Dukk Rogers; An Explanation Behind the Fictitious Phenomena

At the beginning of summer 2009, 30 Seconds to Mars began a viral campaign to promote their new album "This Is War." http://thisisthehive.net/thisiswar/ Part of this campaign included creating a kyte channel that let fans chat and discuss the album amongst themselves and the band, as well as keeping the fans up to date.

Later, in response to the fans constant budging, 30 Seconds to Mars did the first Myspace Live Chat. It is here, that a powerful symbolic persona is born. The yellow rubber chicken later known as DUKK ROGERS.

It was on kyte, that a group of fans and I (Marlene Rios) decided to name this yellow rubber chicken DUKK ROGERS. I came up with the name, and was therefor majorly responsible for this persona. It was between me and Cheri that we decided to create numerous social networks for DUKK to reach out on.

Twitter, was the obvious first one. It was soon after the first few tweets from DUKK had come out that we realized in order for people to give him any credibility, and allow him to play such a crucial role in the organization of the echelon. . . we could NOT be DUKK. In other words, it had to stay secret.

Had the majority known, that a 15 year old girl was writing and organizing such attempts, from day 1. As a mass, most would've turned their backs and continued on with their days.

Throughout the summer, this decision remained, and influenced a large part of the phenomena that was DUKK ROGERS,as well as TOMOS BEARD and SHANNONS GOAT .

LET ME SAY THIS right now, I DID NOT EVER KNOW THE IDENTITY OF WHOMEVER WAS RUNNING TOMOSBEARD AND SHANNONS GOAT. And I ask, that we respect their privacy and allow them to continue anonymously.

My decision to terminate the DUKK ROGERS persona, was my own, and I deliberated it heavily. I knew that while it would've been ideal to continue on with DUKK ROGERS, it was simply becoming impossible, and unrealistic. DUKK was wanted constantly, and because he was a "fictional person" a schedule, or routine seemed irrelevant. DUKK needed to be everywhere at everytime. Something, that as the school year was approaching I could no longer do.

It was no longer something I could do out of recreation, it became about meeting demands.

And although, I am sad about being unable to continue as DUKK ROGERS. I'm sure most of you will agree, it's been nice finally meeting you.

So, all of that being said.

MY NAME is Marlene Rios,

and it's nice to finally meet you.
Face to Face, so to speak.