Much like the ignorant misuse of the word "cringe" as an adjective, the word "pretentious" is egregiously misused as well. It has for much longer pathetically been MISUSED.
The word "pretentious" is derived from the word "pretend" or "pretending."
It actually is more or less an *adjective* describing someone or something that is pretending. Or not serious, insincere or fake.
"Pretentious" DOES NOT mean full of oneself or EGO-DRIVEN. But it has been used as a condescending adjective to describe those (often artists) who are too serious or ego-headed. Believing they are smarter or better than others because they can create someting that only they can make or even understand.
"Oh, I can't understand that song because the band are so pretentious"
"On this album, the band are so obsessed and self-absorbed that they come across as incredibly pretentious"
That is incoherent NONSENSE grammatically. That basically means the music is just them being fake, or not really having any integrity in the meaning behind it. Its fake and not sincere in its intent.
No No No NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Is the music trying to push boundaries and being AMBITIOUS? sure..but there's nothing FAKE or INSINCERE about it or the artists intent.
And these blowhards on Social Media and even other outlets (tv, radio..even movies and books), have adopted this pathetically INCORRECT use of the word, that like many of these verbal/vernacular trends ("not to mention"..even though when "not to mention" is used, it was just FUCKING MENTIONED!..lol).
I believe "pretentious" is used to try and sound cool and tough. It's used to sound more highly educated and smart, but in fact, it actually comes across as feeble and insecure.
Regardless, until its use fades out of the verbal zeitgeist of pop-culture, it will continue to be misused and influence countless others over the years to be misused.
PRETENSION?
a claim or assertion of a claim to something.
the use of affectation to impress; ostentatiousness.
that is what google brings up, although that 2nd defintion I would contend is
a) newer than the 1st
b) not necessarily given a negative, insulting tone.
But the loudmouths who word-drop "pretentious" so often always intend it to be used that way.
Regardless, the wording is still derived from the latin base which comes from the word "pretend," which goes back to how misused "pretentious" is and it really needs to change. Will it?..doubtful. The best bet is for it to fade and not be cool anymore to say.
edit:
After all these fucking years..at least a decade or more, basically all these trillions or more incorrect uses of the word "pretentious"..the word that actually should be used is OSTENTATIOUS.
"Ostentatious" describes a showy or extravagant display meant to impress, while "pretending" or "fake" implies a deliberate deception or insincerity, often about one's identity or abilities.
being a show-off, bragging, attention-whoring, etc is not the same thing as not being serious
(or too serious), pretending or PRETENTIOUS.
But, the short response to all these uses of "pretentious" should be,
you mean "ostentatious."
or just quote it, and modify the quote by pretentious ostentatious.
fixed.pretentious ostentatious.
pretentious ostentatious.
pretentious ostentatious.
pretentious ostentatious.
pretentious ostentatious.
pretentious ostentatious.
pretentious ostentatious.
pretentious ostentatious.pretentious ostentatious.pretentious ostentatious.pretentious ostentatious.
