So, a little while ago, I looked at Sofia Coppola's IMDb page (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001068/), and someone on the message board said she's "non-pretentious" about her looks. Whaaat? I am educated, but my grammar is not perfect, and, unlike some people there, I don't have the most extensive vocabulary. However, I know that's a real stretch and misuse of the word "pretentious". No? Please, DO correct me if I'm wrong. Why didn't the poster just say she isn't "vain"? On that board, I've asked a couple of times for someone to please explain what a "pretentious" film is, but no one ever answered. Maybe because they could not come up with a good answer? I don't know. That's why I asked. I wish to learn.

Also, I can't count the number of times I've read the word "misogynist" or its variations on many other boards on the internet. Is it being misused? I see "misogynistic" used so much when a simple "sexist" would seem more appropriate, or even "male chauvinist".

I'm not a know-it-all, and I hope I'm not coming across as one, but I really, REALLY want to know why these two words are (mis)used so much. I ask questions because I want to improve.

Googling the word the definition of pretentious seem to be:

attempting to impress by affecting greater importance, talent, culture, etc., than is actually possessed.

So a pretentious movie would be a movie that try to impress by affecting greater importance and/or talent and/or culture that it possess.

I guess that in a lot of case the promotion for a movie will be pretentious or the director making it and not the movie itself.

Maybe a movie that think could change something in society when it will not ?

Oscar movies tend to be extremely self important. Modern superhero movies tend to take themselves very seriously, like they are made for teenagers who want to feel like adults.

>>3

Modern superhero movies tend to take themselves very seriously

Really ?, not the Marvels one (well those I saw like Guardian of the galaxy, Spiderman 1-2, captain america 1-2, certainly not Thor 2 or Avengers).

They sometime put some serious background theme, but do not seem to have the pretension to explore those theme seriously and not just as an excuse for the giant battle.

Misogyny, sexism, and male chauvinism are all different things.

>>5
I know. That's exactly my point. I never see the word "sexism" or the term "male chauvinism" used here when, IMO, there are times -- most times -- when they should be used instead of "misogyny", "misogynist", etc. That is why I ASKED about their (mis)use…. Because I know they're are different, but 'some' people seem to only [think they] know what "misogynistic" means. I believe it may be misused and overused. Of course, I could be wrong.

>>5
I know. That's exactly my point. I never see the word "sexism" or the term "male chauvinism" used here when, IMO, there are times -- most times -- when they should be used instead of "misogyny", "misogynist", etc. That is why I ASKED about their (mis)use…. Because I know they're are different, but 'some' people seem to only [think they] know what "misogynistic" means. I believe it may be misused and overused. Of course, I could be wrong.

Pretentious is one of those words that's overused on forums, by people who obviously don't know what it means. If people don't like a film they call it pretentious, if it's a subtitled film it's called pretentious, an independent film will be called pretentious. The word should be banned along with overrated and phrases like jumping the shark.

>>8 anon, my man! My thoughts exactly!

I don't know about banning, but I'd sure like to see it a lot less, and, when used, used properly by people who know how! Thank you. It's nice to know I'm not alone. I've also noticed people are clueless about "jumping the shark." So glad I'm not the only one.

I'm definitely with you on pretentious. People use it way too often and many seem to like to use it to describe any movie or tv show they don't like.

I actually don't see misogynist used nearly as much although it can be a politically charged word similar to feminist. So when its brought up it will usually generate discussion.

I've never heard the word "misogynist" in real life, but I see it here in world4ct from time to time.

I honestly never remember what it means and have to look it up (which I just did).

There are handful of words I never hear in real life, but see here on world4ct, which I find peculiar.

Dystopian & Brah are a couple others.

I'm surprised, because I've heard it often IRL.

>>12
What is IRL?

I googled it and it say it's about open wheel racing.

When posters use these terms, do you have an idea what they are trying to say?

I can surmise their intent.

Misogynist is a woman hater, plain and simple.

On using pretentious, what if a substitute might include words like alleging, claiming, professing or feigning?

Misuse can also be displayed as misapplication or misappropriation...and I am not even sure overuse is even a word.

…and I am not even sure overuse is even a word.

I'm not sure either. I edited my subject line where I originally had written "Use/misuse" as you can see above. However, "overuse" does appear in some on-line word resources such as the Cambridge English Dictionary.

And if you weren't such a pretentious misogynist, you would do something about it.

But then....that's what you would do....if you weren't a pretentious misogynist.

They're both very strong accusations that some people have a hair trigger on. In most cases, a film has to go really, really far to draw that kind of criticism from me.

A person saying that about Sofia Coppola might mean she is a plain Jane in their opinion, and that Ms Coppola is non-pretentious to awknowledge that by wearing flip flops, a grandma dress and a scarf, with no make up - because dolling up in her case would be like putting perfume on a pig.

In other words, the poster is either a misogynist, a racist (towards American Italians) or possibly near sighted, most likely all of the above.

Not to mention the poster is pretentious for claiming to have the ability to judge female beauty and/or the signal they are attempting to give by their appearance.

Of course, because looks are subjective, it is reasonable to say the poster is using the term non-pretentious correctly, while being themselves pretentious and misogynist about it (misogynist because judging a woman's looks in a negative sense is rude and uncalled for).