1. Tending to provoke or cause controversy by its nature.
2. A cliche the media use to add intrigue or
entertainment value to a cultural manifestation or event that is singularly lacking in zest or inherent fascination.
3. Proceeding from 2., sometimes a
semiotic code word used by the media to indicate osentible deviance, such as being homosexual or homosexuality, implying (perhaps unwittingly) that the event or person(s) at hand have a
lurid background by definition.
Example:
1. "It seems that abortion is controversial no matter what a person says about it."
2. "Today we're going to interview Dr.
Judah Wellness, whose new book THINK YOURSELF THINNER has become quite controversial."
3. "The TV color commentators keep calling that figure-skater controversial, but where's the controversy? He himself is quite open about being gay and doesn't seem to have a problem with it. I mean, everyone he knows, knows that he's gay."
--
"I agree, the use of "controversial" just seems a way to add spice; especially since
coming out of the closet hasn't hurt him or his career. What is so sad is that so often, the media people are usually very au courant and sophisticated, and know
darn well when they are using that tag in a hypocritical way."