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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (July 25, 2002)
Greek literature offers tragedy, sex, drama, war Why are “The Iliad,” “The Odyssey,” and “The Aeneid” worth reading? Why, out of all the books in our many Eugene bookstores, should the works of Homer and Virgil be bought over Tom Clancy or Stephen King’s latest bestsellers? Ultimately, ancient epics are menus for all tastes. They have the elegance of Jane Austen with the scandal of Jerry Springer. They wield the grace and suspense of Hitchcock with the gore of “Brave heart” and ’’Saving Private Ryan.” They tell one story and yet encom pass every story ever told. They are masterpieces and have lasted this long for a reason. When I first read “The Iliad,” be tween the words, in the white of the pages, I saw greedy Agamem non and proud Achilles argue in the firelight over a woman. The thick clouds of duston the battle field made me choke. The gross, festering spear wounds made my stomach clench. And my eyes squinted under that merciless blaze of the sun that beat down on the men of Ilium. The imagery alone is worth reading these epics, but there is so much more. Imagine a man well in his 40s, wealthy and famous, who be moans a fate of adventure-hop ping around the world, constantly being seduced by goddesses who Guest Commentary Georgia Billingsley make Victoria’s Secret underwear models look plain — and all be cause the one he really wants is his wife at home. This is Odysseus. Imagine a war as horrific and terrible as any other, lasting 10 in terminable years. And how does this war begin? Because one of bin Laden’s groupies abducts Dick Cheney’s wife, who in this sce nario just happens to be the most beautiful woman in the world. This is the beginning of “The Iliad.” Imagine a strong, intelligent and beautiful woman. She is the founder and leader of an empire, and she torches a massive pile of the things her boyfriend forgot to pack on his way out the door, all because his excuse is, “But baby, I gotta go or else Zeus is gonna get ticked.” This is Dido. One of the greatest tragedies of life is when we begin to view things as either beneath or be yond us. The world is too fasci nating and our minds are too ca pable for either. Yet, so many people look at the stories of Ancient Greece and Rome as boring, dated or too diffi cult to decipher. The language is a path, not a wall, and for each of the epics there are many different translations to fit personal reading style preferences. As unlikely as it may seem, there may come a time when many of the brightest literary stars of our age will fade. While Jack Ryan slowly disappears to the land of “unheardof ’ and even the mighty towers of Hogwarts begin to crum ble, Achilles will still shout his war cry over the din of battle. Odysseus will still chill on the beach with the lotus-eaters, and Aeneas will time and again mes merize his African queen. These epics have lasted for thousands of years, and they will last much longer. Ultimately, it is an eerie and humbling feeling to know that the stories and characters in these classics endure before and after this age. The classics are worth reading because they existed before my life, my family, my country and the world as I know it came to be. The classics are worth reading because they will no doubt still exist after my life, my family, my country and the world as I know it all end. Georgia Billingsley is a freelance columnist. Her opinions do not necessarily represent those of the Emerald. Readings continued from page 1 holding its Women’s Poetry Slam at 7 p.m. Aug. 5. This is an oppor tunity for those who like to read their own works aloud while also getting to listen to the poetry of other local authors. Chinosole and Alma Jean Billingslea-Brown are also sched uled to visit Mother Kali’s. Chinosole, a San Francisco scholar, activist and author of “African Diaspora and Autobiogra phies,” is scheduled to come to the bookstore for a reading, discussion and slide show 7 p.m. Aug. 6. Scheduled for the same time, Billingslea-Brown, civil rights movement veteran and author of “Crossing Borders Through Folk lore: African American Women’s Fiction and Art,” will also read. Addressing controversial is sues with flair, Arlene Stein will hit the highlights of her book, “The Stranger Next Door,” 7 p.m. Aug. 20, which details the strug gle between local community members and the OCA. For the pleasure of a poetry reading along with the delight of music, drinks and food, Cozmic Pizza presents the Celtic Jam every Thursday. Today’s event features the Fiannel Cats’ music from 6:30 to 8 p.m. followed by Claudia Lapp’s poetry reading and an open mic. The event is free. Contact the reporter atjilliandaley@dailyemerald.com. INI >E P E N i>ENT Eli OWNPO AWft fcATlPO 258 EAST 13THAVE. EUGENE OREGON 97401 541-342-7975 FAX 541-344-7242 BUY SELL TRADE NEW USED TAPES CDS RECORDS H0REC0RDS@0WEST.NET CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED CLASSICAL MUSIC, OPERA, BROADWAY & FILM SCORES ON COMPACT DISC Musique Gourmet Catering to the Discriminating Collector Behind Bradford’s 942 Olive Street • Free Parking Closed Tuesdays 343-9000 707 Willamette St. 683-5160 (free parking in Rock-n-Rodeo Lot) FRIDAYS We pay you to party! We give you three bucks to party with (8:30-11:30). No cover charge every Friday 2002 Liberty Tour coming AUGUST 1st (free pizza & Coke with various prize giveaways) Better Ingredients. Better Pizza. South Eugene and U of 0 480-PAPA (7272) Springfield, Duck's Village, Chase Village and University Commons 746-PAPA (7272) Bethel/Danebo Santa Clara/River Road 461-PAPA (7272) 014403 COME OUT AND SEE: Thursday, August 1st from 11:30am to 2:00pm at Springfield location w/KZEL at 1402 Mohawk Blvd. or at Santa Clara location from 4:30pm to 7:00pm w/KNRQ at 54B Division Ave. Pick 3 LARGE PIZZA With up to 3 toppings only. Available in Original or Thin Crust. Not valid with any other otter or special Limited delivery areas it charge on delivered orders run any other otter or special Li Expires 8/30/02
