Kyle and Emily get to work at their favorite side hustle, separating “work” from “bywork” and unpacking the meaning and origin of the word parergon.
This word might sound like a mouthful, but our hosts begin by comparing it side by side with more familiar words like parallel, parasite, ergonomic, and paragon. Kyle then takes Emily through parergon’s various meanings. Like that beloved hobby you don’t want to become your job… or the extra work of art that emerges side by side with your main project.
But the uses of parergon extend even further than that! They discuss the word’s meaning in the world of painting, describing the backgrounds in portraits or landscape art. And they even dip their toes into a bit of philosophy, taking on the heady topic of semiotics.
Join us every week as we explore the fascinating origins and meanings of words, uncovering the hidden stories behind language and how it evolves over time, for language enthusiasts and etymology buffs alike.
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Produced by Seth Gliksman, Kyle Imperatore, and Emily Moyers
Main theme and accompanying themes by Kyle Imperatore