Vladimir Nabokov released his classic novella Lolita in 1955 and it resulted in two film adaptions, one directed by Stanley Kubrick released as an X rated film in 1962 (now rated PG) and one directed by Adrian Lyne in 1997 (rated R-18 in Australia).
In line with my post on the name Nadja, I found it interesting to read about the repercussions of Nabokov’s novel (and subsequent films) on the name Lolita.
Nabokov has said, “I am probably responsible for the odd fact that people don’t seem to name their daughters Lolita any more. I have heard of young female poodles being given that name since 1956, but of no human beings.”
Despite this, the disambiguation page for Lolita in Wikipedia far outstretches that of the name Nadja.
Lolita is also (unfortunately) a CDP in (appropriately) Texas. It is the name of a couple of pop singers. It is referenced in several albums and songs by different bands and musicians, including Agoraphobic Nosebleed in their song “Living Lolita Blowjob” on Altered States of America.
The book has also given birth to the name of several different Japanese-related things, including Lolita-styled fashion and Lolita Anime (the first ever hentai OVA).
Also, just as The Truman Show gave rise to the term The Truman Show Delusion (isn’t that essentially just an existentialist crisis?), Lolita has given rise to the term Lolicon (Lolita complex).
All because of a book (as it happens).
Filed under: Lolita
