Just a Word?

email this story
read comments (18)
post a comment

For whatever reason, characters in movies of whatever slant or character rarely say the word "grotesque." It's hardly ever used in regular daily conversation, now that I think of it. Too judgmental, too assertive, too baroque. Perhaps because of this exotic usage, I always feel a certain arousal when a character pops it out. Only people of exceptional confidence and mental acuity seem to do so. And when they do, a little voice inside me goes "yes...perfect."

George C. Scott says it in The Hospital ("And you don't find something a little grotesque about all this?"); ditto Robert Duvall in Network ("...this grotesque incident..."). I'm especially pleased with Oscar Werner's use of the word in The Spy Who Came in From the Cold because he's referring only to what he feels is an inappropriate logical conclusion or inference.

I am waiting patiently for the right moment to say "grotesque" in my own life. I will never say it just to say it. The moment and the circumstances have to be exactly right. The stars need to be aligned.

North Shore<< previous | next >>McElwaine's Passing

Posted by Jeffrey Wells on April 3, 2008 at 1:51 PM

comment #1

Jeffrey Kunze says ...

I took a course in Southern Literature last year and the professor used the word "grotesque" every other sentence to describe the gothic literature of Tennessee Williams, William Faulkner, etc.

It's a great word, but too powerful sounding for the average person.

Posted by Jeffrey Kunze at April 3, 2008 2:31 PM

comment #2

Rich S. says ...

George Harrison used grotesque (when describing the term "grotty") in Hard Day's Night. Maybe that's why it's one of Jeffrey's favorite scenes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wd3zZa5xGgM

Posted by Rich S. at April 3, 2008 2:32 PM

comment #3

Jeffrey Kunze says ...

Goddamn I'm struggling to get through Al Pacino's Looking for Shakespeare right now.

It's grotesque!

Posted by Jeffrey Kunze at April 3, 2008 2:33 PM

comment #4

MikeSchaeferSF says ...

So... you wouldn't describe Hillary (or anything she's done recently) as "grotesque"? And they say your postings about her are unfair and over-the-top...

Posted by MikeSchaeferSF at April 3, 2008 2:41 PM

comment #5

Arizona Joe says ...

Rich S., you beat me to the punch. The marketing man tries to get George interested in the shirts he is hustling. Harrison calls them "grotesque," then procedes to tell the guy "that posh bird," the company spokesperson, is ridiculous.

One of my favorites scenes in the film. Wells too.

A couple of years back I used the word "grotesque' to describe someone on the Food Network, and the listener was very offended.

But all in all, there are a lot of grotesque things in this post-modern, and Well is right. The word should be in play more.

I also like the Nabokovian noun, 'grotesquerie' or 'grotesquery." You never hear that since Dick Cavett retired.

Posted by Arizona Joe at April 3, 2008 2:44 PM

comment #6

Wrecktum says ...

So I guess Paddy Chayefsky loved the word "grotesque?" I wonder if it's used in Marty too?

My favorite use of the word was in Get Shorty. It was the name of the horror movie that starred Rene Russo. Actually, she was in Grotesque Part II. As well as the Slime Creatures movies......

Posted by Wrecktum at April 3, 2008 2:51 PM

comment #7

sutter kane says ...

This bit from Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead leapt to my mind, although obviously the usage is a bit different:

"All your life you live so close to truth it becomes a permanent blur in the corner of your eye. And when something nudges it into outline, it's like being ambushed by a grotesque. "

Posted by sutter kane at April 3, 2008 2:51 PM

comment #8

Filthy Rich says ...

Whenever I hear the word I think of Get Shorty - it was the title of two crappy movies that Harry Zim produced and it always stuck with me for some reason.

Posted by Filthy Rich at April 3, 2008 2:58 PM

comment #9

dangovich says ...

The word often comes in handy when describing the abuses of the Bush administration.

Posted by dangovich at April 3, 2008 3:13 PM

comment #10

Geoff says ...

I've used the word grotesque to describe the works of Joel-Peter Witkin to friends. It's fun to say because his prints are absolutely gorgeous.

Posted by Geoff at April 3, 2008 3:13 PM

comment #11

Wrecktum says ...

It's also used to great effect in Animal House!!

Posted by Wrecktum at April 3, 2008 3:15 PM

comment #12

lazespud says ...

Myself and a few of my friends use it sporadically, but it is always preceded by the word 'fuckin'".

Posted by lazespud at April 3, 2008 3:17 PM

comment #13

filmdetail says ...

More examples of "grotesque" in TV and movies here

Posted by filmdetail at April 3, 2008 4:31 PM

comment #14

Edward says ...

This and the previous thread are why HE is worth several visits a day. Way to go Jeffrey.

Posted by Edward at April 3, 2008 4:36 PM

comment #15

shepherd12345 says ...

"Son, we live in a world that has walls, and those walls have to be guarded by men with guns. Whose gonna do it? You? You, Lt. Weinberg? I have a greater responsibility than you could possibly fathom. You weep for Santiago, and you curse the marines. You have that luxury. You have the luxury of not knowing what I know. That Santiago's death, while tragic, probably saved lives. And my existence, while grotesque and incomprehensible to you, saves lives."

Posted by shepherd12345 at April 3, 2008 5:42 PM

comment #16

nemo says ...

"Grotesque" comes from the same root as the word "grotto" meaning cave. It comes from the Old Italian by way of Middle French from the phrase "pittura grottesca" meaning a "cave painting".

Simon Marshall: Make a note of that word and give it to Susan. It's quite touching, really. Here's this kid, giving me his utterly valueless opinion, when I know for a fact that within a month he'll be suffering from a violent inferiority complex and loss of status because he isn't wearing one of these nasty things! Of course they're grotty you wretched nit, that's why they were designed! But that's what you'll want.

George: No, I won't.

Simon Marshall: You can be replaced, chickie baby.

George: I don't care.

Posted by nemo at April 3, 2008 8:48 PM

comment #17