Obsessed with Stardom: Traversing History from Ancient Greek Notables to Modern-Day Pop Icons, Lady Gaga Included
Revamped Analysis:
Embracing the Evolution of Acclaim: Unraveling the Roots of Fame in the Ancient World
By Dr. David Haven Blake, Professor of English, The College of New Jersey
Opening Shots
Emily Dickinson once penned, "Fame is a bee, it has a song — / It has a sting — / Ah, too, it has a wing." In the hustle and bustle of today, the bee of fame still buzzes about, dripping honey (or venom) as it wings its path across our lives. Prepping a course titled "Fame Through Time" at The College of New Jersey, I aimed to detach the bee's wings and examine its origins in the frugal lands of antiquity.
My course sought to shatter the notion of fame as an emblem of glitz and glamour, proving that fame transcends such simplistic notions and holds a significant place in treasured stories of heroism, virtue, and public life.
Fame, like a bee, can indeed have a sting, but the fascinating tales of ancient cultures reveal that it also holds the power to bestow a new life if harnessed correctly.
The Cyclops' Blindside: Ancient Greece
Ah, sweet, ancient Greece, the cradle of ideas, democracy, and fame. The champions of Greek mythology were celebrated not only for their grandeur but also for their moral principles. For instance:
- Heroes in Odysseus's Shadows: The mythical Greek hero, Odysseus, was a hallowed figure who endured ten years of trials and tribulations in Homer's iconic epic. Beyond the thrill of adventure, Odysseus was punished for his hubris, a cautionary tale that echoes the perils that can ensnare the infamous.
- Great Minds of the Mediterranean: Greek philosophers like Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle aren't just pop culture puzzle pieces. They represented renaissance figures, blazing new intellectual trails that continue to guide modern thought.
LaLa Rome
As the Roman Republic matured, its cosmopolitan heart began to revolutionize fame, integrating art, power, and celebrity models that have permeated societies across the ages.
- Artists in the Shadow of Power: Roman poets, like Horace, sought immortal glory through their verse, aspiring to create masterpieces that surpassed bronze monuments.
- Politics & Fame: Power roosted in Rome, and its leaders spiraled their influence by staying within the public eye, casting their conquests in the framework of Rome's expanding glory.
Egypt: Queens of the Nile
The pharaohs of ancient Egypt were divine figures who reigned in the cradle of legend and glory. From towering pyramids to the enigmatic Sphinx, the civilizations of Egypt bequeathed their legacy to immortal fame.
- Divine Rulers: Pharaohs were immortalized as gods, with their strength and wisdom seeping into the social fabric through myth and pagentry.
- Artistic and Architectural Marvels: Artisans and architects in Egypt crafted masterpieces that served as a testament to the greatness of emperors and nobility.
The Mayan Mystique
In mystic lands, the Mayan civilization flourished, weaving the threads of fame into the fabric of its culture through religious and political avenues.
- Religious Influence: Priests, the keepers of knowledge, cultivated a power base in Mayan society through their teachings and spiritual guidance.
- Festivals and Rituals: Rituals, fanfare, and festivities signified moments of grandeur and opulence, occasions for religious leaders and nobility to bolster their fame and esteem.
Confucian East
In the heart of the East, Confucianism took root as a guiding force in ancient Chinese society. This influential philosophy places a heavy emphasis on morality, respect for elders, and education.
- Scholars and Leaders: Confucius and the great Confucian scholars who followed in his footsteps gained fame as wise guides and moral exemplars.
Ancient fame offers a perspective on the everlasting nature of human ambition and a reminder that, far from a new phenomenon, the all-consuming specter of fame has loomed over our species since our earliest days. As students and I embarked on a journey through the annals of fame, our discussions transgressed the boundaries of antiquity, planting firm roots in the soil of modernity.
References:
[1] Aristotle, On the Road to Moral Wisdom, trans. Terence Irwin. London: Hackett, 2009.
[2] Edmonson, James D. The Maya Civilization: Origins, Decline, and Revival. Santa Barbara, CA: Praeger, 2007.
[3] Graham, A. C. The Foundations of Confucian Thought. New York: Columbia University Press, 2002.
[4] Nagy, Gregory. Homeric Questions. Austin: University of Texas Press, 1996.
[5] Wallace-Hadrill, Janet. "Fame, the Acquired Character of the Classics," in RECENT VIEWS on Propertius, ed. P. Hardie. London: Duckworth, 1999, pp. 131-148.
In the exploration of fame's origins, we find that it transcends the modern connotations of glitz and glamour, holding significant places in tales of heroism, virtue, and public life, as exemplified in the Ancient Greek champions and the philosophers of the Mediterranean.
Furthermore, the integration of art, power, and celebrity models by the Romans can be traced in the works of their poets, the political maneuvers of their leaders, and the architectural wonders they left behind.
This revamped analysis, delving into the roots of fame in the ancient world, underscores its everlasting nature as a testament to human ambition, linking our society's fascination with fame to the earliest days of civilization. Such exploration not only provides insights into the past but also illuminates the contemporary landscape of lifestyle, fashion-and-beauty, education-and-self-development, entertainment, and pop-culture.
