"gay" redux

[Jonathan Lighter]

> I find it unlikely that they'd be playing such sub rosa games with a
film's title.

Certain "cultural theorists" would be quick to point out that that's "just
your opinion." And one of the rules is that any opinion is better than any
other opinion identified as "just your opinion." Another rule is that any
far-fetched possibility is more interesting than a mundane one, and
therefore more "likely" because more fun to argue.

But maybe those days are coming to an end. I certainly hope so.

JL


On Mon, Oct 29, 2012 at 5:34 PM, Dave Wilton <dave at wilton.net> wrote:

> ---------------------- Information from the mail header
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> Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> Poster:       Dave Wilton <dave at WILTON.NET>
> Subject:      Re: "gay" redux
>
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> It's unlikely the screenwriter would have chosen the title. Unlike the
> dialogue, the title would almost certainly have been chosen by the studio's
> marketing department. I find it unlikely that they'd be playing such sub
> rosa games with a film's title.
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: American Dialect Society [mailto:ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU] On Behalf
> Of
> Jonathan Lighter
> Sent: Monday, October 29, 2012 2:16 PM
> To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
> Subject: Re: "gay" redux
>
> But maybe he's in the closet. Then the title would be the screenwriter's
> way
> of outing him. Then the title would mean he's gay, even if he's not gay in
> the movie. Then somebody can cite the title as an early ex. of gay.
>
> JL
>
> On Mon, Oct 29, 2012 at 2:06 PM, Joel S. Berson <Berson at att.net> wrote:
>
> > ---------------------- Information from the mail header
> > -----------------------
> > Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> > Poster:       "Joel S. Berson" <Berson at ATT.NET>
> > Subject:      Re: "gay" redux
> >
> > ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> > ---------
> >
> > At 10/29/2012 02:01 PM, Jonathan Lighter wrote:
> > >I've seen it. He's not gay.
> > >
> > >JL
> >
> > No, I suppose one would not ever call George Sanders "gay".
> > "Debonair", perhaps.
> >
> > Joel
> >
> >
> > >On Mon, Oct 29, 2012 at 1:52 PM, Joel S. Berson <Berson at att.net> wrote:
> > >
> > > > ---------------------- Information from the mail header
> > > > -----------------------
> > > > Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> > > > Poster:       "Joel S. Berson" <Berson at ATT.NET>
> > > > Subject:      "gay" redux
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > ----------------------------------------------------------------------
> > ---------
> > > >
> > > > OK, Jon, you didn't accept "Bringing Up Baby".  What about "The
> > > > Gay Falcon", 1941, starring George Sanders and Wendy Barrie?  (I
> > > > haven't watched it, so all I have is the title.)
> > > >
> > > > :-)
> > > > Joel
> > > >
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