Jennifer Cuddy

Homer, Western Civilizations Definition of Culture, Masculinity, and the Silence of Sappho



Posted: Saturday, April 05, 2008

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In our now ethnically diverse culture of political correctness, can we justify the traditional canon as representative of a universal definition of culture? In times past, the study of epic Greek poems such as Homer's 'The Iliad' have resulted from hegomonic conventions, which have since then influenced our societies definitions of not only 'culture' but also our sexual identities and our singularly defined roles in society. Take Homer's hero, Achilles, for example, and the blood drenched brutality of the Trojan War; a war fought initially, over the right to own a beautiful woman, Helen of Troy. A war which became inevitably a war over masculine pride: triumph and heroic glory vs defeat and pitiless shame and swift death. Is not Achilles renowned to be the very essence of masculinity: the undefeatable warrior, somewhat spoiled, physically perfect, with an unapologetic temper; who is symbolic of the Imperialist warrior society? The women are no more than exalted slave mistresses, and are treated very much like what we call in today's society, 'trophy wives.' Consider the source of the metaphor for a moment.

Women of the western canon are deified for their beauty, and cherished for their fertility; often the two are interchangeable. Beauty is spring and celebrations of rebirth and renewal, or the harvest before the winter storm. Not suprisingly, women have very little place in Western politics, literature, painting, or music until the 17th century. Sappho is perhaps the only revered poet of antiquity, however she became most famous for being the 'lesbian' from Lesbos, and is therefore associated ( notoriously ) with the feminist movement. Her poetry is scantly preserved, however, what historians know of her is that she held a very high social position, was married, and remarkably well educated. She was an impassioned poet, but a very silenced poet within the patriarchal society to which we deem our origin of intellectual thought and artistic sensibility. And so continued our societal roles and inequality until modern times.

Will future classrooms continue with the tradition of studying 'white anglo saxon' male dominated thought and influence, or will we expand our definition of classical education to include the histories of more foreign cultures and their politics, religions, and literature? And if so, how will this effect our definition of 'culture' as a society? Could we be headed towards an age of humanism?
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Top-level comments on this article: (1 total)
» left by Christofer French
 1 year 114 days ago.
70 fans.
Clearly written and de riguer. Is there a contrasting culture apart from "western" culture to draw comparisons to? Your observations about Greek culture are appreciated. Have you ever had a class or take a look at Gaelic culture? Quite a different picture there, and also reasons why. Gaelic culture is not as popular in formal education, but it has much to teach. Love your article.
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