Name-dropping/Pop Culture References in Stories

i saw sparks:

My stance on name-dropping is if you can still read and comprehend the message and plot of the story without the reference, then it isn't needed.

Couldn't that go for any detail? You could probably understand the message and plot of a story without a particular bit of backstory or anecdote, but that doesn't make the inclusion of it unnecessary. The way a story is told and the meaning of it don't have to be all inclusive.

dru found the cure:

i saw sparks:

My stance on name-dropping is if you can still read and comprehend the message and plot of the story without the reference, then it isn't needed.

Couldn't that go for any detail? You could probably understand the message and plot of a story without a particular bit of backstory or anecdote, but that doesn't make the inclusion of it unnecessary. The way a story is told and the meaning of it don't have to be all inclusive.

I think that if the reference doesn't enhance the story, then it shouldn't be added. Most things in creative writing aren't necessary, but they do make reading more interesting or add something to the piece. I think those "extra" bits and pieces are what makes creative writing fun to read and create.

Has anyone here read High Fidelity or Fever Pitch by Nick Hornby?

They're about how the protagonist relates all stages of his life to music/football. Pop Culture references are rife, and I personally thinks it works really well. Not particularly subtle, but it really gives you a feel of the character.

I've name dropped a couple times, but only when it adds something to the plot and characters. I have a character who is obsessed with romance movies, so she's often referencing them to other people. Other than that, I don't name drop all that often, I don't think.

I feel like people do far too much unnecessary name-dropping under the guise of character development, especially when it comes to mentioning different bands, songs, albums, and whatever. I can't stand that overused scene of hipster/scene/punk girl getting dressed listening to x song by y band and wearing z band tee. Those sort of things feel like too much at one time, and a lot of times, to me, it comes across as the author just finding a way to include the things that they like.

I've also seen a lot of the opposite: characters ranting about pop culture things (generally Twilight) to the point where it's just annoying and you can tell that it's more of the author bitching than actual character development.

I also get really annoyed when authors constantly spout off designer clothing labels. I think it becomes superficial. I've read a good share of published novels about characters who were models and the fashion industry, and even those novels didn't do as much label-dropping as I've seen in online fics that didn't even involve the fashion industry.

I feel like I appreciate the subtle allusions to a film, song, or artist more than I do the flat-out name dropping. I also don't consider things like iPods, iPhones, Blackberries, etc to be a name-dropping. It sounds a helluva lot more natural to say "I was listening to my iPod" than it does to say "I was listening to my mp3 player," or at least it does to me.

For me, I think it's something that really depends on the story. Like does it fit the tone? The narration style? Stuff like that. I don't think I ever do it when writing in third person stories because I try to keep my tone at least semi-formal on those and for some reason making references like that feel like they break that for me. I don't do it often, but I think I do it in first person though, depending if it's something that that character/narrator would do, of course. I don't mind it in reading as long as it doesn't feel forced, excessive, or inappropriate for that story.

I name-drop to be more specific. Like instead of "They watched a movie together", I might say "They spent their Halloween watching the Saw franchise." Or "she ordered a tall latte from starbucks" instead of "She bought a coffee".

It doesn't really bother me as long as it's not in every sentence. I think it's important to keep up with the times.

It's all about moderation for me when I'm writing. Just like when I'm reading a story, I expect a few namedropping
moments / pop culture references. Sure, sometimes it shows how dated a piece is but I'm usually into that type of nostalgic
"back in the day" feel to it. It typically doesn't make me like the story any less, so it doesn't bother me too much incorporating
the same in my stories as long as the context deems it appropriate.

I use it if it helps set a tone or helps set the setting. For example, saying that a character likes Amon Tobin, Allen Ginsburg, real leather shoes, Lars von Trier films, hand rolled cigarettes, and Tieguanyin tea is a very different character from one who likes Instagram, printed leggings, Sephora, Starbucks skinny vanilla lattes, volleyball, and Jack Daniels.

You gotta' spread it out though,a nd only name drop something if it makes sense in context. Don't just clump them all together.

Name-dropping in moderation, yes. For the record, though, a character saying "I was listening to my mp3 player" might actually be listening to an mp3 player. Not an iPod. I think a lot of people are too used to one particular brand name and they associate everything like it with it instead of actually realizing it's one brand and one brand only.

I haven't seen too many times when name-dropping was actually necessary, and I think most of the time when I see it it's to describe a band/musician's sound. Like here is x band who sounds just like Fall Out Boy.

I'm happy to say I haven't seen nearly as much unnecessary name-dropping as of late, which either means that the trend is gone or I've just been reading more grown up stories It's anyone's guess.

Like a handful of other people said, it depends on the author's motives. Mentioning it in passing is fine by me, but going into detail about what generation iPod/iPhone or whatever the character has is too much for me. For some reason, it peeves me a good amount. Jokes referring to pop culture doesn't bother me, either, because I do try to avoid name-dropping but my characters tend to make sarcastic jokes having something to do with the current times. Unless it's my newest story which is based in the late 90's, so those jokes/pop culture references will be outdated on purpose.

Really, though, I try to avoid name-dropping when it comes to my writing. I don't mind when others do it, but when the author is trying to force it on the reader, then it becomes a problem. I also don't like when it comes out of left field; as in the sudden name-drop or pop culture reference doesn't fit with the rest of the story. Some authors tend to give the readers the wrong impression when it comes to era because of the speech or characters or clothing, then suddenly: SMARTPHONE. It's kind of like Bates Motel. I hate the fact that they use smartphones and current technology because everything else about the show feels old, like in the 60's or something.