WARNING: Profanity Abounds.If there are two things in this world that can warrant my constant and wholehearted approval, they would be the Internet and profanity. Slate has done a wonderful job of illustrating the beauties of the glorious Venn diagram intersection of the two.
Using bands with explicit titles (Holy Fuck, Fucked Up, The Shitty Beatles [from Wayne’s World], etc), writer Hua Hsu explains how the Internet has given bands the outlet to circumvent regulated forms of broadcast or mainstream media that would otherwise avoid printing (or saying) their names. Artists who can create Web sites, MySpace pages and blogs are able to exist in a censor-free world, and can be quite successful in the process. Which is not only a true, but a significant fact in our current media and musical climate.
I do, however, take issue with some of Hsu’s personal views on swearing. Claiming that “profanity is the rare instance in which the worn coin of language resounds with too much power and volume” seems like a silly claim for a writer to make. As a writer type myself, it seems like words that resound with too much power and volume are the words one would want to keep around, peppering them into conversation to add emphasis. “He was really angry!” or “He was fucking angry!”? I prefer the latter (it’s got a bit more teeth).
(UPDATE: An interesting article by Roy Baumeister from Psychology Today has brought up some grammatical challenges to the cavalier use of "fucking" as an adverb in place of "really." Hence, I amend my previous point to say "He was very mad!" or "He was fucking mad!" Though, I disagree with the notion that we should conform our profanities to the workings of our language. Isn't their beauty the fact that they almost transcend the common tenets of speech? I won't hesitate to just throw swears mid-sentence [and neither should you], English be damned. On a different note, Baumeister's article was silly to me. I mean, throughout it "fuck" and all its derivative forms are written as "f**k." Is there anyone who reads that and allows the voice in their head to bleep it? I say if you're going to write an article that uses the word "fuck" around 40 times, just go all out and actually use the fucking word.)
Hsu’s point that, “this isn't to say that our mainstream cultural outlets should begin dropping f-bombs. But maybe our vigilance with regard to dirty words is misplaced—it distracts from what truly disturb us” is an interesting one—one that questions the nature of profanity in the first place. If I were to say, “Hitler’s a fuck” (which he was), it’s almost not specific or harsh enough. What actually is “a fuck?” It’s a brash reference to the conjugal arts. So Hitler was a sexual act that some would deem rather beautiful? It’s not good enough. But, if I were to say, for instance, “Hitler’s an incestuous scatophile,” it’s so much more specific and illustrative, right? But I can’t say “fuck” in a proper newspaper. And, I’m pretty sure (depending on which style book is used), I could get away with “incestuous scatophile,” though it may need further clarification (neice-fucking shit-lover [breathe it in]).
(Aside: I am starting to like the prospect of venting frustrations on straw men. For example, I think one should be able, in any forum, to reference Hitler, or Stalin (to a lesser extent), or Dustin Diamond (to a greater extent) in any pejorative terminology they deem severe enough. So, if I were to say “Stalin’s a cunt,” I should be able to without any sort of punitive repercussions. Generally accepted assholes should be referred to as such.)
I think that this entire article is a testament to Hsu’s main thesis: that we live in a world of loosened morals with regards to what is and isn’t profane. I have no guilt about unleashing a stream of curse words online, because the fact of the matter is, with the Internet, any profanity, expletive, or well-articulated description of a former despot’s (or cunt’s, whichever you prefer) sexual fetishes, you can find an embed-able video featuring a live recreation of that profanity.
(Note: That last part wasn’t completely true. I have not yet been able to find an embed-able video of near-relatives shitting on each other. If you find one, tip me off and I’ll embed it.)
-E.
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