crowd-sourcing and DIY community policing.
- Superhero Culture
- Opportunities to leverage fictional superhero narratives for marketing, entertainment, and merchandise.
- Anti-establishment Activism
- Opportunities to create political messaging and unconventional campaigns targeting the current social and political climate.
Where This Applies
- Home Security
- Business models that promote DIY home security systems through crowd-sourcing and community-based neighborhood watch programs.
- Entertainment
- Branding and merchandising opportunities for fictional superhero narratives, including games, comics, and collectibles.
- Politics
- Campaigns and messaging that leverage anti-establishment activism for political strategy and unconventional outreach methods.
