We faced the turn of the millennium back in 2000 with some level of anxiety and at the same time a degree of excitement and anticipation. We are fortunate to have witnessed the turning of a new millennium as it only happens every 1000 years (obviously). It was a time that was marked by a shift in the general consciousness of people around the world. Fads were quickly changed and replaced by new forms of entertainment. Technology also saw a rapid growth with innovations coming in from all corners of the globe.
Out of all the exciting changes that we witnessed, there is one in particular that I am especially drawn to - entertainment. It was between 2000-2010 when my all-time favorite TV series aired - Gossip Girl and Queer as Folk (QAF). Arguably, these two shows were Avante Garde at the time they were released. Their themes and plots showcased issues and nuances of real life that were once deemed to either be too delicate, controversial or contentious for public consumption. Both series tackled a myriad of issues that confront all of us. In my opinion, the success these shows achieved is due mainly to the "almost" unapologetic approach it had with telling the truth about the world and the way we see, live and interact with it. Gossip Girl dissected the privilege of wealth while QAF deconstructed the struggles faced by LGBT+ people. They became my all-time favorites for the simple reason that they portrayed, to a degree, a realistic world that I could relate to. It did not unnecessarily sterilize its language nor its themes for the sake of censorship. They did not compromise on their delivery of the truths about our behavior that most if not all are either too ashamed or too scared to talk about.
Out of all the characters from both shows, I relate most to Blair (Gossip Girl) and Brian (QAF). Blair was portrayed as the Queen Bee in Gossip Girl while Brian was the Be All and End All of the QAF universe. Both of them were unapologetic of their brazenness, are headstrong and confrontational when the occasion calls for it, blunt when a truth must be stated and most of all, dauntless in the pursuit of their goals. I am nowhere near as successful or as powerful as these two were in their respective shows. However, I share their aversion to euphemism.
There are those of us who, in the desire to keep tact, will avoid saying what is potentially an offensive or precarious statement by sugar-coating it or avoiding the topic altogether (which is what happens in most cases). It can be anything like the dress someone is wearing, or the way someone speaks, or the offensive comment someone made - basically anything that can come up in any given situation. I think it's generally a natural reflex to be polite in our speech. Respect is a core value that is instilled in us from our formative years and continues on in adulthood. While it is incumbent upon all of us to be respectful in our speech and conduct, I find it distasteful when we compromise the truth for perceived tact. I would rather have someone spit on my face than stab me in the back. That is what euphemism is to me. There is always a right time, place, and choice of words when it comes to saying something. However, that should not lead us to wash down the veracity of what we have to say just because we are afraid to offend another person. Whether it be an opinion or a fact, I feel that I owe it to myself and to whomever I am talking to, to be truthful - and this requires me to say what I mean and mean what I say.
Blair and Brian were ruthless in their conduct and this is exactly what endeared them to their peers. Yes their wealth played a major part in according them the privileges they enjoyed, but more than that, it is their ability to wield such stature in a manner that charms those around them into acquiescence. They may have been perceived as cold-hearted but that did not deter them from being themselves. Whenever they spoke, people listened not just because they're on a pedestal but because they delivered their truths with conviction - that which can only come from being truthful to oneself. Their brazenness was what set them apart because they were bold enough to say out loud the things that other people only whisper about. Offense is not lessened by euphemism or avoidance when you whisper about it behind people's backs. You're no different than the tactless person who came across rude for being frank.
This however is no license to go on disparaging people with your statements. What we are trying to get at is the practice of honesty in our speech and conduct. This might help us avoid misunderstandings and conflicts because we are able to convey our messages clearly and in its entirety. Sugar-coating erodes the quality of the message that we would like to convey. So, rather than spending effort on trying to sound nice, spend it instead to being respectful - and this requires honesty.
A queen knows better than to indulge in moot portrayals that eventually erode and consequently reveal the truth that was futilely concealed.
xoxo
QB
Out of all the exciting changes that we witnessed, there is one in particular that I am especially drawn to - entertainment. It was between 2000-2010 when my all-time favorite TV series aired - Gossip Girl and Queer as Folk (QAF). Arguably, these two shows were Avante Garde at the time they were released. Their themes and plots showcased issues and nuances of real life that were once deemed to either be too delicate, controversial or contentious for public consumption. Both series tackled a myriad of issues that confront all of us. In my opinion, the success these shows achieved is due mainly to the "almost" unapologetic approach it had with telling the truth about the world and the way we see, live and interact with it. Gossip Girl dissected the privilege of wealth while QAF deconstructed the struggles faced by LGBT+ people. They became my all-time favorites for the simple reason that they portrayed, to a degree, a realistic world that I could relate to. It did not unnecessarily sterilize its language nor its themes for the sake of censorship. They did not compromise on their delivery of the truths about our behavior that most if not all are either too ashamed or too scared to talk about.
Out of all the characters from both shows, I relate most to Blair (Gossip Girl) and Brian (QAF). Blair was portrayed as the Queen Bee in Gossip Girl while Brian was the Be All and End All of the QAF universe. Both of them were unapologetic of their brazenness, are headstrong and confrontational when the occasion calls for it, blunt when a truth must be stated and most of all, dauntless in the pursuit of their goals. I am nowhere near as successful or as powerful as these two were in their respective shows. However, I share their aversion to euphemism.
There are those of us who, in the desire to keep tact, will avoid saying what is potentially an offensive or precarious statement by sugar-coating it or avoiding the topic altogether (which is what happens in most cases). It can be anything like the dress someone is wearing, or the way someone speaks, or the offensive comment someone made - basically anything that can come up in any given situation. I think it's generally a natural reflex to be polite in our speech. Respect is a core value that is instilled in us from our formative years and continues on in adulthood. While it is incumbent upon all of us to be respectful in our speech and conduct, I find it distasteful when we compromise the truth for perceived tact. I would rather have someone spit on my face than stab me in the back. That is what euphemism is to me. There is always a right time, place, and choice of words when it comes to saying something. However, that should not lead us to wash down the veracity of what we have to say just because we are afraid to offend another person. Whether it be an opinion or a fact, I feel that I owe it to myself and to whomever I am talking to, to be truthful - and this requires me to say what I mean and mean what I say.
Blair and Brian were ruthless in their conduct and this is exactly what endeared them to their peers. Yes their wealth played a major part in according them the privileges they enjoyed, but more than that, it is their ability to wield such stature in a manner that charms those around them into acquiescence. They may have been perceived as cold-hearted but that did not deter them from being themselves. Whenever they spoke, people listened not just because they're on a pedestal but because they delivered their truths with conviction - that which can only come from being truthful to oneself. Their brazenness was what set them apart because they were bold enough to say out loud the things that other people only whisper about. Offense is not lessened by euphemism or avoidance when you whisper about it behind people's backs. You're no different than the tactless person who came across rude for being frank.
This however is no license to go on disparaging people with your statements. What we are trying to get at is the practice of honesty in our speech and conduct. This might help us avoid misunderstandings and conflicts because we are able to convey our messages clearly and in its entirety. Sugar-coating erodes the quality of the message that we would like to convey. So, rather than spending effort on trying to sound nice, spend it instead to being respectful - and this requires honesty.
A queen knows better than to indulge in moot portrayals that eventually erode and consequently reveal the truth that was futilely concealed.
xoxo
QB
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