The New Black
I am happy to say
I have a regular segment on a wonderful radio program, Radio New Zealand’s Jim
Mora Show. I'm their “IT Guy in San Francisco,” and I always open with a
quiz question. My first segment of the year begins, “In 2012, what was the new
black?”
Anyone? Anyone?
The answer is
grey, as in 50 Shades of Grey. In this segment, I ask and try to answer
this question, “What were the three biggest Digital Age-related stories in
2012? One is educational, one musical and one literary, sort of.”
Anyone? Anyone?
Here's my answer…
MOOCs (look it
up), Gangnam Style and yes, the nearly inexplicable popularity of 50
Shades. How can so many adult women in so many places (it’s Number One in Brazil)
in our post-feminist age, so adore a badly written series where women are
turned on by whips and chains?
I asked everybody
I knew, got a zillion different answers, and then got the right one. It’s from
Katie Beers, “The Wake Up Call on 107.9” in Sacramento, California.
Katie said, “I
understand it. 50 Shades is about an only slightly above-average-looking
woman who is worshipped by a drop-dead gorgeous, emotionally damaged
billionaire — and only she can heal him. And he is obsessed with her safety,
doesn't want her to cook, clean or work, manages to make her orgasm every
single time they have sex, and her pleasure is his primary focus.”
Oh.
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