5 ms·
I'm surprised to see kind of writing in a New Yorker article: > Casanova wouldn’t discover the existence of his putative daughter Leonilda for some eighteen ye
by acabal 4y ago
I'm surprised to see kind of writing in a New Yorker article:
> Casanova wouldn’t discover the existence of his putative daughter Leonilda for some eighteen years, at which point he fucked her mother while she shared their bed.
I only occasionally read the New Yorker so I'm not up to date - is this the new style? I don't mind so much but I definitely did a double take when I read it.
- BitwiseFool 4y agoAt first I thought it was a young writer hoping to push some boundaries, but the author's bio says that she has been contributing to The New Yorker since 1987. I suppose either the writer intentionally wrote this to enhance how risqué the story is meant to be, or, perhaps she wants to normalize this use of the F-word? I know the word choice is correct, even proper - as far as the English language is concerned - yet it feels socially improper given the reputation of the publication.
- novosel 4y agoI've read that as a sarcastic comment on the attitude of Casanova that could have placed him in a situation like that.
- willcipriano 4y agoI read it as a example of late stage journalism and it's continuing decline.
- novosel 4y agoSuspiciously akin to the Casanova's state of mind. (The journalism, I mean)
- everybodyknows 4y agoAs a practical matter, what alternatives might an editor propose that would adequately convey the facts of the event?
- BitwiseFool 4y agoI feel like a well known euphemism such as "slept with" would suffice.
- elliekelly 4y agoYou might enjoy this 2012 article from The New Yorker titled "Dropping the F-Bomb": https://www.newyorker.com/books/page-turner/dropping-the-f-bomb https://www.newyorker.com/books/page-turner/dropping-the-f-b...