Description
F uck the Fuckity Fuckin' Fucker. Readers of Katherine Dunn won't be surprised that this was her father's favorite sentence, or that, as a young girl, she heard it as a kind of profane poem, a secret song. For many of us, the language of Geek Love carries a similar staying power, born of Dunn's agile use of language and her strange, beautiful diction. And as a true exegete of the expletive, she remained undividedly devoted to obscenity--both as scholar and practitioner.
In On Cussing, Dunn sketches a brief history of swear words and creates something of a field guide to their types and usages, from the common threat ("I'll squash you like a shithouse mouse") to the portmanteau intensifier ("Fan-fucking-tastic"). But she also explores their physiology--the physical impact on the reader or listener--and makes an argument for how and when to cuss with maximum effect. Equal parts informative and hilarious, this volume will delight Dunn's legion of fans, but it's also a must-have for anyone looking to more successfully wield their expletives, be it in writing or in everyday speech.
Author: Katherine Dunn
Publisher: Tin House Books
Published: 03/26/2019
Pages: 64
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 0.15lbs
Size: 6.00h x 4.30w x 0.50d
ISBN13: 9781947793262
ISBN10: 1947793268
BISAC Categories:
- Literary Criticism | Modern | 21st Century
- Language Arts & Disciplines | Writing | General
- Literary Criticism | American | General