(4) Ludwig van Beethoven
We’ll yield the floor to the Encyclopedia Britannica on this one: “Widely regarded as the greatest composer who ever lived, Ludwig van Beethoven dominates a period of musical history as no one else before or since.” Despite being famously deaf, Beethoven became the definitive figure in music’s transition from the Classical era into more Romantic tendencies. So, yeah, he was pretty good.
(5) James Joyce
Joyce’s mastery of language and inventiveness with new literary forms made him possibly the most critically acclaimed and influential novelist of the 20th century. Ulysses, Finnegans Wake, Dubliners, and A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man are all firmly entrenched in the modern canon, and although his wildly experimental tendencies make reading his work tedious, it’s tough to deny that Joyce had a pretty firm grasp of human nature.
The Breakdown
Here’s a tough matchup of two gents who overcame serious disabilities to crank out some brilliant work. So who do you like: the deaf composer or the wordsmith who could barely see? Nobody’s ever had to lie about making it all the way through “Symphony No. 9,” while we’re willing to bet more than a few have fudged on the “I totally finished Ulysses” line. Beethoven, though, never managed to make you wonder, “Hmmmm…I wonder what a pork kidney tastes like…” quite the way Joyce did. Are you going to vote with your eyes or your ears?
[poll=44]
[See the whole bracket here.]
Comments (7)
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Totally had to go with my man Ludwig. I can’t play his music, but I felt the fool trying to get through Ulysses. The only reason I finished it was because it was part of an English class.
posted by Tricia on 3-25-2009 at 2:13 pm
Very few figures in literature can stand in comparison to JJ, his works tower above his century like no other; Beethoven, genius though he might be, is one among many. JJ FTW.
posted by Dave on 3-25-2009 at 2:39 pm
I have to agree with Dave and am very surprised at the lopsideness of the voting here. Geniuses, by definition, operate on a different plane from the rest of us. Few fit that definition better than Joyce.
posted by Mike D on 3-25-2009 at 3:10 pm
Dave and Mike, the only reason Beethoven is seen as one of many today is that every composer after Beethoven did all they could to imitate him. No one (well, maybe JS Bach) changed music, and defined what our ears think of as music, more than Ludwig Van.
posted by Rey on 3-25-2009 at 4:28 pm
It upsets me that Shakespeare is the only literary figure that will make the sweet 16
posted by Zach on 3-25-2009 at 10:51 pm
Ditto, Zach. The results I think will ultimately favour the scientists; I feel fairly confident about who I think will take the tournament. Not that it will be undeserved, maybe.
I voted for Joyce here for sure, though. I think Beethoven is brilliant, but Joyce is peerless.
posted by Dave on 3-25-2009 at 11:19 pm
(I just thought I should clarify: the 11:19pm is not the same Dave who posted further up the thread! I didn’t check when I filled in the name box on the comment form.)
posted by Dave #2 on 3-26-2009 at 3:18 pm