I wanted to keep this blog only for writing related topics. But I think this comes under that heading.
I didn't think I was a prude. I've been known to use the "F" word on occasion - if I felt the occasion warranted it. I realize the reliance on profanity shows the speaker to be lazy and perhaps the owner of a limited vocabulary, but sometimes ya just gotta.
I grew up on the tail-end of bra and draft card burning. I'm all for free speech, live and let lie (insert fingers making a peace sign here), etc. But lately some of the free speech has gotten a little too free. Certain words have slipped into the everyday vernacular of TV shows - and those that are on during 'family time'. Words that you wouldn't utter in the presence of your maiden aunt or children are now being spouted by a lot of people (maybe even a maiden aunt or two), and quite possibly the children. 'Suck' was one of the first ones to slip into daily usage. He sucks. She sucks. That sucks. This sucks. No one bats an eye.
The other day in the car I heard a sound bite from a new movie, Dilemma, with Kevin James, Vince Vaughn and Queen Latifah, and it was Queen Latifah who gave voice to the sound bite - I'm paraphrasing - she said something about 'Woman (or lady) wood.' At the time I thought, Wow, some scriptwriter thinks they're pretty hip and cool and aiming down to 'the kids'. I was disappointed in Queen Latifah, thinking she's got enough clout to say she didn't want to say something that crude. I guess making reference to a certain wetness isn't enough to get the point across. Hey, we're all friends here, kidding with the guys...
The Monday night following the Golden Globes (where we had to see a Cheshire Cat grinning Natalie Portman proudly proclaim her baby daddy (another stupid expression) always wants to have sex with her - her wee joke at his line in the Black Swan movie where his character says he wouldn't want to have sex with her character - said so proudly with her parents looking on, and her baby bump visible for all to see. She was acting the hell out of that 'I'm the first woman to be in love and pregnant' novelty phase. [p.s. her baby daddy was living with another woman when he hooked up w/Natalie. As Wendy Williams aptly put it - he locked it down - attaching himself to a star.) there was a young VJ on VH1 (I think) who used Queen Latifah's soundbite as her own in reference to someone she felt warranted it (God, I hope it wasn't Justin Bieber!). She felt the need to share w/her co-VJ and the viewing world that she had some 'lady wood'. Her co-VJ leaned forward and to his left to check out the front of her skirt and said, "Oh, is that what that is?" Whereupon she moved her hands to cover her 'lady wood' and asked, "Is it showing?"
OK, I'm not gonna ask, "Is it me, or what?" 'cause I know it's not just me. I did a little informal survey (20-60 year olds) and the verdict is, yeah, crass, gross, unfunny, and even awkward. Joke around with your peers but don't talk like a jerk on TV. I'm guessing this new catch phrase will be catching on and filling the airwaves. I just don't wanna hear Betty White saying it.
Andy Rooney move over.
I didn't think I was a prude. I've been known to use the "F" word on occasion - if I felt the occasion warranted it. I realize the reliance on profanity shows the speaker to be lazy and perhaps the owner of a limited vocabulary, but sometimes ya just gotta.
I grew up on the tail-end of bra and draft card burning. I'm all for free speech, live and let lie (insert fingers making a peace sign here), etc. But lately some of the free speech has gotten a little too free. Certain words have slipped into the everyday vernacular of TV shows - and those that are on during 'family time'. Words that you wouldn't utter in the presence of your maiden aunt or children are now being spouted by a lot of people (maybe even a maiden aunt or two), and quite possibly the children. 'Suck' was one of the first ones to slip into daily usage. He sucks. She sucks. That sucks. This sucks. No one bats an eye.
The other day in the car I heard a sound bite from a new movie, Dilemma, with Kevin James, Vince Vaughn and Queen Latifah, and it was Queen Latifah who gave voice to the sound bite - I'm paraphrasing - she said something about 'Woman (or lady) wood.' At the time I thought, Wow, some scriptwriter thinks they're pretty hip and cool and aiming down to 'the kids'. I was disappointed in Queen Latifah, thinking she's got enough clout to say she didn't want to say something that crude. I guess making reference to a certain wetness isn't enough to get the point across. Hey, we're all friends here, kidding with the guys...
The Monday night following the Golden Globes (where we had to see a Cheshire Cat grinning Natalie Portman proudly proclaim her baby daddy (another stupid expression) always wants to have sex with her - her wee joke at his line in the Black Swan movie where his character says he wouldn't want to have sex with her character - said so proudly with her parents looking on, and her baby bump visible for all to see. She was acting the hell out of that 'I'm the first woman to be in love and pregnant' novelty phase. [p.s. her baby daddy was living with another woman when he hooked up w/Natalie. As Wendy Williams aptly put it - he locked it down - attaching himself to a star.) there was a young VJ on VH1 (I think) who used Queen Latifah's soundbite as her own in reference to someone she felt warranted it (God, I hope it wasn't Justin Bieber!). She felt the need to share w/her co-VJ and the viewing world that she had some 'lady wood'. Her co-VJ leaned forward and to his left to check out the front of her skirt and said, "Oh, is that what that is?" Whereupon she moved her hands to cover her 'lady wood' and asked, "Is it showing?"
OK, I'm not gonna ask, "Is it me, or what?" 'cause I know it's not just me. I did a little informal survey (20-60 year olds) and the verdict is, yeah, crass, gross, unfunny, and even awkward. Joke around with your peers but don't talk like a jerk on TV. I'm guessing this new catch phrase will be catching on and filling the airwaves. I just don't wanna hear Betty White saying it.
Andy Rooney move over.
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