Friday, July 15, 2005
What is the Etymology of Paparazzi?
In 1959 the Italian filmmaker Fredrico Fellini made a movie called La Dolce Vita (meaning the sweet or good life). It's about a gossip magazine journalist who spends his time in vaccuous shallow partying among the rich and famous. One of his colleagues and companions is a young photographer named Paparazzo who is the quintessential tabloid photographer harrassing and jostling his way to flash a picture. It is generally believed and accepted that the word paparazzi, (Paparazzo made plural), to refer to photographers who hound and dog celebrities to get a picture, comes from that character's name.
Fellini is reported to have decided on that character's name after reading a book that contained a character by the name of Coriolano Paparazzo who owned a hotel. The book was called By the Ionian Sea by George Gissing.
The movie itself is considered a classic and should by all means be seen.
Fellini is reported to have decided on that character's name after reading a book that contained a character by the name of Coriolano Paparazzo who owned a hotel. The book was called By the Ionian Sea by George Gissing.
The movie itself is considered a classic and should by all means be seen.
# posted by Ninja @ 3:55 PM 
