Bathos

[dr_mabeuse]

I just learned what bathos means. I always thought it meant over-the-top tear-jerking and sentimentality, but it doesn’t. It refers to the unintentional sabotage of high artistic effect by low means or easy devices.

For instance, in the classic 50’s golden turkey Robot Monster, the envoy of the Ruler of the Universe is a gorilla wearing a deep-sea diver’s helmet. That’s bathetic. Likewise, in Attack of the Killer Shrews, the shrews in the title are actually collie dogs with cardboard fangs taped to their doggy lips. Bath-o-delic.

---dr.M.

 

[wishfulthinking]

Ummm...okay.

Only kidding.

You were right, it can also mean being overly sentimental or emotional. Just don't go getting bathetic on me now.

 

[snooper]

I thought ...

Bathos was one of Dumas' Three Musketeers?

 

[NoJo]

Charlie Chaplin did a brilliant one:

He's a millionaire on a ship who's just found out his wife has died. He's on his yacht, and walks stunned, slowly to the rail, looks out to sea. We see him there, his back to us, his head slumped. He starts to sob uncontrollably, his body rocking with grief. Then we see he's actually calmly mixing himself a celebratory cocktail.

 

[shereads]

Likewise, in Attack of the Killer Shrews, the shrews in the title are actually collie dogs with cardboard fangs taped to their doggy lips. Bath-o-delic.

Voles. I'm almost certain they were voles.

 

[shereads]

Had to look them up to confirm the distinction between "bathos" and "pathos." Turns out that a secondary meaning of bathos is overdone pathos.

(Never order your pathos overdone in a good restaurant. It toughens the meat, and the chef will be insulted.)

 

[angela146]

In other words, "bathos" is immersing yourself in pathos.

 

[shereads]

In other words, "bathos" is immersing yourself in pathos

or making your dog dress up like a killer shrew, or vole...Makes a person admire Webster, doesn't it?

 

[Black Tulip]

Re: I thought ...

Bathos was one of Dumas' Three Musketeers?

Uh, I think they were Aramis, Athos and Porthos.

 

[Guest]

I can hardly wait for someone to tell me my life is bathetic.

Perdita

 

[snooper]

Re: Re: I thought ...

Uh, I think they were Aramis, Athos and Porthos.

What about D'Artifice? You may remember, he owned a fire.

 

[Black Tulip]

Don't you mean D'Artagnan?

He was more into lighting fires if I recall correctly.