‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ leads a pop culture cascade of F-bombs

‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ leads a pop culture cascade of F-bombs

The word “fuck” has undergone a significant “semantic shift,” evolving in its meaning and usage over time, according to Roy Peter Clark, a writing teacher and author. This transformation is illustrated in a scene from the Amazon Prime drama series “My Lady Jane,” where a young girl uses the word as her sister faces execution.

Clark notes that the inclusion of the F-word in a child’s dialogue demonstrates its decreased taboo. “It’s used in so many different ways,” he said, ranging from negative to humorous, mischievous, and emphatic contexts. This shift is further evidenced by a 2021 British study, which found “fuck” to be the most frequently used swear word, particularly among teenagers and young adults.

Research by Robbie Love and Anna-Brita Stenstrom, published in the Journal of Pragmatics in 2023, compared British teenagers’ conversations from the 1990s and 2010s. They observed a decline in using the F-word as an insult or sexual term, with its use more common in expressions like “what the fuck?” and “for fuck’s sake,” often in friendly exchanges.

Karen North, a psychologist at USC’s Annenberg School, attributes this desensitization to repeated exposure. “If you keep hearing the F-word… you’ll start desensitizing,” she explained.

Despite its normalization, many still find the F-word offensive. Its usage is a common reason for book bans in schools. However, in popular culture, such as the “Deadpool” movies, the word is embraced for its authenticity. The latest film, “Deadpool & Wolverine,” rated R in the U.S., achieved massive box office success, with fans appreciating its raw humor.