# Obvious things about a creative work you realize after the millionth time (OPEN SPOILERS POSSIBLE) **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 24, 2009, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117 "2009-07-24T13:20:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 62
**Author:** ![Stelios](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8dc957/32.png) [@Stelios](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stelios)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2012, 9:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/1221 "2012-02-25T09:42:52Z")
Dunno if this has been posted yet, but I only realised a few days ago that Legally Blonde was a play on legally blind. ---
**Author:** ![Tess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e480ec/32.png) [@Tess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tess)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2012, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/1222 "2012-02-27T23:35:35Z")
In _Soul Music_ people keep asking Imp if he’s Elvish. I thought it was leading to some reveal about who he really was. Then near the end one of Susan’s friends remarks about the guy at the chip shop, “swear he’s Elvish.” I read that line and immediately thought, “Kirsty MacColl reference! Oh. And Elvis. Him too.” ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2012, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/1223 "2012-02-27T23:54:19Z")
Something I only recently realized when it was pointed out on another forum about Bosun Higgs of the webcomic _Girl Genius_. Bosun Higgs = Higgs boson. ---
**Author:** ![furryman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/furryman/32/99_2.png) [@furryman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furryman)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2012, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/1224 "2012-02-28T02:16:20Z")
The main character of the Mystical Ninja video games is Goemon. I knew Goemon was a real person but it took me years before I figured out that the character design is an extremely cute version of his famous portrait. ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_T-Cups](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ed655f/32.png) [@Sir\_T-Cups](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_T-Cups)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2012, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/1225 "2012-02-28T02:25:48Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > I started a thread that has lasted over two years and has over 1200 replies? > > That really deserves a :smack: I wouldn’t say it deserves a smack, but I do always chuckle whenever I see it and think “I’m sure Annie is freaking out right now” ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2012, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/1226 "2012-02-28T04:58:21Z")
Can I add an obvious “geographical/political” fact that I only just recently realized? My entire life, I’ve been familiar with the “county”, the geographical/political subdivision into which most US states are divided (I live in Chelan County in Washington State). I’ve also been familiar, for many years, with the European noble title, “Count”. It only just dawned on me, while reading Medieval history, that a “county” is an area ruled by a “Count”. The funny thing is that I already knew that a Duke rules a duchy and a Baron rules a barony. I’m blaming the facts that we don’t have nobility in the USA, and we also don’t have duchies and baronies. So I just didn’t make the Count -\> county connection. ---
**Author:** ![DragonAsh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/db5fbb/32.png) [@DragonAsh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DragonAsh)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2012, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/1227 "2012-02-28T12:24:32Z")
With a new kid in the house we’ve been watching a lot of kids movies. Many of which have inside jokes that took me far too long to catch. Just two off the top of my head: Finding Nemo: Mount Wannahockaloogie (want to hock a loogie). LOL Ice Age: When going through the caves just before the ambush, there are lots of fossils etc. frozen in the ice. The gang goes past a space ship also frozen in the ice. The baby waves at the ship with the Vulcan salute. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2012, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/1228 "2012-02-28T12:46:54Z")
> [@grude](#): > > This is possibly disputed but… > > Deckard’s old photo collection in Blade Runner, that he drunkenly looks at. This is right after he explains that replicants love taking and keeping photos, we then see Deckard has a old family photo collection himself. > > I think this is the point Deckard starts to realize that all he has been taught is bullshit, the so called replicant traits are traits ALL human beings have. Its as if he said replicants are known to fall in love, no shit. It shows the cognitive dissonance the entire society lives under with dehumanizing replicants, they have started attributing human traits as replicant traits. > > Some see the scene as a confirmation Deckard himself is a replicant. Off-topic, but interesting. My wife, Pepper Mill, saw that film with an ex-boyfriend. When the camera started pabnning over the old photographs, he sat bolt upright and said that one of the photographs was from his family. I suspect the set dressers bought a bunch of old photographs from somewhere, and that one just happened to be in there. ---
**Author:** ![Baal\_Houtham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baal_houtham/32/13604_2.png) [@Baal\_Houtham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baal_Houtham)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2012, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/1229 "2012-02-28T12:47:58Z")
> [@Mister\_Rik](#): > > It only just dawned on me, while reading Medieval history, that a “county” is an area ruled by a “Count”. Well, hunh! (“Dammit, my garbage ain’t been picked up in three weeks. The next time I see Dracula I’ll give him a piece of my mind!”) ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2012, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/1230 "2012-02-28T16:45:07Z")
> [@Mister\_Rik](#): > > Can I add an obvious “geographical/political” fact that I only just recently realized? > > My entire life, I’ve been familiar with the “county”, the geographical/political subdivision into which most US states are divided (I live in Chelan County in Washington State). > > I’ve also been familiar, for many years, with the European noble title, “Count”. > > It only just dawned on me, while reading Medieval history, that a “county” is an area ruled by a “Count”. > > The funny thing is that I already knew that a Duke rules a duchy and a Baron rules a barony. I’m blaming the facts that we don’t have nobility in the USA, and we also don’t have duchies and baronies. So I just didn’t make the Count -\> county connection. It doesn’t help that one of the oddities of the English was retaining the old Anglo-Saxon title of “Earl” for what everyone else called a Count (despite the fact that the English called an Earl’s _wife_ a “Countess”). ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2012, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/1231 "2012-02-28T19:45:43Z")
> [@Lumpy](#): > > It doesn’t help that one of the oddities of the English was retaining the old Anglo-Saxon title of “Earl” for what everyone else called a Count (despite the fact that the English called an Earl’s _wife_ a “Countess”). Yes. Frankly, as an American, whenever I read stuff about nobility in books and such I’m always wondering what the hell the relationships are, which are “major” vs “minor”, etc. I’ve wondered why an Earl’s wife is called a Countess, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2012, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/1232 "2012-02-28T21:12:16Z")
> [@Sir\_T-Cups](#): > > I wouldn’t say it deserves a smack, but I do always chuckle whenever I see it and think “I’m sure Annie is freaking out right now” The life of this thread still amazes me. How many people catch the sexual innuendo in this scene from Hamlet: HAMLET Lady, shall I lie in your lap? OPHELIA No, my lord. HAMLET I mean, my head upon your lap. OPHELIA Ay, my lord. . HAMLET Do you think I meant country matters? OPHELIA I think nothing, my lord. HAMLET That’s a fair thought to lie between maids’ legs. OPHELIA What is, my lord? HAMLET Nothing. If you don’t get it, put a pause between the two syllables of “country.” ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2012, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/1233 "2012-02-28T21:52:36Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > The life of this thread still amazes me. > > How many people catch the sexual innuendo in this scene from Hamlet: > > HAMLET > Lady, shall I lie in your lap? > OPHELIA > No, my lord. > HAMLET > I mean, my head upon your lap. > OPHELIA > Ay, my lord. . > HAMLET > Do you think I meant country matters? > OPHELIA > I think nothing, my lord. > HAMLET > That’s a fair thought to lie between maids’ legs. > OPHELIA > What is, my lord? > HAMLET > Nothing. > > If you don’t get it, put a pause between the two syllables of “country.” That and it makes Ophelia sound like a retarded bunny. Was she supposed to be what we’d now called a air-headed bimbo? ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2012, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/1234 "2012-02-28T21:58:53Z")
> [@Irishman](#): > > Yes. Frankly, as an American, whenever I read stuff about nobility in books and such I’m always wondering what the hell the relationships are, which are “major” vs “minor”, etc. I’ve wondered why an Earl’s wife is called a Countess, etc. Might I recommend [What Jane Austen Ate and Charles Dickens Knew](http://www.amazon.com/Austen-Charles-Dickens-Whist-Nineteenth-Century/dp/0671882368), an invaluable guide book for anyone reading 19th century English literature. A whole chapter is devoted just to rank and nobility, if for example you’re confused over whether a viscount outranks a baronet, how a lady’s title changes as she marries, is widowed, becomes a mother-in-law, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Lamia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Lamia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamia)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2012, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/1235 "2012-02-29T00:06:33Z")
> [@Lumpy](#): > > It doesn’t help that one of the oddities of the English was retaining the old Anglo-Saxon title of “Earl” for what everyone else called a Count (despite the fact that the English called an Earl’s _wife_ a “Countess”). “Earl” is an Old English word, and was used to describe noblemen (in general, it was not a specific rank) by the early 600s according to the OED. It was used to mean something like “brave warrior” in Old English hundreds of years earlier than that. “Count” derives from the Old French “conte”, and according to the OED was used in Anglo-Norman but did not become a standard English word until the 16th century and then only to translate foreign titles. (It looks like the Romance languages all have similar-sounding noble titles based on the Latin “comes”.) However, “countess” was adopted as the feminine form of “earl” in English within a century of the Norman Conquest – the earliest cite in the OED is 1154. I don’t know what, if any, specific title an earl’s wife had before that. I’ve heard two explanations for why “countess” caught on in English but “count” did not. First, “earl” had a long history in England and is one of the only modern English noble titles that is _not_ derived from French. The English may have wanted to hold onto it for traditional/patriotic reasons. Second, “count” sounds awfully close to a particular Old English word that is still in use today. I don’t know that there’s any evidence that this is what kept “count” from catching on, but I can easily believed that earls preferred the traditional title with its macho connotations to being called counts. ---
**Author:** ![Lumpy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lumpy/32/446_2.png) [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2012, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/1236 "2012-02-29T03:28:19Z")
> [@Lamia](#): > > Second, “count” sounds awfully close to a particular Old English word that is still in use today. I don’t know that there’s any evidence that this is what kept “count” from catching on, but I can easily believed that earls preferred the traditional title with its macho connotations to being called counts. Sounds like a joke I know (it’s funnier said aloud than written): “The Gentry is full of gents and the Country is full of… counts”. ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2012, 6:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/1237 "2012-02-29T06:14:24Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > How many people catch the sexual innuendo in this scene from Hamlet: Anyone who’s studied it in school? I studied it at two different schools, both teachers pointed that out. ---
**Author:** ![williamweigand](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b3f665/32.png) [@williamweigand](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/williamweigand)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2012, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/1238 "2012-02-29T12:33:59Z")
> [@Lumpy](#): > > It doesn’t help that one of the oddities of the English was retaining the old Anglo-Saxon title of “Earl” for what everyone else called a Count (despite the fact that the English called an Earl’s _wife_ a “Countess”). Does an Earl rule over an early? ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2012, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/1239 "2012-02-29T12:52:26Z")
> [@williamweigand](#): > > Does an Earl rule over an early? An earldom. ---
**Author:** ![HazelNutCoffee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ac91a4/32.png) [@HazelNutCoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HazelNutCoffee)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2012, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117/1240 "2012-02-29T15:39:07Z")
> [@An\_Gadai](#): > > It just occurred to me earlier, for some reason, that the sheep in Babe say “baa ram ewe”. I just thought it was a nonsense word they made up but is so obviously, in retrospect the words baa, ram, and ewe. Wow only took me 17 years to figure that one out. Hey, that’s what the sheep say in Warcraft if you click them often enough. (Or they did when I played Warcraft, which was about 15 years ago). I had no idea it was a reference to anything. Huh. I was in my senior year in college before I realized that “le poisson” (the song that the cook sings in The Little Mermaid) is French for “fish.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117.md?page=61) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obvious-things-about-a-creative-work-you-realize-after-the-millionth-time-open-spoilers-possible/504117.md?page=63)