Kissing; The British Hitman
Thinking Allowed
BBC
4.4 • 997 Ratings
🗓️ 2 April 2014
⏱️ 29 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Kissing - a cultural history. How do we make sense of the kiss and why did it become a vital sign of romance and courtship? Laurie Taylor talks to Marcel Danesi, Professor of Linguistic Anthropology about his new book 'The History of the Kiss' which argues that kissing was the first act of "free romance" liberated from the yoke of arranged unions. When the kiss first appeared in poetry and songs of the medieval period, it was as a desirable but forbidden act. Since then it has evolved into the quintessential symbol of love-making in the popular imagination. From early poems and paintings to current films, its romantic incarnation coincides with the birth of popular culture itself. They're joined by Karen Harvey, Reader in Cultural History at the University of Sheffield, who has studied the meaning of the kiss across different cultures and periods.
Also, hitmen for hire: David Wilson, Professor of Criminology, examined 27 cases of contract killing committed by 36 men (including accomplices) and one woman. Far from involving shadowy, organised criminals, the reality of killing for cash turned out to be surprisingly mundane.
Producer: Jayne Egerton.
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Take some time for yourself with soothing classical music from the mindful mix, |
| 0:06.0 | the Science of Happiness Podcast. |
| 0:08.0 | For the last 20 years I've dedicated my career to exploring the science of living a happier more meaningful life and I want |
| 0:14.4 | to share that science with you. |
| 0:16.1 | And just one thing, deep calm with Michael Mosley. |
| 0:19.4 | I want to help you tap in to your hidden relaxation response system and open the door to that |
| 0:25.4 | calmer place within. Listen on BBC Sounds. |
| 0:29.7 | This is a Thinking Loud Podcast from the BBC and for more details in our terms of use and much, much more about thinking aloud, go to our website at BBC.co. UK. |
| 0:44.0 | Hello. Now I don't want to incite any murderous thoughts but is there anyone alive |
| 0:50.0 | who hadn't at one time or other thought they could use the confidential services of a hitman, |
| 0:54.8 | you know, a contract, killer. I mean, if there only there'd been an entry for hitmen in the yellow |
| 1:00.3 | pages I could have hired someone to finish off the job in the flat next |
| 1:03.2 | to mine in York who played back-to-back Metallica and I could have paid someone to |
| 1:06.9 | assassinate the psychopath who pushed her Tesco trolley into my back last weekend |
| 1:11.6 | as I hesitated at the cheese counter. But of course, I'd, |
| 1:15.8 | I'd want it done perfectly. I wouldn't want an apprentice hit man, you know, someone on work experience. |
| 1:22.1 | I'd want professional and cold-blooded. You know the sort? |
| 1:25.8 | Someone with those special eyes. The eyes of the Englishman were open and stared back with |
| 1:31.4 | Frank Kander. Except for the irises, which were flecked grey, |
| 1:36.3 | so that they seemed smoky like the hoar missed on a winter's morning. |
| 1:40.4 | It took Rhoda a few seconds to realize that they had no expression at all. |
| 1:45.6 | Whatever thoughts did go on behind the smoke screen, nothing came through. |
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