The BMW Crop Circle

BMW Crop Circle

Demonstrating the international nature of the crop circle phenomenon, a circle appeared in a field of rye located outside of Johannesburg, South Africa during the first week of February 1993.

The South African media speculated excitedly about whether it was the work of a UFO. Newspapers and TV and radio shows all discussed it, fanning interest in the phenomenon. Popular curiosity grew until February 14, when a small detail was pointed out that had previously escaped almost everyone's notice: the circle formed a BMW logo.

The circle turned out to be the work of the Hunt Lascaris ad agency, working on behalf of BMW. TV commercials soon followed, showing aerial views of the circle accompanied by the tag-line, "Perhaps there is intelligent life out there after all." All in all, Hunt Lascaris reckoned that it garnered over $1 million worth of free publicity from the stunt.

Sneaker Pimps Crop Circle

In July 1997 a similar event occurred in Warwickshire, England when a circle appeared that displayed the logo of a popular band, the Sneaker Pimps, who just happened to be playing in a festival nearby. No one ever took credit for this formation, but if it wasn't a public relations hoax, then it had to be chalked up to aliens with a mischievous sense of humor.

References/Further Reading:

• Kathleen Barnes, "Close encounter is of the BMW kind," Advertising Age (March 15, 1993).

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Text copyright © 2002 Alex Boese