I remember reading a short story at least twenty years ago about a man who spends a lot of money to rent a hovel because there is no advertising in it. During any normal day everything advertises to him, but in this room he can find some peace. I think he risks a death sentence, though...
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1This is vaguely familiar.– Goodbye Stack ExchangeCommented Dec 24, 2011 at 21:30
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12I don't know about twenty years ago, but twenty years from now, that's probably going to be non-fiction...– John CCommented Feb 20, 2012 at 18:19
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5 Answers
I t was "The Room" I could vaguely remember the story up to where he rented the room, but then I couldn't remember the rest. Now I know that's because there was no rest.
Some time ago my wife complained about advertising and I told her we still had it pretty good, and mentioned the story I had once read. I said I'd try to find it.
Thanks Gabe Willard, and all the others who posted.
It's Ray Russell. Published in Playboy (next to an ad, I imagine) in 1961 under the title "The Room". Just read it today. Short, sweet and freaky - subliminal sleep advertising, auto-on television, in-mirror ads, ads on towels and sheets, even money... Don't wanna spoil it for you - so SPOILER!
He doesn't risk a death sentence... BUT, he gets 1984ed, because the room without ads is just a front for "rehabilitation".
Could it be 1984? The main characters rent a flat without a screen (and hence no Big Brother watching). Not advertising, but they do get up to stuff 'deserving' of the death sentence.
The theme of ubiquitous advertising was used by Ann Warren Griffith in “Captive Audience”, in which a character goes to prison to escape the advertising after earplugs are declared illegal. That story was collected in Tomorrow, Inc. I checked, but none of the stories in that book match your description.
Could it be JG Ballard's The Subliminal Man? The only detail that matches is that there's constant advertising, though.
answered Dec 24, 2011 at 23:08
