MovieChat Forums > Deadwood (2004) Discussion > All the Swearing

All the Swearing

posted 7 years ago by pure-conscience
9 replies | jump to latest

Ironically, predominantly by Swearengen (and was that not intentional?), wouldn't be so distracting if it wasn't actually (mostly) historically inaccurate. Its not so much that they never swore in the old west, but it was considerably different than today, both in what curse words and vernacular (I have researched it just to be sure) and in this show their cursing isn't much different than modern cursing at all. in fact, exactly the same - which again, isn't even remotely accurate. I absolutely love this show, and mostly forgive it this fault, but it is the thing about it I find the most distracting and therefore takes me a bit out of the moment of many scenes. Perhaps it wouldn't be any issue at all if they didn't swear so fricken much, but as you all know it's often every third word or so.

Thoughts?

But what do I know. I'm just a girl.

[–] 7 years ago

[deleted]

[–] pure-conscience 7 years ago

Here, like probably everywhere else, you occupy space while adding nothing useful or constructive. Just nonsense to amuse yourself.

Good job. Ya know who else does that? Toddlers.

...and like a naughty toddler, I now put you on ignore. :)

But what do I know. I'm just a girl.

[–] Nuncle_Euron 7 years ago

Swearengen’s pain—the shame, that his whore of a mother paid the monstrous Mrs. Anderson to take him off her hands—is something that his profanity, its awfulness notwithstanding, can barely convey. Carolyn Strauss, of HBO, told me, “Early on, the issue of language came up a lot. We asked David, ‘Are you obscuring your message or the over-all acceptability of the piece in a way that may be not necessary?’ He felt strongly that it was necessary. He’d done a lot of research.” At Strauss’s urging, Milch wrote an essay on the subject—five single-spaced pages, followed by four pages of bibliography—defending realism and freedom of expression as indispensable correctives to the varnished mythologies of the West perpetrated by Hollywood. After quoting from oral histories as well as authorities like H. L. Mencken, Daniel Boorstin, and William Dean Howells, he concluded, with an echt-Milch flourish, “If, as seems demonstrable, words like prick, *beep* *beep* *beep* and *beep* would have been in common usage in the time and place in which ‘Deadwood’ is set, then, like any words, in form and frequency their expression will be governed by the personality of a given character, imagined by the author with whatever imperfection, as the character is shaped and tested in the crucible of experience. The goal is not to offend but to realize the character’s full humanness.”

Milch specifically updated the swear words as he said otherwise everyone was going to sound like Yosemite Sam.

Nuncle owned you. You're wrong, deal with it. Quit trying to validate your erroneous point.

[–] pure-conscience 7 years ago

I suppose that makes sense, at least in perspective of artistic license. That said, what about the sheer volume of the swearing? It's also, apparently not historically accurate that they swore as much as they do in the show - and as I said, if they didn't do it like every third word it might not be as distracting.

On a side note, this isn't even remotely about me having any issue with swearing in general. I'm fine with it when it works in the script.

Oh and indeed, many of the words they use on Deadwood simply did not exist in that era (again, I have researched this). However, given what I have read they did say back in those days, I can sort of get the point about Yosemite Sam. Still, if they just swore a more accurate amount as opposed to the constant barrage they do, I'm not sure anyone would think of Looney Tunes.

But what do I know. I'm just a girl.

[–] Nuncle_Euron 7 years ago

He's also mentioned that most of the characters on the show were salt-of-the-earth miners/drunks etc to justify the amount of swearing in their daily vocabulary as opposed to high society types.

I got used to it pretty quickly as I loved the flow of the dialogue so much.

Nuncle owned you. You're wrong, deal with it. Quit trying to validate your erroneous point.

[–] pure-conscience 7 years ago

I agree the show is still well worth it (and its a shame it didn't go longer). What can I say though, sometimes historical inaccuracies distract me just a bit - particularly when its every two seconds or so. lol. Regardless, I just wanted other's input on this and I appreciate yours. Thanks :)

But what do I know. I'm just a girl.

[–] nathan515 7 years ago

did they say C__k S___er back then?

[–] pure-conscience 7 years ago

I actually researched all this stuff before posting and nope they did not say that back then. In fact it's only one of several swears they used (often) on the show that didn't really come into muse until the 20th century. That said, I do understand why they updated the swears. What I don't quite get is why they swore so much when all indications (from my research anyhow) are that they did not swear nearly that much in reality.

But what do I know. I'm just a girl.

[–] CalamityDan 7 years ago

If you are actually paying attention you'll note that many of the characters don't cuss at all. But WTF does "historical accuracy" have to do with anything? Its a fictional drama. Milch is quoted as saying that "historical accuracy" bores the crap out of him. I agree.