Street language and slang give a vibrant snapshot of any era, shifting in response to popular songs, slogans, and catchphrases. They illuminate a decade’s moods and vogues, a certain group’s tastes, a rich moment of communication. In the present time, our clichés appear to be nothing more than mundane clichés but looking back at the jargon of the 20th century in theUS, even the … [Read more...] about New Slang: Colloquialisms of the 1900s
Archives for 2012
Incest and Innocence
A primary facet of the American literacy consciousness is the ideal of American innocence and the tragic consequences if that innocence is lost. Yet many American authors remain deeply troubled by the role of sexuality within that conception of American identity, and more importantly, the role of those desires that have been deemed deviant. When Vladimir Nabokov first … [Read more...] about Incest and Innocence
Strangers in a Strange Land
By Amy Schilit You shall not wrong a stranger or oppress him, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt – Exodus 22:21 Last Passover, as I was walking in Jaffa, I passed a theatrical demonstration against the government’s treatment of plitim. Intrigued and confused about the meaning of the word, I walked through the demonstration to observe the actors as they … [Read more...] about Strangers in a Strange Land
The Rise of Waco Bill
Z woke up to find some white girl in horn-rimmed glasses – and she wasn’t trying to be hip, here – poking at his arm like she was priming a lawnmower. Girl was maybe eight, all freckled up with a bush of red hair on her scalp. Z picked his head up off the table, trying to hold on to some wispy dream, but it was already gone by the time she opened her mouth full of metal and … [Read more...] about The Rise of Waco Bill
Holy Engineering Feasibility, Batman!
By Michelle Dee Across various modes of media, from comic books to movies, Batman has distinguished himself from other superheroes through his unique superpower: technology. He may not have laser eyes like Cyclops, but you’ll find no cooler car than the Batmobile. Even if he can’t punch nuclear missiles in the face like Superman or run at the speed of sound like the Flash, … [Read more...] about Holy Engineering Feasibility, Batman!