Posted by mist on April 6, 2002, at 10:15:34
In reply to Dying Words, posted by Shar on April 5, 2002, at 23:53:55
Shar,
In response to something else you said, I couldn't consider anything pertaining to artists as a whole (to the exclusion of other types of people) elitist because I don't consider artists an elite. The way I understand it, elite means a group with more power, influence, resources, and privileges than most of society, that excludes others from these advantages based on the fact that they aren't part of the elite (in other words, for no good reason).
Most artists I've known (and they are mainly poets and other writers) don't have much money, influence or power. They give up a lot because they make their art a priority and because many of the things that mainstream society demands of people to survive (cubicle jobs, etc.) are to them a robbing of their identity (although some do these things anyway--but at a cost to their mental health).
The reason I brought up the artistic nature in connection with swearing is that some writers use four letter words as part of their art or general self-expression in writing, because they convey what the writer wishes to convey better than another word would.
> I read this bit of information, but I don't remember where. I suppose it could be an urban legend or something of that nature since I can't cite the source.
>
> Anyhow, some person or group took the time to find out the most commonly used last words recorded on black boxes when planes were going down, crashing. They were "oh, shit" and "oh, god."
>
> Obviously, four-letter words are very expressive for some people.
>
> And...the asterisks? It's like a convention or custom, not much more. Sort of like cleaning up language when kids are around, or one is using one's manners (ie, a formal occasion). I KNOW some people swear no matter where they are and will never stop, and that's fine, too.
>
> I have a tiny, little, itty bitty, teeny weeny, microscopic problem when swearing is related to having an artistic nature. It sounded just a tiny, little, itty bitty, teeny weeny, microscopically elitist, IMHO, of course. And that's fine, too. Nobody here has to write to please me. I guess we all write to please (or at least not catch the attention of) Dr. Bob.
>
> I suppose if I related swearing to anything in one's nature, it would be passion. Or being passionate about an issue in one way or another. And passion.....well, it can be seen in the general population, and not seen in some artists.
>
> I will confess that I have heard the 'artistic nature' explanation MANY times; too many times. Generally, the way me/myself/I have heard it used is to excuse in an individual something that would be rude if anybody else did it.
>
> Shar
poster:mist
thread:3683
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/admin/20020308/msgs/3934.html