Decoder Ring: Mystery of the Mullet (Encore) — Detailed Summary

Host: Willa Paskin
Guest: Lauren Wright
Additional Contributor: Oscar Sigvartsen
Release Date: December 4, 2024

1. Introduction

In this encore episode of "Decoder Ring," host Willa Paskin delves deep into the cultural and linguistic history of the mullet hairstyle. The episode explores not just the evolution of the mullet as a fashion statement but also investigates the enigmatic origins of the term "mullet" itself.

2. Cultural History of the Mullet

Lauren Wright's Personal Connection
Lauren Wright, a DJ with a distinctive mullet, shares her personal connection to the hairstyle:

[02:20] Lauren Wright: "It's pretty short on the sides, and I've got some solid length in the back, so it's kind of getting flowy. It's definitely curly and luscious, and I don't know, I'm pretty proud of it."

Early Encounters with Mullets
Lauren reminisces about her first encounter with mullets during her childhood in Texas:

[02:48] Lauren Wright: "My PE teacher, who was a woman, had a long, epic, curly mullet. She was always chewing gum and teaching us line dances to Billy Ray Cyrus's 'Achy Breaky Heart.' It was like a double mullet experience."

Rise and Fall in Popularity
Willa Paskin outlines the mullet’s journey through mainstream culture:

[03:56] Willa Paskin: "From country stars and rock icons to athletes and everyday people, the mullet was once a versatile and pan-gender hairstyle. However, by the late 1990s, it had become dramatically uncool, symbolizing unattractiveness and low class, as depicted in films like Joe Dirt."

Subcultural Embrace
Despite its mainstream decline, various subcultures have intermittently embraced the mullet:

[04:46] Oscar Sigvartsen: "1976 called. It wants its hairstyle back."

[05:09] Lauren Wright: "The mullet has been deemed traditionally very unattractive and ugly. As someone who doesn't fit traditional beauty norms, this haircut feels very powerful."

3. The Lexical Mystery of "Mullet"

Questioning the Origin of the Term
A pivotal moment arises when Willa Paskin reveals a surprising fact about the term "mullet":

[05:46] Willa Paskin: "What if I told you that the word mullet didn't exist until 1994?"

Lauren Wright expresses astonishment:

[06:01] Lauren Wright: "It would be surprising for sure, because I would think that mullets are so emblematic of the '80s."

This revelation prompts an investigation into the Oxford English Dictionary's (OED) efforts to trace the term's origins.

4. Oscar Sigvartsen's Research

Embarking on the Quest
Oscar Sigvartsen, a linguistics enthusiast from Stockholm, becomes central to uncovering the mystery:

[09:26] Oscar Sigvartsen: "I started putting 'mullet' in Google Books between 1980 and 1989, but it mostly came up as references to the fish."

Discovering the Gap
Oscar's research aligns with the OED's findings, showing a lack of documentary evidence for the term "mullet" as a hairstyle before 1994.

5. The Reddit Hoax

A Potential Breakthrough
In 2015, Oscar shares his findings on Reddit's "Today I Learned" subreddit, hoping to unearth earlier references. The post gains significant attention, leading to collaborative efforts to find evidence.

[22:14] Oscar Sigvartsen: "I posted my information about mullet to the Today I Learned subreddit, and it blew up like it was on the front page for almost an entire day."

Uncovering Fake Evidence
A Reddit user, topsmate, claims to have found a 1991 Australian magazine article referring to mullets, revitalizing the search. However, further investigation reveals inconsistencies:

[24:26] Willa Paskin: "The image posted from Street Machine magazine lacks the word 'mullet,' and librarians couldn't locate the supposed 1992 issue."

6. OED's Final Conclusion

Validation and Skepticism
The OED investigates the alleged 1991 reference but finds no concrete evidence. Additionally, topsmate later confesses to fabricating the reference as part of an online trolling community:

[38:39] Lauren Wright: "I have very mixed emotions hearing this. It validated how hinky the Street Machine evidence felt."

[38:39] Willa Paskin: "Topsmate, the Reddit user, later apologized, admitting to creating fake evidence to disprove the mullet origin story."

OED's Standpoint
Catherine Connor Martin, head of product for Oxford Languages, concludes that without verifiable documentary proof, the term "mullet" likely originated from the Beastie Boys in the mid-1990s.

7. Influence of Naming on Perception

Beastie Boys and the Branding of the Mullet
The episode discusses how the Beastie Boys played a crucial role in popularizing and negatively framing the mullet:

[46:24] Willa Paskin: "It was all quite intentional and completely planned by super genius Mike D of the Beastie Boys."

Shaping Cultural Memory
The naming by the Beastie Boys solidified the mullet's association with negative stereotypes, overshadowing its earlier, more inclusive cultural significance.

[49:37] Willa Paskin: "Maybe the solution to why mullets are seen as so ugly is that it isn’t really that way to those who embrace it."

8. Conclusion

Final Reflections
Willa Paskin wraps up the episode by reflecting on the broader implications of the mullet mystery:

[42:12] Willa Paskin: "The mullet is a fun, low-stakes iteration of something that is often not fun or low stakes at all. People's warped but strongly held perceptions of the imagined past drive their certainty."

The episode emphasizes how cultural artifacts, like the mullet, and the terminology used to describe them can significantly influence public perception and memory.

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Lauren Wright [02:20]: "I am the proud owner and wearer of a mullet."
• Willa Paskin [05:46]: "What if I told you that the word mullet didn't exist until 1994?"
• Oscar Sigvartsen [09:26]: "I started putting 'mullet' in Google Books between 1980 and 1989, but it mostly came up as references to the fish."
• Willa Paskin [38:39]: "Topsmate, the Reddit user, later apologized, admitting to creating fake evidence to disprove the mullet origin story."
• Willa Paskin [49:37]: "Maybe the solution to why mullets are seen as so ugly is that it isn’t really that way to those who embrace it."

Key Takeaways

• Cultural Significance: The mullet was once a versatile and widely accepted hairstyle across various demographics before falling out of mainstream favor.
• Linguistic Origins: The term "mullet" lacks documented usage before the mid-1990s, suggesting it was popularized by the Beastie Boys.
• Impact of Naming: The branding of the mullet by influential figures like the Beastie Boys played a pivotal role in shaping its negative cultural perception.
• Role of Documentation: The Oxford English Dictionary's efforts highlight the importance of verifiable evidence in tracing linguistic history.
• Public Perception vs. Reality: Collective memories and perceptions can significantly diverge from documented history, influenced by popular media and authoritative figures.

For More Information:
If you have cultural mysteries you'd like to decode, contact Decoder Ring at decodering@late.com.