EUPHEMIZATION, VERBICIDE AND VIOLENCE IN THE “THE BIG LEBOWSKI” BY JOEL AND ETHAN COEN
EUPHEMIZATION, VERBICIDE AND VIOLENCE IN THE “THE BIG LEBOWSKI” BY JOEL AND ETHAN COEN
Author(s): Ruxandra VişanSubject(s): Literary Texts
Published by: Editura Universităţii de Vest din Timişoara / Diacritic Timisoara
Keywords: dysphemism; euphemism; film studies; genre; verbicide; violence
Summary/Abstract: The aim of this paper is to discuss the linguistic strategies that are used by the Coen brothers in order to turn their film “The Big Lebowski” (1998) into an unconventional narrative that transcends the boundaries of genre. The movie takes as a point of reference the genres of Western and of film noir, but offers a narrative that only launches the theme of violence specific to such genres, without offering an actualization of the violent elements. The paper identifies linguistic strategies such as “euphemization” and “verbicidization” as means of defusing violence in the movie, turning it into a transgressive filmic narrative.
Journal: B.A.S. British and American Studies
- Issue Year: 2010
- Issue No: 16
- Page Range: 55-64
- Page Count: 9
- Language: English