Who Is America's Homer?

Post by jcynix » Wed, Jul 15, 2026, 9:39 PM UTC

Post by wk_end » Wed, Jul 15, 2026, 9:41 PM UTC

runarberg wrote: post #15

brightball wrote: post #4

Solid read. Recommendations elaborated on in the article are a solid set. Mark Twain or Walt Whitman would probably get my vote.

Woody Guthrie, who gets a mention in the article, would get my vote. I would argue that while poets and playwrights are a solid choice for ancient Greece, Music and Movies is the equivalent for America. Woody Guthrie is a solid choice because he traveled and collected folk music which was reflected in his own expressions. As for movies I would want Jim Jarmusch to be Americas Homer, just because I like his movies a l…

Post by EGreg » Wed, Jul 15, 2026, 9:41 PM UTC

bryanrasmussen wrote: post #8

I think it is somewhat weird that nobody put Twain in. I could also see someone suggesting Hemingway, although I don't buy it. Hart Crane at this point in time seems somewhat secondary, so that was surprising. The Tracy Chapman thing seemed seriously like a troll, I could definitely agree to a black Homer, but then I guess it would be Langston Hughes or James Baldwin as my choices. To suggest someone though who has t…

Post by Avshalom » Wed, Jul 15, 2026, 9:42 PM UTC

Post by Avicebron » Wed, Jul 15, 2026, 9:44 PM UTC

wk_end wrote: post #27

HPsquared wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I suppose that begs the question, who was ancient Greece's Homer Simpson?

Socrates, I'd say.