The various "100 best things" lists

Over the past week or so there has been an increase in the facebook apps  of the form "100 things to do, eat, visit, etc."  I don't have any objections to them, and in fact they're sort of fun to peruse.  At the same time the subjectivity involved in choosing the most notable 100 of anything lends a sort of pointlessness to the lists.

The lastest to enter my attention span is a "places to visit" sort of list.  The Sears Tower, Grand Canyon, and Gateway arch all made the cut, but Savannah's Mercer house, White Sands desert, and the Brooklyn Bridge didn't.  I suspect the Big Chicken wasn't even considered, and it's at least as artistically significant as the Gateway Arch.

I'm aware that ranking things is a very human characteristic, but I first became skeptical of "100 things" lists when I began mulling over the 100 greatest English language novels, and 100 greatest operas lists.

James Joyce's Ulysses was at the top of the novels lists.  Really?  Better than Confederacy of Dunces, or Catch 22?  The relative merits of a novel depends on one's purpose in reading it, and I don't doubt Joyce's brilliance, but I've made repeated unsuccessful attempts to read Ulysses.  I've started it so many times that I've practically memorized the scene with Steven Dedalus and Buck Mulligan in the Tower.  Then I bog down.  Perhaps I have a lowbrow streak, but I've read the latter two books repeatedly.  I don't think it's American chauvanism on my part either.  I think Terry Pratchett is one of the finest living English language writers, and if memory serves me correctly none of his books made the "100 greatest ..." list.

As for the opera list, Wagner's Ring Cycle was at the top of the most widely circulated list.  As good as it is, it's a ponderous, overly long, somewhat jingoistic opera, guaranteed to bring about a terrible case of sore buttocks, even with frequent intermissions.  There are many brilliant and accessible operas to choose from.  The Barber of Seville, Il Trovatore, and any of Gilbert and Sullivan's works make arguably much better connection with audiences than the 15 hours of the Ring Cycle.

These lists may be worthwhile to expose a person to places, foods, novels, operas, symphonies, or other types  of thing which that person might not otherwise encounter, or to test one's exposure to a wide range of experiences.  But you shouldn't stress out too much if you've never eaten haggis, or been to the Gateway arch, or read Ulysses, or suffered through a live performance of the Ring Cycle.  Instead figure out what you really find fulfilling, and make your own list.

Comments

[Berni]

There are over 100 operas? :) A "100 Best Horror Movies Ever" list has changed my viewing habits this week. I'm trying to fill in the gaps a little on the 30 or so I haven't seen (I missed a lot of 70s horror, apparently). It's a little less labor intensive than doing the same with book lists, but I've used some of them to add to my long reading "to do" list, as well.

[Berni]

Although I didn't mean to make it sound like I was disagreeing. Art is too subjective for these lists to be anything more than entertainment. Someone could probably make a list of the 100 best "100 best..." lists at this point. :)

[Larry Johnson]

Hi, Berni. I at least look over the lists when they pop up. If memory serves me correctly I got only 34 of the "Top 100 Horror Movies". And a few of the choices mystified me.

Unfortunately, 'Ulysses' has always been my obstacle on the books list. The weird thing is that it's entertaining to read, but I can't seem to persist to the end.

[Berni]

I haven't attempted Ulysses yet, even though I was an English major. I have a copy lying around somewhere. I'll give it a try when I'm feeling brave. And if I fail, I'll console myself with a Discworld novel. :)

[converse cuir homme]

Olen olnud arvamusel, üsna pikka aega, et karistused ja määrusi Wall Street seadusvastane tegevus on liiga nõrk. Ma arvan, et see on väga oluline teha reeacrsh ettevõtte eriti kui tegemist on ühendust toetust.

[Mick]

Dear Miss Dagmar, I agree with Steve above. I understand why you feel you must go, but work & the paissng of time are the only relief for that kinda pain. I liked you when I 1st saw you, I loved you when you came to Dawsonville & literally put us on the map, the weather map that is. We appreciate Jennifer for keeping us there. We by & (I mean everyone in your viewing area) no means feel the pain you feel, however a whole viewing area is grieving the loss of our Dagmar. In that We'll miss you & now that we know what's happened, we grieve for you & the pain you are experiencing. Not many people in the world have 3 million people for a support system. Especially in one town. Your voice is so soothing as well as reassuring to listen to. I loved it when you would do car & drivers job for them & drive an automobile & give your opinion about it. So many things to miss if & I'm sure you will leave. Just know your loved