Effect of Vulgar Language and Graphic Sex in Plays

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Human beings are highly communicative beings, and it is through writing and speech that they become members of a culture. Vulgarity is constructed by society used to dictate what is polite to say and what should not be said. Vulgar language has both formal and informal features and both varieties are offensive and rude. Particularly in the context of literature, it is common for authors to use graphic sex words, most of which are considered taboos. Vulgar language is associated with cursing, profanity, swearing, and cursing and is intended for different purposes. This essay is a discourse on the effects of vulgar language and graphic sex in plays.

Art particularly plays and literature would be missing out if they existed without the rude language that is used in the everyday life. Growing up, we are told by our parents not to say certain words and were punished for saying them. However, it makes a lot of difference when characters in plays employ vulgar language. Scriptwriters in plays use profanity such as graphic sexual and vulgar language to tell the audience about what is going on in the character’s mind (DeFrank & Kahlbaugh, 2019). This allows them to experience the emotion for themselves. In essence, graphic language has a real effect and it is effective as opposed to describing the emotions of the characters which might prove hard for the audience to relate to. The use of vulgar language allows characters to vent, express their emotions, and release because it communicates immediately. For instance, the utterance of the f-word communicates the character’s state; they could excite, anger, upset, surprise, or even arouse. Moreover, graphic language demonstrates the intensity of their emotions.

Research has found that the use of vulgar language and graphic sexual language has an emotional repercussion on the recipient (audience). From the onset, we learn that profanity evokes strong feelings, our bodies become conditioned to respond to it physically. One exhibits a flight and fight reaction because the pores open making one sweat. Just like other powerful tools, the words are double-edged; they can be destructive and constructive. Notably, curse words, are inspired by domains ridden in taboos including bodily functions (“sh-t”), sex (“f-ck”) , religion (“hell”) and the “n-word”. These words are built to harm, offend, divide, and denigrate. Further, emotionally charged words are deeply ingrained in us that speaking them toes the line of a physical act rather than a symbolic one. By saying the words, a person also feels them. It is important for the audience to get an understanding of the text of the play for themselves because vulgar and sexually graphic words evoke all sorts of emotions.

The use of vulgar language and graphic sex in plays evokes different emotions among the audience. Society defines what is polite to say and what is not accepted. Profanity plays a critical role in art as it helps the audience experience the real emotion of the characters as opposed to describing their emotions. Scriptwriters use graphic sexual and vulgar language to tell the audience about what is going on in the character’s mind. They get to experience it for themselves. The use of vulgar language and graphic sexual language can have destructive and constructive emotional repercussions on the recipients.

References

DeFrank, M., & Kahlbaugh, P. (2019). Language choice matters: When profanity affects how people are judged. Journal of Language and Social Psychology, 38(1), 126-141.