FORSTRONG - 2023 SuperTrends

The inspiration for this year’s Super Trends report came from Franz Kafka’s 1915 novel, The Metamorphosis, a fictional tale that bounces back and forth between reality and the surreal. The story begins with salesman, Gregory Samsa, waking up to discover that he has overslept, missed his train and — stay with us — mysteriously transformed into an oversized insect-like creature, complete with an armor-plated back and domelike brown belly. Initially, Samsa is convinced his condition is temporary. Everyone is shocked by his new appearance. Samsa struggles with his new body, sustaining a serious injury while trying to squeeze himself through a doorway. Yet, reluctantly over time, the protagonist begins to reflect and ponder on the consequences of his transformation. Of course, the entire story is an absurd premise, much like Kafka’s other works which relish in playing with outrageous metaphors. But Kafka’s writing has captivated millions of readers precisely because his bizarre distortions often mirror reality in a way where parallels are easily drawn.