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Subject: Re: Cocktails as a fashion statement
From: Spellbinder
Posted: Mon Aug 28. 2006, 18:26 UTC
Followup to: "Re: Cocktails as a fashion statement"  by apetail  (Mon Aug 28. 2006, 17:42 UTC)
I fully agree with the theory you have, and I want to add that this is very 
much a pattern of human behavior.  This same phenomenon exists and extends to 
all things that can experience trends.

In the software development community it was called buzzwords; XML, B2B, SOAP, 
Web Services, etc.

In Flair bartending, it was the latest move...Once somebody mastered Bumps, 
Juggling of one more object, or a new transition...everybody had to do it.

Hollywood uses formulas, where each year 2-3 subjects will become the theme 
for the major releases (Deep Impact and Armageddon for example).  This year is 
about the mysitcal/ghost slasher movies.  Sometimes it's also about the latest 
special effect, like the "Bullet-Time" effect from the Matrix.

Even televised (non-)"sports" have their trends.  I think we all know that the 
World Series of Poker only has a couple more years before it becomes the 1am 
slot on ESPN 8 "The Ocho!" :)

Naturally drink recipes will fall into this same habit, especially given the 
elitism that comes with them.  Invariably there will be people who are also 
looking to push this effect as far as possible, hoping to make a name for 
themselves.  I've heard it said many times about many products, "It's not 
about the quality of the product, or even how useful it is; it's about the 
marketting."

Also, there is an unusual Supply-and-Demand effect.  The proletariat wants a 
trend to follow, the swanky club wants a celebrity to mimic, the celebrity 
needs unique or rare things to show off, and the "mixologist" needs a drink 
that will have mass appeal.  A single drink is enough to fill each need, but 
it's absorbed by each level and the nature of the drink is changed so that the 
next layer down can then absorb it.

-- 
Cody


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