Monday, October 18, 2021

Keeping Pokémon Cities Weird

Those who have a lot of knowledge about cities in the US will know that some cities have a "keep (city) weird" campaign that is intended to raise awareness of local businesses and thereby support those cities. The campaigns are quite popular, so much so that some cities around the world have adopted their own versions of the campaign with more or less the same intent. Being a Pokémon fan, I can't help but think that the same campaigns could be applied to cities in the Pokémon world. The campaigns can have the same spirits even if they may be different in their relationships to the cities of concern.

Cities with large marketplaces or malls can be the ones to retain the original spirit of the campaigns the closest. Of these, the standouts would be Celadon City and Goldenrod City with their large malls, being characteristic of those cities. These are places where people, both locals and visitors, go to purchase the things they need for their Pokémon and more. Doing so allows them to support the establishment, which then supports the city in some manner. These are the premises of the real-world campaigns, even if they are delivered in a tongue-in-cheek manner. In this way, the campaigns can still have the same spirit.

And then there are those cities and even towns for which the "weird" spirit applies differently. Lavender Town would be par for the course with its Lavender Tower, and similarly for Ecruteak City, though the latter might be considered "heritage" in part, as is Sootopolis City. Fortree City has a unique way of getting around that might fit the "weird" descriptor in some respects. Then there are the "sister cities" of Mauville City and Luminose City, which by today are known for their esoteric structures yet wonderful local people and places. Despite these "weird" qualities, the campaigns might still be applied to them in addition to its true spirit.

It is apparent that although the real-world city campaigns themselves possess the "weird" qualifier, their ultimate objectives are anything but, and can be considered noble instead. That would explain their lasting and even widespread popularity. The cities (and towns) of the Pokémon world only have a popularity under the umbrella of the widespread popularity of the entire franchise, but that popularity might suit their environments for the campaigns to take hold. At that point, the weirdness may just be only in the eyes of the beholder and the people and Pokémon stand to benefit from them.

Two years ago: October (on the) Road
Four years ago: Second Remakes?

No comments:

Post a Comment

Hi folks! Feel free to comment, but know that I'll be selecting only the most appropriate and relevant comments to appear. Think before you post.