Why is strong language used so much?

Question

Is it neccesary to have it in Films / T.V./ Plays etc.
We have such a beautifully descriptive language. Do we have to sink to the sewer.

Answer 1

Well in the words of Joanne Woodward, Paul Newman's wife (and one of the healthiest marriages in Hollywood history): "I was taught that a person who uses profanity is making up for their lack of vocabulary." And T. D. Jakes says that people who use a lot of profanity are trying to give weight to their lies. I would agree with both. I think that probably even the 7 words George Carlin identified as being unacceptable on television are probably current in these days of cable and digital channels.
That is not to say that profanity should be acceptable. If you want some resounding, descriptive curses and anger-expressions, just read Shakespeare's The Tempest and Othello. I mean "A pox o' your throat, you snivelling, uncircumcised dog!" is a lot more resonant than the f word every 5 seconds.

Answer 2

I have always (through the influence of my parents) thought people (celebrities, people I have conversations with, hear in public) who use the foul words in common conversation to appear less than intelligent. There are thousands of descriptive words in all languages to get a point across. Yet people continue to lower themselves and look uneducated by using the same 4 letter words 6 times in a sentence. Same does go for film, etc. I find those words have more power and mean more when I hear them from someone who never uses it. I can't say I haven't ever used them. I went through the pubescent stage of "learning to cuss", but I am grown now and am teaching my child that there are always better words. C'mon people, grab a thesaurus and put it to use!!

Answer 3

Screenwriters these days don't know how to write for film or TV so the easiest way to maximize dialog and minimize any other content is to maximize strong language. Also, using strong language is every day use now by most people so including it in a show resonates well with the audience.

Answer 4

Few reasons in screenplays & TVs
1) Reflective of current vocabulary of the general population, especially the target audience of show/play/film/music
2) Socially we have been conditioned over a period of time from various sources etc., that its acceptable in certain context
3) Writers/artists/production companies giving the impression that they have some type of maverick or pioneering spirit by "pressing the boundaries against bureaucrats trying to censor free speech" (usually mentioning that its MY RIGHT to free speech)
4) It gets your attention - its the verbal equivalent to frontal nudity on TV - going for the cheap shot on terms of screen dialogue if overused (and very common to do so)

Personally, it IS in society of all levels of society, we have bought into it, and its not going to go away. But also, in most cases it shows laziness on the part of the user who cannot find anything more in their repertoire than to use a well worn obscenity.

Answer 5

Sink to the sewer? I think that's where you are biased.

Sorry, but the language is much more rich than the stilted euphemisms recited in G-rated movies or 50's television shows.

There is nothing inherently "bad" about certain words. That is said with the words is much more important. I can give someone a compliment using "swear" words and say the most vile things with a 1st grade vocabulary. Words give speech flavor and nuance. To artificially censor words you consider vulgar from films and movies takes away some of the vulgarity of every day life that the movie or play is trying to reproduce.

There is a certain roughness to life that people love to ignore because it offends their sensibilities. However, that's what movies and plays are for. They remind us of some of that roughness that exists, to a greater extent than people like to admit.

Do you consider William Shakespeare to be vulgar? His plays are full of swear words, just not modern day ones. Romeo and Juliet starts out with characters making obscene gestures at each other, the equivalent of using the middle finger today.

Answer 6

I agree.... Sometimes you do need for emphasis or to make a point, but often it's just an ignorance of the language and the inability to make better choices.
Needs foul language: Catcher in the Rye. What is the point of the story if Holden is NOT swearing?
Doesn't need it: Stuart Little. Exactly why did Stuart have to say "Dam*" a handful of times?? Totally unnecessary and inappropriate.

Answer 7

We do, indeed, have a beautiful language. Unfortunately the vast majority of people have placed restrictions on their vocabulary and limit themselves to only a few hundred words! To add variety and 'colour' they insert 'descriptive adjectives!' If you hit your thumb whilst hammering in a nail.....swear!!! it releases tension, however if you use the same terminology when asking your friend to pass the salt... well the effect is severely diminished.

Answer 8

It is to give people time to think what they are trying to say. They learn a word to fill up the gaps in their chain of thought - it's usually a variant on 'Fuggin' - You'll have heard it. They are telling eg. a story about something that happened at work today, and they put in the word 'fuggin' to give time for their brain to catch up.

"So this fuggin bloke came up and he fuggin well asked me where the fuggin paperwork was for the fuggin Birmingham fuggin job, so I fuggin said to him, I don't fuggin know where the fuggin stuff is..."

Answer 9

Because many people seem to be morons these days who either grunt or swear or both, because they don't have the mental ability to string together more than a few civil words. The TV has to appeal to the majority, hence the TV speaks as they do.

Answer 10

Realistic character portrayal is likely the chief reason, but personally I agree that there are far better alternatives. Most foul language is merely an attempt to express oneself forcefully without cleverness or creativity.