Friday, April 3, 2015

Our Symbolic Skulls


If you had to name your favorite bone, which would it be? (Perverts, keep your response to yourself.) I’m betting most of you would name the skull. Let’s face it, when we think of bones, the skull naturally comes to mind (despite the fact that it's actually twenty-plus bones). There’s not much regard for the limb bones, although I’m personally enamored of the femur. The patella gets little attention, probably because of its close resemblance to horse dung. And you hardly even notice your little coccyx, unless you happen to fall on your butt (who knew such pain could arise from such a tiny clump of bones?).

The skull is iconic. Not only for signifying the skeleton in general, but as a symbol that has infiltrated our culture. So I thought it would be fun to explore how our skulls crop up in everyday life and the quirky history of this popular emblem.

Long before the mass production of art, our ancient brethren used actual skulls on which to exhibit their artistic tendencies. Skulls were decorated with precious stones, etched with geometric designs, or replicated in intricate carvings. And we can’t leave out the famous crystal skulls that have been attributed to the Maya, the Aztec, and even artistic aliens before finally being debunked as modern hoaxes. Apparently our fascination with blinged-out skulls is a universal phenomenon.

Most of you will naturally associate the skull with its close cousin, the Jolly Roger. This emblematic flag sports a skull hovering above two generic bones (what the hell are they, anyway?) and is meant to instill fear in the hearts of those who cross paths with a pirate. And what fate awaits their victims? A little thievery, a bit of rape, and a likely stroll down the plank.
But hey, everyone loves a pirate.

In reality, many a pirate ship sported a plain black flag, but the Jolly Roger has become the mainstay in pirate ship symbolism, which is understandable - it’s a whole lot more interesting than your basic black and there’s something extra creepy about the blank stare of a skull. Plus, it pays to have a catchy calling card when establishing your reputation as a first-class pillager.

The skull and crossbones has also served as warning for many a poison. Just seeing that symbol on a bottle evokes fear in the hearts of consumers. Be it rat poison, arsenic, or some backwoods, toxic moonshine, slapping a skull on the label is a surefire means of warning the thirsty.

The skull has also come to symbolize the badass. After chasing down pirates for a few hundred years, the military adopted the symbol, sporting it on flags, ships, and tattoos to signify their fighting prowess. The trend quickly caught on among the public, especially within the biking community, and today it’s hard to find a biker who doesn’t sport a skull somewhere on his person. From tattoos to tee shirts to leather jackets, bikers simply love the skull, which is ironic when you consider how many of them refuse to wear helmets. Perhaps it’s time they design their own bony emblem – a skull with a hideous crack down the middle.

Skulls were also used to mark the entrance to ancient cemeteries. In the days of Yore, when literacy was in short supply, the skull was a handy means of saying, “Enter at your own risk,” for many a goblin was known to hang out in cemeteries. The skull served as a ghoulish reminder of the inherent dangers of the dead.

But the cultural fascination with our skeletons is not limited to our skulls. Bones have worked their way into our language, cropping up in sayings, slang, and nursery rhymes. Bone idioms (from the Latin, idioma, meaning a special phrase or expression) are widespread in English. And as someone who specializes in the human skeleton, these sayings give me great joy. So I thought I’d share a few with you.

Got an argument to make? Then you have a "bone to pick." Still disagree? It becomes a "bone of
contention." You can be "cut to the bone," "chilled to the bone," "feel it in your bones," or "work your fingers to the bone." You can possess a "funny bone," a "jealous bone," a "crazy bone," or be a "bag of bones." Someone can "break your bones," "throw you a bone," or (if you’re lucky!) "jump your bones." And speaking of sex, we can’t leave out that most common of usages, the ultimate: "boner."

Let’s face it, our bones are some of the coolest parts of our bodies, so it’s no wonder we have woven them into our culture. Whether they’re warning us of danger or painting a verbal picture, make "no bones about it," skeletons rock!

Catch you next week.

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