25th Jun 2008
Hot for Words
Sex sells. It sells breakfast cereal and sports cars. It sells diets and beer. It sells software. Games. Shoes. Pickles. The City. And now words.
Here’s the etymology of umbrella, from Hot for Words:
[Editor's note: While this is technically not unsafe for work, I wouldn't want to be watching it when my boss came by and looked over my shoulder.]
There’s a new breed of sexy — actually, it’s an old breed, but it’s finally been noticed by the mainstream. But I’m not sure that Marina Orlova, a YouTube champion and Wired’s Sexiest Geek of the Year 2007, qualifies as geek sexy. I’m sure there are many of her devotees out there who care not one whit for philology — or any other ology, for that matter, but will watch and learn as long as there’s enough cleavage involved.
So how about some sex with your Kierkegaard? Why should sex be banished from the intellectual world? There’s not a carbon-based intelligence on the planet that can’t trace its roots back to sex. Are we so taken in by the Judeo-Christian split of the exalted and the base that we shun such unholy minglings? Cheeseburgers are evil. Unhand that jerky, it’s Friday!
Frankly, Marina’s not my type, but the ongoing video etymology series is a great idea, and she’s found a way to get a whole lot of viewers — 70 million YouTube views!
It’s not a question of the ends justifying the means, but more of a marketing coup. Even if I’m not the target audience, I have to respect the results.
Hey Ruby!
Thanks for the writeup! I like the title of your blog as words themselves are sometimes very wacky in their origins!
I definitely have chosen a different approach to teaching.. and most of it is just getting their initial attention… but once drawn in, I try to at least make the lessons interesting! It’s like Sesame Street, but for adults! (Or maybe Baby Einstein? But with words!) I really don’t think intelligence has to be mutually exclusive with sexiness! It’s definitely met a LOT of resistance.. but I also think that it seems to be working as well!
Anyway… thanks again for the writeup! And I hope you keep checking out my lessons! And make a request as well, I would be honored if you made one!
Marina
Your trusty philologist
Wow Frankly;
She is a great teacher. Marina has a largely male following that would not read a book on WORDS to save their lives. But watch everything see makes. Then comment on her site. You should have comments here too. She gets hundreds a day.
@ Marina - aw, shucks. Thanks for the comment! I’ll have to think up a good word for you.
@ Gregory - you’re right, I should have comments. Just getting up and running around here, but thanks for contributing to my cause.
SOG knives…
Interesting ideas… I wonder how the Hollywood media would portray this?…