The Odyssey, and population vs. important people

[emanix]

On a lighter note to my last couple of posts, last week, werenerd and I went to see a part of the now finished Yarn Festival, a performance of the Odyssey split into a dozen different performance styles including film, acting, music and animation (including a finale by the Strumpettes, who I hadn't seen before and were brilliant).

The story involves Telemachus travelling around looking for his father, and I found myself thinking how 'convenient' it was that he, without being particularly famous in his own right, was able to seek out so many other historically important figures and speak to them in person to say 'have you seen my dad?'. Of course, nymphs and sea monsters and so forth being present in the story suggest a suspension of disbelief may be necessary anyway, but that got me thinking further...

Was it in fact, easier to be famous in Homer's time?

Population has been increasing massively over the last couple of thousand years - and it's a long time. The estimated time of Homer's life was around 850BC - estimations of population for that time are around 50 million. In contrast, the population of the UK alone is currently around 61 million, and world population in 2008 was recorded at 6,707 million* - that's 134 people around today for every one person who was alive then. A village of 100 people becomes a town of 13,400 - imagine shouting to be heard!

So how would you define fame? By the number of people who have heard of you, or by the percentage of people who have heard of you? And does it matter?


*Statistics from wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_population

Comments

[tartful-dodger.livejournal.com]

Hmm...

I think that numbers are only a part of it. There's a lot more ways of shouting in today's society, thanks to mass media, so becoming internationally known is a lot easier.

[smescrater.livejournal.com]

It's not just numbers of people you know. It's the influence you have and the ripples you leave in the groups you're involved in.

Some people cause much bigger ripples and their presence is felt in their actions and inactions. Some people choose not to cause ripples and go through life not having an effect.

There are yet rare others who have the gift of influence and synchronicity who are able to shape things.

However, I am *very* tired, and my theory is half-baked. I'll revisit after some thought, however the bones are as above.

Also, it's a question of self-belief and presence. If you believe in yourself, people pick up on this and listen to what you say and before you know it, you're "the famous" x... :)

[emanix.livejournal.com]

I think my thought was not so much about the people you know, as the people who know *you*, if you see the difference.

I was shocked the other week to hear myself described as 'That Maxine' - the one who Organises Things.

Also discovered that one of the first couple of Chaosbunny 'fans' (i.e. people who had read the comic before they ever met me) that I'd come into contact with is apparently working on the Large Hadron Collider. That's all the fame I need, right there! :)

[just-becky.livejournal.com]

Famous? Or Infamous?
:-D

On another matter, did you spot my Livejournal message I sent you a while back? You know, the not quite a journal post, not quite an email messaging system thingy?

[emanix.livejournal.com]

Hehe, I think I'd prefer infamy. Rather be reviled for what I am than loved for what I'm not, most probably.