How about "yuppie aplomb"?
Bob Darcy
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Sent: Monday, June 02, 2003 12:29 PM
Subject: Re: Sprezzatura as sixteenth-century cool
> I think that 'cool' is a starting place, but one has to worry, will it
have the
> same or similar resonance for a student today that the word has, or had,
for
> someone who came up in the 50s, 60s, 70s. Maybe reference to an actor or
a
> performance: Leonardo di Caprio in 'Catch Me If You Can' (or maybe the Mr.
> Ripley film -- I haven't seen it), for example. And with a student who
really
> wants to know, I'd spend a little time with the Italian word, derived
> from 'sprezzare,' to show contempt or disdain, or (used reflexively) to
neglect
> oneself. One big problem with the modern 'cool' behavior pattern is that
it's
> often the stance of marginal or low-ranking figures in a somewhat
messed-up
> social order, whereas 'sprezzatura,' as Castiglione understands it, is the
> behavior of a social superior affecting disdain for his various advantages
in
> order to charm those inferior to him.
>
> Jon Quitslund (Geo. Washington U., emeritus)
> > I was asked by a student what the English for 'sprezzatura' is. Having
> > explained that it was one of those notoriously untranslatable words, it
> > struck me that 'cool' comes pretty close. It has the same implications
of
> > effortless accomplishment, unfazedness, caring deeply about impressing
> > people while affecting not to care, etc. But it seems such a
> > quintessentially 20th century word that I hesitate to suggest it. Any
> > thoughts?
> >
> > Charlie Butler
> >
> > "Run mad as often as you chuse, but do not faint!"
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