Buzz
Oscar Wilde once said, 'Life imitates Art far more than Art imitates Life.' The following examples demonstrate the truth of his statement – life can be just as bizarre, intriguing, and unexpected as fiction. While fictional works often inspire real-world imitators, these examples were chosen because they occurred independently of any fictional inspiration. They are listed in no particular order.
10. The Titanic's Sinking and The Titan's Wreck
'She was the largest vessel afloat, the pinnacle of human achievement... Unsinkable – indestructible, she was equipped with only enough lifeboats to meet the legal requirements.'
A grand luxury ship sets sail on her maiden voyage amid great celebration, only to strike an iceberg and sink. This sounds eerily familiar, but it’s not the story of the RMS Titanic. Instead, it's the plot of *The Wreck of the Titan*, a novella penned by Morgan Robertson in 1898, well over a decade before the Titanic's tragic sinking.
The parallels between the fictional Titan and the real Titanic are striking. Both were hailed as triumphs of modern engineering, proclaimed to be practically unsinkable, carried fewer lifeboats than necessary, collided with icebergs on their starboard sides, and lost nearly half their passengers. Ultimately, both the Titan and the Titanic went down in the North Atlantic Ocean on an April night.
In 1912, an updated edition of *The Wreck of the Titan* was published, increasing the Titan's weight from 45,000 tons to 70,000 tons, making it even closer to the Titanic's 66,000 tons. You can read that version here.
9. Bath Salts and Every Zombie Movie Ever
Horror enthusiasts, who began preparing for the zombie apocalypse since George Romero released his *Day of the Dead* film, found themselves vindicated in 2012.
In May 2012, a shocking video surfaced showing a man attacking and eating the face of a homeless person. The video spread across the internet, and authorities confirmed that it wasn't a hoax or a viral marketing stunt—it was actual security footage of Miami resident Rudy Eugene's assault on Ronald Poppo. Over the next few months, more disturbing cannibal stories appeared in the news.
Bath salts, a synthetic drug known to induce hallucinations and paranoia, were blamed for the so-called rise in zombie-like attacks, even though many of the alleged attackers tested negative for the drug. The Centers for Disease Control issued a statement debunking the idea of a virus or condition capable of causing zombie-like symptoms. It’s more likely that the media, driven by Poppo's attack, exaggerated the trend, linking any story involving cannibalism to the so-called 'zombie epidemic.'
But if we temporarily suspend disbelief, we have a drug that turns people into zombies, a string of bizarre attacks, and a government agency denying it all. Sounds like the plot of a zombie movie to me.
8. The WTC Collapse and Party Music
The Coup is a politically charged hip hop group from California. Known for their anti-capitalist messages, their music often critiques societal norms. This stance led to an unfortunate coincidence in 2001.
The band's fourth album, *Party Music*, was slated for release in September 2001 but was delayed until November. The reason for the delay was that the album's original cover art depicted two band members, Boots Riley and Pam the Funktress, standing in front of the World Trade Center towers just as they were exploding. Boots Riley was holding a digital tuner that appeared to be a detonator.
The photo was taken in May of that year and was meant to represent the destruction of capitalism. However, after the September 11 attacks, the image took on a far more controversial meaning. Still, The Coup remained undeterred by the controversy – Boots Riley later stated that he would have preferred to keep the original cover art as a statement against the mainstream media's narrative.
7. Jack Nicholson and *Chinatown*
The final scene of *Chinatown* is one of the most iconic in cinematic history. Private investigator Jake Gittes, portrayed by Jack Nicholson, confronts Evelyn Mulwray (Faye Dunaway) about a mysterious woman whom Evelyn claims is her sister. Gittes, who has spent the entire film chasing false leads, loses control and slaps Evelyn as she sobs, 'My sister… my daughter… she’s my sister and my daughter!' – revealing the traumatic result of the incestuous abuse Evelyn suffered at the hands of her father.
Remove the elements of rape and incest, and you find a striking parallel to Jack Nicholson’s own family history.
Nicholson was born to June Nicholson, a seventeen-year-old showgirl. June’s mother, Ethel, took on the responsibility of raising him so that June could focus on her dancing career. As a result, Nicholson grew up believing that Ethel, his grandmother, was actually his mother, and June, his biological mother, was his sister. The truth was uncovered just before the release of *Chinatown*, when a Time reporter reached out to Nicholson for confirmation. One might wonder if the reporter slapped Nicholson as he cried, 'My sister… my mother… she’s my sister and my mother!'
6. Walter White and *Breaking Bad*
*Breaking Bad* is an American TV series about Walter White, a high school teacher who is diagnosed with terminal cancer. In an attempt to secure his family's financial future, he begins manufacturing and selling methamphetamine. It just so happens that a real-life Walter White, a criminal from Tuscaloosa, Alabama, is wanted for manufacturing crystal meth. While this real Walter White isn’t a former educator, he does share one striking similarity with the fictional character—both sport beards.
5. Arthur Conan Doyle and Sherlock Holmes
In his later years, the creator of the world’s most famous detective, Sherlock Holmes, took on the role of a detective himself. Arthur Conan Doyle played a pivotal part in exonerating two men wrongfully convicted in the early 20th century. In 1903, George Edalji, a solicitor from the West Midlands, was convicted of maliciously injuring a pony and sentenced to seven years of hard labor. Conan Doyle took up the case, investigating it and ultimately concluding that Edalji had been falsely accused. He suggested that the real culprit was the son of a local butcher, though it’s important to note that this claim was based on the same type of circumstantial evidence that had led to Edalji’s conviction. Nevertheless, it led to Edalji’s exoneration.
A few years later, a German Jew named Oscar Slater, who had moved to London to avoid military service, was wrongfully convicted of murdering an elderly woman during a robbery. In 1909, he was sentenced to death, which was later commuted to life imprisonment. Three years later, Conan Doyle published *The Case of Oscar Slater*, an essay detailing flaws in the case, including the rejection of Slater’s alibi, eyewitnesses whose descriptions didn’t match Slater, and the possible bias against him due to his German and Jewish heritage. Conan Doyle also financed much of the cost for Slater’s appeal, and in 1928, Slater’s conviction was overturned.
The work done by Conan Doyle as an advocate for justice, including his efforts in various cases, contributed to the establishment of protective systems like the Court of Criminal Appeal, created in the aftermath of George Edalji’s case.
4. Jessica Ghawi and Final Destination
While it may be an overstatement to label *Final Destination* as ‘art’, the premise of the film series—that death is unavoidable and those who attempt to cheat it only delay the inevitable—seems eerily reflective of certain real-life events. One such case is that of Jessica Ghawi.
Jessica Ghawi, an aspiring sports journalist who was known professionally as Jessica Redfield, was in a Toronto mall in June 2012 when a gunman opened fire, killing a 25-year-old man and injuring seven others. In her final blog entry, she described how she initially planned to get sushi but changed her mind at the last minute, opting for a burger and fries instead. After making her purchase, she noted feeling 'funny'—a sensation strong enough to prompt her to step outside into the rain for some fresh air, instead of returning to the food court to shop at SportCheck. This decision, or perhaps mere coincidence, may have saved her life. The gunman began shooting at 6:23 p.m., just minutes after Ghawi’s 6:20 p.m. purchase. One of the victims was found in the exact spot where Ghawi would have been if she had followed through with her original plan to get sushi.
A month after relocating to Denver and interning at a local radio station, Jessica Ghawi attended the fateful midnight screening of *The Dark Knight* on July 20, 2012. Tragically, she lost her life when a gunman opened fire inside the theater. You can read her eerily prophetic blog entry here.
3. The Fall of Kevin Rudd and Campaign Ruby
In June 2010, a political shake-up led to Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd being ousted from his leadership of the Australian Labor Party by his deputy, Julia Gillard, effectively ending his time as Prime Minister. During this period, his daughter Jessica was preparing to release her debut novel, which raised eyebrows upon its publication a month later.
*Campaign Ruby* narrates the tale of a London investment banker who moves to Australia and, despite not having a working visa or even knowing who the Prime Minister is, secures a position as a financial advisor to the Leader of the Opposition. Shortly after, the female Treasurer overthrows the Prime Minister and takes on his role.
The fictional Prime Minister’s final address, written a year earlier, is nearly identical to Kevin Rudd’s own farewell speech. Both Prime Ministers deliver their speeches alongside their wives, recounting their accomplishments and offering warm words about their successors. Both cry and make light-hearted jokes, making their parting moments strangely similar.
In both versions, an early election is called. For the first time in Australian history, both male and female candidates vie for the country's highest office. However, the narratives take different turns – in Campaign Ruby, the determined heroine aids the Leader of the Opposition in securing the position, while in real life, Julia Gillard remains firmly in her role.
2. One Curious Juror and 12 Angry Men
While revered as a cinematic masterpiece, 12 Angry Men has faced criticism for its heavy reliance on speculation and circumstantial evidence. Some legal professionals have argued that the real-life scenario would have resulted in a mistrial. However, this theory was ultimately proven incorrect.
In 12 Angry Men, the story revolves around one juror who stands alone in casting a 'not guilty' vote in a seemingly straightforward murder case. He passionately works to persuade his fellow jurors to reconsider their positions based on reasonable doubt. Although the film has been criticized for its speculative elements, it remains a powerful narrative about the importance of questioning assumptions and seeking justice.
In 2008, an 18-year-old English college student stood trial for the manslaughter of a 72-year-old man. One of the jurors, defying court rules, conducted their own investigation using measurements and observations made at the actual crime scene, along with forensic techniques sourced from the internet. Despite this breach of protocol, the judge determined the case was irreparably flawed and ordered the defendant to be acquitted.
1. Jan Berry’s Accident and Dead Man’s Curve
In 1964, Jan and Dean released a ballad titled 'Dead Man’s Curve,' which recounted the tragic story of a drag race between two teenagers—one in a Corvette Sting Ray, the other in a Jaguar—who both meet their demise when their cars collide at Dead Man’s Curve on North Whittier Drive in Los Angeles. Two years later, Jan Berry himself experienced a near-fatal car crash when he crashed his Corvette into a parked car on the same stretch of road. He spent several weeks in a coma and was left with permanent brain damage.
The song 'Dead Man’s Curve' by Jan and Dean, which detailed the fatal consequences of a high-speed crash on North Whittier Drive, became tragically ironic when Jan Berry was involved in a near-fatal crash on the same street in 1966. His Corvette crashed into a parked car, resulting in serious head injuries, a coma, and lasting brain damage, turning the ballad into an eerie premonition of his own fate.
In a haunting twist to this tale, Roger Christian, who co-wrote 'Dead Man’s Curve', originally envisioned the race in the song ending in a draw. However, Jan Berry insisted that the song conclude with a crash, unknowingly creating a chilling parallel to his own fate.
