“The Rise of ‘Awesome’” by Robert Lane Greene

Central Argument: When a word is used over and over again the entire meaning of that word changes. Its not only the case with words but also with behavior, actions, and the advancing world.

In the article The Rise of Awesome, Robert Lane Greene says that the meaning of words changes over a period of time because of the amount it is used in everyday life. Actions, words and behavior changes overtime but that’s not it. Words and language change as you start using same words over and over again. I agree with Greene because in the world today there is advanced technology, the new fashion trends and classical music on vinyl records.

When you look back in time technology wasn’t as significant as it is today. Technology is making and building knowledge of tools, machines or methods of organization in order to solve a problem or perform a function. Years ago human’s use of technology began with the conversion of natural resources. Recent technological developments, including printing press, the telephone and the Internet have lessened barriers of communication. Back then people used to send letter to friends and family if they lived apart from each other. Now there is something called email therefore the idea of sending letters no more there.

Fashion the one and only word, which has a change to it everyday. Everyday there is something new that comes up and if someone famous wears it or makes use of it then its famous everywhere. During the olden days vintage look was the fashion, however, a few years ago no one knew how it was to be dressed up like a old fashioned person. Now once again wearing old fashioned jumpsuits and wearing frilly frocks are in fashion. A lot of Teenagers didn’t like wearing lacey stuff. Now everything has a lace sequence to it. When people make use of the same things everyday they realize they need change, but however, the fashion trend isn’t forgotten.

In olden times Vinyl Records were played since they had no technology however, even though we have technology now vinyl records are starting to come back. Although not many people buy them because of they have better devices in the world today, Vinyl records still seem to be very significant as they display the love for music from a very long period of time. Antique pieces have always seemed to charm people and it rewinds their memory to the past. Vinyl Records are antique records, which are played at fund-raisers for old people and wine drinking parties because they seem to set the mood of the crowds.

People love to revive things from the past. As one can see technology, fashion trends, and records have made their way from the past to the present. However as these things have been used over and over again, just like the word ‘awesome’ their sense and meaning have changed. As the world advances we sometimes run out of new things and we use old things just in our own way. This once again shows how ‘awesome’ was once a very pure word but now it’s a common word, however, still has several different meanings.