Words are immensely powerful. They can mean everything—and nothing; and yet, even nothing is something. Every word, be it consciously or subconsciously, carries for each of us a district connotation. Take, for instance, the use of the words “white” and “black.” For centuries, “white” has been associated with good things; white light, white magic/white witch, white bridal gown, even “white-skinned” person. Supposedly, white is cleanliness, purity, goodness. So, consequently, black entails all the opposites: evil, dirty, degraded, mysterious, frightening. But is it? Black nights are beautiful, black skin is natural and beautiful, black cats can be just as sweet and cuddly.
The power and irony of words hit home when I’d read review about that recent film Dogtooth, nominated for the Oscar for best foreign film. I haven’t seen it yet, but from what I’ve read and heard, it is absolutely brilliant and completely disturbing. The bare bones summary is that its about the trials and tribulations of a very dysfunctional family, their story whittled to something more human and familiar with the director’s injections of black humor. One of these is his play on words: there are scenes where a daughter eyes two daisies in the yard and says, “Mommy, I found two little zombies. Should I bring them to you?” Or when they are at the dinner table, the children ask for the salt shaker—except they call it the telephone. And the “sea” is what you call a chair. And so forth.
How much power to words really have? Indubitably they’ve got amazing potential. They make up the foundation for all communication; they are not all the layers, but they are a very basic part of the building.. It is both the how and the what we say that creates and morphs communication. We can make or break a building, a relationship, a trust, a joy, a moment—in an instant. It depends on us.
Frightening? Disturbing? Or brilliant?
"Angreek87"
No comments:
Post a Comment