Devils Horns
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Posted by Lisbeth Cheever-Gessaman Jan 4, 2008 |
I grew up in the age of metal - that is, the music that was deafening, rife with ear-bleeding guitars and dotted liberally with doves heads and leather. I have come not to praise metal, but to elaborate on a specific hand gesture that anyone from my time will be only too familiar with.
I refer to the 'Devils Horns'.
The Corna, or "Devils Horns", if you will, are comprised of making a fist; and then lifting the first and fourth finger (pointer and pinky respectively), thumb optional. Whereas back-in-the-day it was reserved exclusively for only the most egregious and hardcore of metalheads (Dio, Priest, Kiss, Black Diamond, et al), it widened somewhat to be found more commonly in any venue pertaining to music, whether awards shows or concerts. I can live with this.
What is notable - even conspiratorial -, is the frequency with which it is lately being used by the most unsuspecting groups - politicians, movie stars and even the pope.
When the Pope gives the sign of Devil Horns, it's time to start asking questions.
I mean, this is not a unilaterally understood hand gesture. Depending on your source, it is either the sign for the Devil or the sign to ward him off, a symbol for the Texas Longhorns or the ASL symbol for "I love you". In an international age where such gestures can vary tremendously as regards their cultural meanings, why are so many people using a gesture that so few can ascribe a meaning to at all?
Certainly, I am not the only one asking. And I make no pretense to an answer - this writer seeks only to ask the questions. And to ponder a bit on what the heck, where she conspiratorially inclined, is going on here?