Today I Appreciate "THAT'S SO RAVEN!"

No, I do not have a special affinity for the Disney Channel. In fact, I tend to rather adversely react to the idea of marketing and producing particularly attractive teens for general consumption. However, over a conversation with some wonderful literary journal staff members, we collectively decided that one particular Disney Channel phrase (and incidentally the name of a semi-successful program) should come back into every day vernacular:

"THAT'S SO RAVEN!"

OK, hear us out on this. My friend, Jeff, initially proposed the idea and I think it's an excellent one for several reasons:

1. Currently, no appropriate expression exists for expressing one's astonishment and excitement over a particular event, person, or circumstance that is shockingly out of the ordinary. Sure, we could say something like, "That's unbelievable!" or "I never would have expected that!" but we lack a modifier for what "that" truly is. To only describe "that" as "unbelievable" or "unexpected" seems rather shoddy and, frankly, rather dull. We need a new phrase to encompass our earth-shattered expectation! Hence, "raven." It rolls off the tongue. It's easy to say. It has a certain punch.

2. The word "raven" conjures mystery, intrigue, and excitement. Even if you're not a fan of Poe, you must admit that a raven seems like a rather looming, enchanted creatures. Sure, it may have some negative and creepy connotations, but it also evokes a mysticism that's heavy, a touch dark, and powerful. Sure, a unicorn or a narwhal edges at producing some feelings of magical wonderment and fulfillment, but not to the same extent as a raven: graceful, powerful, somehow all-knowing. Hence, when someone proclaims something to be "so raven!" one evokes a whole range of emotions and feelings about what a raven encompasses and how a certain event or person may, too, evoke the same sort of excitement and intrigue as the raven itself.

There are only a few hang-ups with trying to integrate this expression into our every day vernacular. First, listeners may immediately associate the expression with the unfortunate Disney channel show about a teen psychic. However, psychics also imply a sort of mysticism, too, even if psychics are more of a joke than anything else. This cultural connection could help better ease those into using the phrase, though, if they see that the adopted meaning of the expression maintains some relevancy to its source material.

Another potential problem is simply the fact that people may not immediately understand what one means upon proclaiming, "That's so raven!" After all, someone may assume that you simply diverged into a non sequiter about a defunct television show and everyone knows that that's not the way to maintain social fluidity. However, a few concise, articulate explanations (see the above list as potential source material) may clear up any potential confusion that may occur.

So, today, I appreciate the discussion of turning "That's so raven!" into an every day catch phrase because not only is it exciting to think about how we have the power to change our language, but it's also a rather fun and energizing process to simply create discussion with wonderful people about even the silliest of topics.