Circle 6/6/06 on calendar
PIET LEVY
RELIGION NEWS SERVICE
Beware June 6, 2006: The apocalypse, the Antichrist, death metal and Ann Coulter will all be among us.
The numerical translation for this year's June 6 bears an eerie resemblance to 666, an infamous digit known as the mark of the beast or Antichrist in the Book of Revelation.
Marketing campaigns, sensing a chance to boost profits and stir up buzz, have taken notice.
From a remake of the satanic horror film The Omen to U.S. conservative pundit Ann Coulter's new book about "godless liberals," from the latest edition of the Christian apocalyptic book series "Left Behind" to some new death metal albums, they're all claiming 6/6/06 as their own.
"It's one big marketing ploy," said Robert Thompson, professor of popular culture at Syracuse University. "It is so deliciously clever as to really kind of merit (people) talking about it."
The eye-catching marketing campaign for 20th Century Fox's remake of The Omen first grabbed the public's attention about the date. Ominous posters and billboards featuring reading "6.6.06" started showing up this spring. The posters feature a variety of creepy slogans rolled out over several weeks: "The Signs Are All Around You," "You Have Been Warned" and "Heed The Omen."
All of the catch phrases actually were used when the original Omen came out in 1976, said Kevin Campbell, executive vice-president of marketing and strategy for 20th Century Fox. But the film's marketing campaign, and its unorthodox Tuesday release in order to make the 6/6/06 date stick, is original.
"For the big summer movies ... you become so conditioned to seeing the same kind of advertising," Campbell said. "There's nothing about the marketing of this movie that is typical."
Tuesdays are often used for book and CD releases, but the June 6 release date this year lends irony to some new products.
Ann Coulter's book Godless: The Church of Liberalism, is being released that day by Crown Forum. Coulter said in a Fox News interview last month the release date is her "little tribute to liberals." Nevertheless, Crown Publisher Steve Ross said in a statement that June 6 was chosen before the book had a working title.
On the music side, David Lee Roth releases the cheekily named "Strummin' With the Devil," a bluegrass tribute to Van Halen. Death metal is also having a banner day, with the releases of albums like Allegiance by As Blood Runs Black and The Stench of Redemption by Deicide. And major death metal act Slayer will be out on its "Unholy Alliance Tour: Preaching to the Perverted," playing in San Diego on the big date.
California is also the site of a major religious event that day, sponsored by The Church of Satan.
The group is hosting a satanic high Mass at a sold-out Steve Allen Theatre in Los Angeles. Members also will be soaking up death metal and noshing on sushi at the "Rockin' 666 Eve" on June 5, sponsored by Chicago's Radio Free Satan.
"We are simply taking advantage of this unique date which the public fears because of Christian mythology as promoted by Hollywood hypesters," Church of Satan High Priest Peter H. Gilmore wrote in an email.
He added, "Let's all have a hell of a good time that day!"
There's even one group that is taking deliberate steps to avoid 06-06-06 ? expectant mothers. The Sunday Times in London reported in April that mothers-to-be have been gossiping about the potential due date on the Mother and Baby website. One woman was so concerned she booked a doctor's appointment to ensure her baby won't be born on that day.
Some aren't so worried, like a pair of mothers who said they would name their babies Damien and Regan, after the demonic children featured in The Omen and The Exorcist.
Source: http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/Conten ... 0599119419
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