Nicolas Cage classes up the damn joint in this exclusive History Of Swear Words clip
Aux Features TV
After a year like 2020, a series where Nicolas Cage extols the virtues of “shit” and “bitch” with the poise of Ken Burns is not nearly as odd as it would have sounded two years ago. Maybe that’s why Netflix’s new docuseries History Of Swear Words seems almost timely in all its campiness: Who couldn’t use a lighthearted 30-minute break to learn everything there is to know about the word “fuck,” especially when we’re seemingly yelling it into the void so fucking much these days?
For six 30-minute episodes, Cage enlists the help of experts and comedians as they dig into the history of some of the English language’s most maligned (by prudes, anyway) words. It’s a bit of a two-pronged effort: Special guests like Joel Kim Booster, DeRay Davis, Nick Offerman, and London Hughes will pay homage to each spicy utterance from a personal and cultural standpoint while experts Benjamin Bergen, Mireille Miller-Young, Elvis Mitchell, Melissa Mohr, and Kory Stamper will delve into their actual origins and etymology. That said, if Cage—all suited up and holding court in a 19th century-looking study—looks a little silly taking his job as esteemed host seriously in this exclusive clip below, it’s only because they’re going a step beyond the nostalgia-fueled I Love The ‘90s talking head format and dropping some serious knowledge. We can’t really fault him for injecting a bit of prestige into this informative event: As Cage says, “Swear words will only be as useful for as long as we have hearts, minds, and assholes.”
You can finally learn the in-depth History Of Swear Words when the series begins streaming Tuesday, January 5 on Netflix. In the meantime, check out the snippet below.
22 Comments
I’ve got a nice book on swearing, called Holy Shit, which makes the point that cultures tend to either be relaxed about the earthly and uptight about the theological, or visa-versa.
That was Milch’s explanation for Deadwood’s unique, ahistorical patois. Having Swearingen being upset about the guldern Yankton men just made him sound like Yosemite Sam. He went for authenticity of offensiveness over linguistics.
If I’ve understood you correctly, that seems a shame. “If either of you blaspheme again, I’m going to shove your fucking her head up her stinking cunt” is, as an example, a lovely bit of whiplash.
I’m not sure we’re on the same page here, but basically, cowboys really were rough and tumble potty mouths by the standards of their day. It’s just that in their day, “What in tarnation?” was wildly blasphemous and shocking, and totally inappropriate for polite society.
Now, it makes you sound like a children’s cartoon character. To get the same effect in the modern era, you need something like “You can’t cut the throat of every cocksucker whose character it would improve.”
Ah, got it. Yeah, I was thinking the puritan/Victorian-ethic rather undercut the main thesis of Holy Shit. Neither carnal nor blasphemous swearing were acceptable. Still a good read, though (and it might have covered this – it’s been 7 years since I read it).https://www.amazon.co.uk/Holy-Sh-Brief-History-Swearing/dp/019049168X
Holy hot takes there, Penis!
This clip makes me want to see Nic Cage to do more real acting again and less of the bug-eyed “NICOLAS CAGE” freaking-out.
I like a good Cage freak out, but it’s nice to see he can still be dignified. And the beard looks good on him.
He was pretty fucking great in MANDY.
And in “Joe,” which was a very subdued role on the Cage Scale.I’m looking forward to “Pig,” which seems like it’ll have a more “subdued, but with explosive moments” performance like in “Mandy” and “Joe.”But on the other hand, the plot of “Pig” sounds like an absolutely perfect vehicle for bugfuck Crazy Cage® to exact revenge on the pignappers using various pig-themed Rube Goldberg traps, because we haven’t gotten very much screwball/slapstick Cage lately.
He was great in Joe.I hadn’t heard about Pig. It sounds crazy. As in, I had to look it up because I thought you were lying. Looking forward to it!
Well, “the Oregon mafia steals Nic Cage’s beloved truffle pig” does kinda sound like something from a Nic Cage joke movie synopsis generator.
go rent The Color Out of Space, it’s got both serious actor cage, weird cage obsessed with alpacas, and totally batshit Cage, plus it’s really cool
Thanks! Will add to the queue.
Yeah, despite appearing crazy he picks one or two really good projects each year in addition to the dreck (what i think of as the john-cusack-wears-a-black-baseball-cap movies)
The virtues of shit and bitch. Would that be airing of discontent while on the toilet?
Pour one out for George Carlin.
I was just scanning to see if someone mentioned The Master. Now I don’t have to. I’m going to get some lunch.
Can we give an award to the set designer and director who matched “The history of ‘Damn’ is the history of all swearwords” with a pan out to reveal a sumptuous picture of a dam behind Cage’s head?
Sounds fun. But nobody uses Angl0-Saxon profanities with as much verve and mastery as the Brits. Plus, the chance to hear someone with a Geordie accent blurt: fook! can’t be replaced with run-of-the-mill American entertainers nattering on.
No offense to Cage, but isn’t this a role better suited for Peter Capaldi? It’s a missed opportunity, imo.
fuckity bye mr cage