While throwing up a middle finger today clearly communicates a resounding “f**k you,” in classical society, historians say a middle finger was more of a ribald sexual reference.
Proudly displaying a middle finger was usually a joke, an insult or a sexual proposition, Nelson and other classical researchers posit.
Morris has said that the middle finger landed in the US with Italian immigrants in the late 19th century.
Anti-establishment artists from Joe Strummer of The Clash to Tupac Shakur have pointed a middle finger at the ruling class in their work — and, in famous photos, literally.
The singer appeared during Madonna’s Super Bowl Halftime Show and flexed her middle finger toward the camera, prompting the NFL and NBC to apologize.
Persons:
”, Max Nelson, Nelson, Aristophanes, Socrates, Suetonius, Caligula, Desmond Morris, Morris, ” Morris, It’s, ” Nelson, didn’t, Brian Palmer, Johnny Cash, Joe Strummer, Tupac Shakur, M.I.A, Madonna, assumedly
Organizations:
CNN, BBC, University of Windsor, Catholic Church, Slate ., San, NFL, NBC
Locations:
Ontario, Canada, Greece, Rome, San Quentin, California, M.I.A