A Conversation with Nanette
was surprised to be called out by name again , but this time , as a mean pejorative when Gadsby ’ s comic routine hit the fan . While discussing feminist rhetoric in a university seminar focusing on female writers , I unknowingly followed the advice of Wired Senior Editor Alexis Sobel Fitts as I examined Gadsby ’ s rhetorical moves , the way she “ quietly built and broke different interlocking threads ” in her sensationalized staged exposé of the homophobia she feels . She names this phenomenon Nanette .
“ Nanette ranked among the Top 1000 [ names ] until ‘ 77 , peaking in 1956 ” ( Rosenkrantz and Satran ) and made it to the endangered list by being “ given to only five babies each in 2013 , the lowest number counted by the U . S . Social Security Administration . Once usage dips below that , they become the dodo birds of baby names .” Nanettes are rare and , apparently , need protection .
I investigated Gadsby ’ s motivation to appropriate my name� the name that has become an international phenomenon in the world of stand-up ? comedy ?. Watching the Netflix hourlong version provides no explanation for the title since that part of her live routine was clipped . Could there be a Moby Dick without the whale ? A Jane Eyre without Jane ? Maybe it ’ s unimportant , just a matter of semantics ... Semitics ... sematic ... any Tom , Dick , or Harry would have sufficed ? Why is Nanette minus Nanette ? Why did Gadsby name her show in such a personalized manner giving a face-slap to every Nanette everywhere ? Maybe she knew there weren ’ t many of us . We pose no threat�easy pickin ’ s . Apparently , Gadsby was in a bar where she sighted Nanette working . How did Gadsby know the barista ’ s name if they never spoke ? Perhaps Nanette wore a uniform with a nametag as she silently served Gadsby . Maybe a regular shouted , “ Hey , Nanette , get me a drink !”
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