Menendez Brothers Change Vocabulary

WRESTLING WITH WORDS

Did anyone catch " 30 Rock" last night? It is one of my favorite sit-coms and last night the comic genius of the writing team did not dissapoint.

I was especially impressed when I realized that the theme of the episode focused on my English course's current topic: "The Love of Money is the Root of Evil" based on The Canterbury Tales.

The story line was set-up like this:

A super-wealthy friend of Jack's, Gavin Volure (guest-star Steve Martin), hosts a dinner party attended by the elite... enter guest-star John McEnroe. Gavin is the eccentric billionaire, apparently confined to his home by agoraphobia, and a total germaphobe (Mysophobia).

Back at 30 Rock, Tracy Jordan's character fears that his sons are trying to usurp him, only to later realize that they were simply worried he'd get so rich he'd find another family.

This brings me to my next favorite brain-game - nouning a verb and verbing a noun.

Side Bar - I attempted to discuss the word play with my students but none knew who the Menendez brothers were. I explained that they were convicted in 1989 of murdering both parents for access to the family vault. It was a highly publicized double-homocide case and the scandal rocked California. Even more haunted were the film critics who were paid meagerly to endure the Hollywoodized (yes - I invented that word - you're welcome) of the low-budget movie "Honor Thy Father and Mother: The True Story of the Menendez Murders."

Twenty years later, I have a class room filled with eighteen year old who glaze over when I cite "30 Rock" - obviously they're not the TV shows target demographic.

As mentioned in an earlier posting, our language evolves. This shifting of parts of speech fascinates me - so I was like an Olympian on opening-ceremony day (simile) - totally delighted when the writers of "30 Rock" partook of this sport.

Yes, other people swim, other people jog, other people dunk orange balls into a white net...I wrestle with words (alliteration).

At one time people ran (ran=verb). Then people went for a run (run = noun).
Then, rather than napping, people "grabbed a nap." Biting became "having a bite." In time, people stopped thinking and instead simply "had a thought" - which, being singular, meant dullness and low creativity.

(Trivia Credit to http://theconstructivecurmudgeon.blogspot.com ["curmudgeon" meaning cantankerous or stubborn person] )


Back to my Thursday Night Tango with "30 Rock." Tracey Jordan voices his concern that his sons are attempting to "Menendez" him...calling them (plural) the Menend -"i" - brilliant play on words!

When all the falling action lulls to a resolution (guaranteed satisfaction of plot conflicts in 30 minutes less commercial breaks), Tracy Jordan assures his sons, "If anything happens to me, you will go to jail."

All is well with the world again...and for 30 minutes I found bliss in the abyss of a TV sit-com that wooed me away from the current economic global crisis, whisked me away from the barrage of commentators on the bank and automobile industry bailout, sheltered me from the ongoing public debate on the future Obama canine.

Ah, sweet respite and contrary to popular belief, my brain did not morph into mush - rather - the gifted WRITERS gave me something to WRESTLE with.

So for all of you out there wrestling with words...remember the power of the pen...remember WRITERS ROCK!