I was curious about the historical accuracy of the profanity in the series Deadwood, which is set in the 1860s. Did people back then really use words like motherfucker and cocksucker? After doing some research, I found out that the answer was probably no. The swear words that were common in those days were more religious, such as God damn and hell. The writers of the show wanted to create the same shock value for modern audiences, so they opted for more colorful language.
I was curious about the historical accuracy of the profanity in the series Deadwood, which is set in the 1860s. Did people back then really use words like motherfucker and cocksucker? After doing some research, I found out that the answer was probably no. The swear words that were common in those days were more religious, such as God damn and hell. The writers of the show wanted to create the same shock value for modern audiences, so they opted for more colorful language.
The way we've changed which types of words are off limits is a fascinating study... and it tells us a lot about the social values of the day.
Also, I love the series Deadwood!