Jim's Fields of Observation

”_____ is the new black.”

”_____ is the new 50.” Or 40 or 30 or whatever.

I find it interesting how commonplace “new” metaphors have become, and I wonder why. Do we all want a part of recognizing the “next big thing”? Are these statements coping mechanisms to help us deal with the ever-faster change of pace pop culture takes in our hyper-connected world?

Perhaps. Another potential benefit these statements offer the speaker is a shred more of street cred, helping position the person as one “in the know”.

Since I am, of course, no sociolinguist I cannot offer a scientific explanation. As a member of society I would greatly appreciate moving past “new” metaphors.

Maybe we can move next to malapropisms, mondegreens, and eggcorns.