Who Is America's Homer?

Post by samudrijan » Mon, Jul 20, 2026, 5:33 AM UTC

kstenerud wrote: post #142

oliculipolicula wrote: post #72

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Hmm Wheres the evidence that Homer work ed for the mythology of Dark Age Greece? If you say its his popularity.. (I would cite the Cyclics as counter evidence) For filmmaker: itd have to be someone whom you can imagine (unironically) reconstructing Adams or other actual American heroes So.. Tom Hanks

I'd actually put one in for Clint Eastwood. Although most popular knowledge about him revolves around his earlier acting career (Westerns, Dirty Harry), you'll notice a distinct change in many of his films once he started directing. * Play Misty for Me * Breezy * Unforgiven * A Perfect World * The Bridges of Madison County * Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil * Mystic River * Million Dollar Baby * Changeling * G…

Post by ksd482 » Mon, Jul 20, 2026, 5:40 AM UTC

aforwardslash wrote: post #64

wk_end wrote: post #35

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...you think 1000 years from now people will wonder whether or not Stephen King existed?

Good question. No. Since the press was invented, our records have improved tremendously, partially because of the low cost of maintaing them. However, we still have detailed records from many eras, tracing back at least 3000 years. The egyptians had archeologists, let that sink in.

Post by breve » Mon, Jul 20, 2026, 5:53 AM UTC

dragontamer wrote: post #122

B1FF_PSUVM wrote: post #81

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> the real answer might very well be a musician or filmmaker, not a writer. Walter Disney, obviously. Well, it will probably take at least another century for the fact to hit.

Stan Lee probably had more influence than Walt Disney in terms of how Americans see themselves and how people around the world sees us. Walt Disney is overwhelmingly about older stories (Cinderella, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty), and not anything I feel distinctly "American". The most popular and timeless properties out of Disney (ex: Mickey Mouse) aren't really telling stories or setting cultural trends IMO. Meanwhil…

Post by bee_rider » Mon, Jul 20, 2026, 6:08 AM 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 ben_w » Mon, Jul 20, 2026, 6:25 AM UTC

HPsquared wrote: post #23

freetime2 wrote: post #5

Unfortunately that title is already reserved in the US for Homer Simpson.

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