Day 39 - Dante Touch, It's Hot!

Recent events have had me hearing about the 1st part of Dante's immortal classic, the Divine Comedy, over and over.  Inferno, according to Dan Brown in his latest novel, is a work of literature that has effected more people in history than any other, with the possible exception of the Bible.  Even then, Dante's work is credited with doubling, or even tripling, church attendance after it's publishing.  If that's the case, could the one have fed the other?  And, if so, how can one be considered to be more influential than the other?

Reference upon reference has been popping up at me.  Dan Brown's new book, an episode of Elementary and others, at least 5 references to the epic poem in the last week, all unrelated except for the subject matter.  It's downright mind boggling.  A work of fiction, written in the early 1300's, referenced in our popular culture with such regularity.  It's almost a certainty that your life has been shaped in some way, big or small, by Dante's work.  Images of Heaven and Hell in historically significant works of art are often based on Dante's work.  We've all heard reference to the famous lines in his writing, though you may not have known who's work it was at the time.  Abandon All Hope, Ye Who Enter Here!  That single line has more references in popular culture that I can explain in this blog.  

For you World of Warcraft fans, look at the sign at the entrance to Deadwind Pass.  For all you animated movie fans, Buck says that same line in Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs.  Ted Mosby also recites part of Inferno in the 5th season of How I Met You Mother.  It's literally everywhere, and I've not even touched on the art and artists.  Botticelli, Dali, Michaelangelo, Rodin, the list goes on.  They all did works, important works, with Dante's epic as the muse.

The bitch of it is, I've never read it.  Not a word.  Me, a self proclaimed voracious reader and aspiring author.  If it wasn't so damned ironic, it might actually upset me.

Lesson for the day.  Someone ALWAYS knows more than you.  Those people may be few or they may be many.  They may be right next to you or on the other side of the world.  The fact remains that there is somebody, somewhere, who knows more...no matter who you are.  Remember that when you're sure that you're the best thing since sliced bread...you ain't all that.  And, obviously, neither am I.

Night all.

Ian