History Main / PopCultureSymbology

* ''Webcomic:AwfulHospital'': More than once, the history and plans of the Parliament are shown in the form of eerie children's picture books, one of which is a twisted parody of ''Literature/TheVeryHungryCaterpillar''.

* ''{{Webcomic/Homestuck}}'': The cute and adorable Squiddles franchise is an in-universe direct allegory or interpretation of the [[EldritchAbomination Horrorterrors from the Furthest Ring]].

* Proponents of the theory that [=Paul McCartney=] died in 1966 and was replaced by a double like to find hidden meaning in Music/TheBeatles' songs and images on album covers. In the most severe cases — in those issued before 1966.

* Proponents of the theory that Paul [=McCartney=] died in 1966 and was replaced by a double like to find hidden meaning in Music/TheBeatles' songs and images on album covers. In the most severe cases — in those issued before 1966.

* Proponents of the theory that Paul [=McCartney=] died in 1966 and was replaced by a double like to find hidden meaning in Music/TheBeatles' songs and images on album covers. In the most severe cases — in those issued before 1966.

* Proponents of the theory that Paul McCartney died in 1966 and was replaced by a double like to find hidden meaning in Music/TheBeatles' songs and images on album covers. In the most severe cases — in those issued before 1966.

* ''Proponents of the theory of Paul McCartneys death in 1966 and his replacement by a double like to find hidden meaning in The Beatles' songs and images on album covers. In the most severe cases — in those issued before 1966.

* ''Proponents of the theory of Paul McCartney's death in 1966 and his replacement by a double like to find hidden meaning in The Beatles' songs and images on album covers. In the most severe cases — in those issued before 1966.

[[folder:Real Life]]
* ''Proponents of the theory of Paul McCartney's death in 1966 and his replacement by a double like to find hidden meaning in The Beatles' songs and images on album covers. In the most severe cases — in those issued before 1966.

[[folder:real life]]

[[folder:real life

This trope refers to storylines in which a modern trademark or a work of popular culture (especially a lighthearted/comical one, like a children's cartoon or a video game) is revealed to contain mystical or conspirological symbolism (it may be either real-life media or a ShowWithinAShow). For instance, imagine that one of the Scooby-Doo monsters symbolizes a real-life EldritchAbomination, and the episode dedicated to it shows an actual summoning ritual. Or imagine that the trading cards you used to collect as a child contain clues on finding the Holy Grail.

* Viktor Pelevin's novels almost entirely consist of this trope. For instance, ''[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Generation_P Generation "П"]]'' involves the goddess Ishtar whose corporeal form consists of the totality of advertising images.

* ''Series/EerieIndiana'': In the episode ''The Broken Record'', an [[AbusiveParents abusive father]] blames his son's [[TheQuincyPunk decision to become a punk]] on Satanic Panic and this trope, with one record in specific (the one that provides the title, which was found by the kid shortly before changing attitudes) being the symbol of his hatred. He plays it backwards at the climax of the episode in front of many fellow parents and even the sheriff, and it ''do'' has a secret message in it, all right: [[AccidentalPublicConfession a recording of his abusive tirades to his son]].

[[folder:Film]]
* ''Film/UnderTheSilverLake'' lives and breathes this trope: the protagonist, an amateur detective, attempts to solve a mystery by finding clues in pop music played backwards, video game magazines, and images on cereal boxes. Surprisingly, he succeeds in finding the answer... [[ThroughTheEyesOfMadness or does he]]?

[[folder: Web Comics]]

[[folder:Live Action TV]]
* ''Series/EerieIndiana'': In the episode ''The Broken Record'', an [[AbusiveParents abusive father]] blames his son's [[TheQuincyPunk decision to become a punk]] on Satanic Panic and this trope, with one record in specific (the one that provides the title, which was found by the kid shortly before changing attitudes) being the symbol of his hatred. He plays it backwards at the climax of the episode in front of many fellow parents and even the sheriff, and it ''do'' has a secret message in it, all right: [[AccidentalPublicConfession a recording of his abusive tirades to his son]].
* In ''Series/AmazingStories'', the episode ''Go To The Head Of The Class'' features a necromantic spell hidden on lyrics of Michael Jackson's ''Thriller'' - in order to hear it, you need to play an LP of the song backwards.
[[/folder]]

!! Examples

[[AC:Literature]]

[[AC:Film]]

[[AC:Video Games]]

[[AC: Web Comics]]

[[AC:Live Action TV]]

* In ''Series/AmazingStories'', the episode ''Go To The Head Of The Class'' features a necromantic spell hidden on lyrics of Michael Jackson's ''Thriller'' - in order to hear it, you need to play an LP of the song backwards.

* Viktor Pelevin's novels almost entirely consist of this trope. For instance, ''[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Generation_"П" Generation "П"]]'' involves the goddess Ishtar whose corporeal form consists of the totality of advertising images.

* Viktor Pelevin's novels almost entirely consist of this trope. For instance, ''[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Generation_"П" Generation "П"]]'' involves the goddess Ishtar whose corporeal form consists of the totality of advertising images.

* Viktor Pelevin's novels almost entirely consist of this trope. For instance, ''[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Generation_П Generation П]]'' involves the goddess Ishtar whose corporeal form consists of the totality of advertising images.

* Viktor Pelevin's novels almost entirely consist of this trope. For instance, ''[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Generation_%22%D0%9F%22 Generation_%22%D0%9F%22]]'' involves the goddess Ishtar whose corporeal form consists of the totality of advertising images.

* Viktor Pelevin's novels almost entirely consist of this trope. For instance, ''[[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Generation_%22%D0%9F%22 Babylon]]'' involves the goddess Ishtar whose corporeal form consists of the totality of advertising images.

* ''{{Webcomic/Homestuck}}'': The cute and adorable Squiddles franchise is an in-universe direct allegory or interpretation of the [[EldritchAbomination Horrerterrors from the Furthest Ring]].

* ''{{Homestuck}}'': The cute and adorable Squiddles franchise is an in-universe direct allegory or interpretation of the [[EldritchAbomination Horrerterrors from the Furthest Ring]].