[Ads-l] actualism

[Laurence Horn]

> On Jul 7, 2020, at 1:11 PM, Jonathan Lighter <wuxxmupp2000 at GMAIL.COM> wrote:
> 
> Nonce?  'Extreme authenticity in a docudrama enhanced by the casting of
> participants in the actual event and meticulous attention to documentary
> detail.'
> 
> Rod Lurie, director of  _The Outpost_ (2020)
> https://www.sarahsbackstagepass.com/interview-with-rod-lurie-director-the-outpost/
> :
> 
> Yes, Daniel Rodriguez, a Specialist at the time of the battle, was in the
> mortar pit during the fighting in 2009 and played himself in the movie.
> Through his experience, we were able to recreate everything that he did on
> that day, including his best friend’s death. It was a really, really tough
> [thing] for him to do, but it added a brilliant authenticity. I’d like to
> say that our film doesn’t have naturalism, it has actualism, and that’s
> really what we were going for.
> 
> Not to be confused with established kinds of "actualism.”
> 
Although this is an instance of syntagmatic priming; I suspect “actualism” wouldn’t have popped up here (or elsewhere with the same meaning) if it weren’t in immediate local contrast with the preceding “naturalism”.  That seems to be a feature of much nonce innovation, e.g. innovative -ee words primed by an earlier occurrence of an -er form, a new un-verb (or un-noun) primed by an earlier use of the same base, etc.  Examples:

“My double position of fucker and fuckee soon drove me almost mad with delight.   —first cite (1888) for “fuckee”, J. Sheidlower, _The F Book_

"You’ve been cursed. And without getting too technical, I’m here to uncurse you.”  —“Monk”, 9.23.09  

“They eat and then they uneat”.   —Monk on drawbacks of owning dogs, 9.30.09  

The English noses in their shapes and unshapes.   —Carlyle, 1848, via OED cite 

Granted, “actualism” isn’t quite a jocular as some of the others, but that’s not a crucial factor.  

LH  





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