# A Poll: The Most Famous \_\_\_\_\_\_\_ **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 18, 2007, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-poll-the-most-famous-_______/396430 "2007-03-18T13:53:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2007, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-poll-the-most-famous-_______/396430/61 "2007-03-19T16:46:01Z")
1. Painting - Mona Lisa 2. Piece of Sculpture - Michaelangelo’s David 3. Instance of Classical Architecture - Parthenon 4. Instance of Medieval Architecture - Tower of London 5. Instance of Modern Architecture - Eiffel Tower 6. Piece of “Classical” Music (the genre, not the period) - Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony 7. Piece of Jazz Music - “Take Five”, Dave Brubeck 8. Piece of “Pop” Music - “Twist and Shout”, The Beatles 9. Piece of Rock Music - “Stairway to Heaven”, Led Zepplin 10. Piece of Blues Music - “Memphis Blues” 11. Piece of Folk Music (English language) - Camptown Races (?) 12. Piece of Latin Music - La Cucaracha 13. Novel - _Don Quixote_ 14. Poem - _If_, Rudyard Kipling 15. Movie - _Star Wars_ 16. Stage Play – Drama - _Romeo and Juliet_ 17. Stage Play – Musical - _Cats_ 18. TV Drama Series - _Dallas_ 19. TV Comedy Series - _The Simpsons_ 20. TV News Program - _]CNN Headline News_ ---
**Author:** ![brownie55](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f14d63/32.png) [@brownie55](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brownie55)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2007, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-poll-the-most-famous-_______/396430/62 "2007-03-19T16:51:42Z")
Way to go Kotic, you finally broke the unanimous verdict on “Painting.” I was sure it would happen eventually. I wonder if you would mind sharing your location. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2007, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-poll-the-most-famous-_______/396430/63 "2007-03-19T17:00:19Z")
Well, I went ahead and checked “If” by Kipling and I can honestly say I’ve never heard of it. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Silence\_of\_the\_clams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Silence\_of\_the\_clams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silence_of_the_clams)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2007, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-poll-the-most-famous-_______/396430/64 "2007-03-19T17:12:14Z")
[QUOTE=brownie55] Way to go Kotic, you finally broke the unanimous verdict on “Painting.” I was sure it would happen eventually. I wonder if you would mind sharing your location. [/QUOTE] So I didn’t think of Mona Lisa; is the Inquisistion going to come looking for me? I’m from Norway so I should have mentioned “Skrik” by Munch insead I guess. Honestly, Dali’s painting was the one that popped into my head. If I have to be pretentious about it, I would have to say something like: Mona Lisa is probably more mentioned because of that Da Vinci code hype 😉 ---
**Author:** ![OtakuLoki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ac8455/32.png) [@OtakuLoki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OtakuLoki)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2007, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-poll-the-most-famous-_______/396430/65 "2007-03-19T17:18:16Z")
[QUOTE=Kotick] If I have to be pretentious about it, I would have to say something like: Mona Lisa is probably more mentioned because of that Da Vinci code hype 😉 [/QUOTE] Naaaaw. I think the Mona Lisa is famous, more for two things: The reaction to when it was stolen - and suddenly the spot on the wall where it had hung became one of the most visited parts of the Louvre’s collection; and the fact that it’s perhaps the most _parodied_ image ever. The parodies often serve to introduce new audiences to the existence of the painting that would never have thought to crack open an art book and see it otherwise. ---
**Author:** ![Reepicheep](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ed655f/32.png) [@Reepicheep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reepicheep)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2007, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-poll-the-most-famous-_______/396430/66 "2007-03-19T17:21:25Z")
1. Painting **The Mona Lisa** 2. Piece of Sculpture \*\* The Bust of Nefertiti\*\* 3. Instance of Classical Architecture **The Parthenon** 4. Instance of Medieval Architecture **Notre Dame** 5. Instance of Modern Architecture **The White House** 6. Piece of “Classical” Music (the genre, not the period) **Beethoven’s 5th Symphony** 7. Piece of Jazz Music \*\*Maple Leaf Rag \*\* 8. Piece of “Pop” Music \*\*Thriller \*\* 9. Piece of Rock Music \*\*Let It Be \*\* 10. Piece of Blues Music **Nobody Knows the Trouble I’ve Seen** 11. Piece of Folk Music (English language) **Ring around the Rosy** or \*\*Scarborough Fair \*\* (depending on what “Folk Music” means) 12. Piece of Latin Music **La Bomba** 13. Novel **Moby Dick** 14. Poem \*\*Twas the Night Before Christmas \*\* 15. Movie **The Wizard of Oz** 16. Stage Play – Drama **MacBeth** 17. Stage Play – Musical **Oklahoma** 18. TV Drama Series **Star Trek** 19. TV Comedy Series **Gilligan’s Island** 20. TV News Program **60 Minutes** For the music, many people do not know all of each piece but they know parts of them. Star Trek is listed as drama at Amazon. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2007, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-poll-the-most-famous-_______/396430/67 "2007-03-19T17:21:31Z")
[QUOTE=OtakuLoki] Naaaaw. I think the Mona Lisa is famous, more for two things: The reaction to when it was stolen - and suddenly the spot on the wall where it had hung became one of the most visited parts of the Louvre’s collection; and the fact that it’s perhaps the most _parodied_ image ever. The parodies often serve to introduce new audiences to the existence of the painting that would never have thought to crack open an art book and see it otherwise. [/QUOTE] I even tried to locate the fark of Ray Charles fused with Mona Lisa. It’s one of my wallpapers! ---
**Author:** ![brownie55](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f14d63/32.png) [@brownie55](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brownie55)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2007, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-poll-the-most-famous-_______/396430/68 "2007-03-19T17:34:32Z")
[QUOTE=Kotick] So I didn’t think of Mona Lisa; is the Inquisistion going to come looking for me? I’m from Norway so I should have mentioned “Skrik” by Munch insead I guess. Honestly, Dali’s painting was the one that popped into my head. If I have to be pretentious about it, I would have to say something like: Mona Lisa is probably more mentioned because of that Da Vinci code hype 😉 [/QUOTE] No, I meant it in a good way. There is no denying that that Dali is very famous. As I said, I was surprised that the Mona Lisa had been picked by everyone, and Og knows we can’t have that kind of agreement on the Dope. I had to look up “Skrik,” and I see it’s what I know as The Scream. Because of all the news surrounding that, it would be my number 2. ---
**Author:** ![Pabitel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/bbce88/32.png) [@Pabitel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pabitel)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2007, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-poll-the-most-famous-_______/396430/69 "2007-03-19T17:44:01Z")
1. Painting - Mona Lisa 2. Piece of Sculpture - The Thinker 3. Instance of Classical Architecture - Acropolis 4. Instance of Medieval Architecture - Notre Dame 5. Instance of Modern Architecture - Empire State Building 6. Piece of “Classical” Music (the genre, not the period) - Beethoven’s 5th 7. Piece of Jazz Music - Sweet Georgia Brown 8. Piece of “Pop” Music - “The Rose”, Bette Midler 9. Piece of Rock Music - ? (Two many options, nothing dominates) 10. Piece of Blues Music - Basin Street Blues 11. Piece of Folk Music (English language) - Kumbayah 12. Piece of Latin Music - ? (Can’t think of one) 13. Novel - David Copperfield 14. Poem - The Raven 15. Movie - Gone The the Wind 16. Stage Play – Drama - Whose Afraid of Virginia Wolf 17. Stage Play – Musical - Phantom of the Opera 18. TV Drama Series - Dragnet 19. TV Comedy Series - Monty Python’s Flying Circus 20. TV News Program - 60 Minutes ---
**Author:** ![some\_white\_dude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b487fb/32.png) [@some\_white\_dude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/some_white_dude)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2007, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-poll-the-most-famous-_______/396430/70 "2007-03-19T21:02:10Z")
**1) Painting** - Mona Lisa **2) Piece of Sculpture** - Michelangelo’s David **3) Instance of Classical Architecture** - Great Pyramids **4) Instance of Medieval Architecture** - Notre Dame **5) Instance of Modern Architecture** - The Empire State Building **6) Piece of “Classical” Music (the genre, not the period)** - Pachelbel’s Canon **7) Piece of Jazz Music - Dave Brubeck** - Take Five **8) Piece of “Pop” Music** - Michael Jackson - Thriller **9) Piece of Rock Music** - The Beatles - Let It Be **10) Piece of Blues Music** - Hm…can’t name any specific works, only artists. Son House and Robert Johnson are names I’ve heard. **11) Piece of Folk Music (English language)** - Bob Dylan - Blowin’ in the Wind **12) Piece of Latin Music** - I’m drawing a blank. The only thing that springs to mind is Santana’s Oye Como Va, but I’m not even sure if that qualifies. **13) Novel** - Catcher in the Rye **14) Poem** - Robert Frost’s Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening **15) Movie** - Casablanca **16) Stage Play** – Drama - Romeo & Juliet **17) Stage Play** – Musical - Rent **18) TV Drama Series** - Law & Order **19) TV Comedy Series** - Friends **20) TV News Program** - 60 Minutes ---
**Author:** ![zyzzyva](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@zyzzyva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zyzzyva)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2007, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-poll-the-most-famous-_______/396430/71 "2007-03-19T21:42:17Z")
Okay, following directions… I should point out that most of these are Western-centric. Most famous _in the world_ may be quite different. 1. Painting: The Mona Lisa 2. Piece of Sculpture: the Statue of Liberty 3. Instance of Classical Architecture: the Parthenon 4. Instance of Medieval Architecture: Chartres or Notre Dame Cathedral. Probably Notre Dame. 5. Instance of Modern Architecture: define “modern”. Since the Renessance or last 100 years? Eh… either way I’ll go with the Empire State Building. 6. Piece of “Classical” Music (the genre, not the period): Beethoven’s 5th Symphony, first movement 7. Piece of Jazz Music: “Take Five” by Dave Brubeck 8. Piece of “Pop” Music: something by the Beatles… I’ll say “I Wanna Hold Your Hand” 9. Piece of Rock Music: I know in terms of sheer sales, it’s “Rock Around the Clock” 10. Piece of Blues Music: St. Louis Blues 11. Piece of Folk Music (English language): “Danny Boy” 12. Piece of Latin Music: “La Bamba” 13. Novel: The Great Gatsby comes to mind, though I’m sure others eclipse it 14. Poem: probably “The Fog” by Carl Sandberg 15. Movie: Star Wars 16. Stage Play – Drama: Romeo & Juliet 17. Stage Play – Musical: probably Cats 18. TV Drama Series: Roots 19. TV Comedy Series: MASH 20. TV News Program: uh… ABC Nightly News? After you’ve answered all 20 and Submitted your answers, go ahead and see how closely your picks are to those of the other Dopers who have replied. [/QUOTE] ---
**Author:** ![Frosted\_Glass](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frosted_glass/32/3926_2.png) [@Frosted\_Glass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frosted_Glass)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2007, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-poll-the-most-famous-_______/396430/72 "2007-03-19T22:05:08Z")
**1) Painting** Mona Lisa **2) Piece of Sculpture** Michelangelo’s David **3) Instance of Classical Architecture** The Parthenon **4) Instance of Medieval Architecture** Notre Dame **5) Instance of Modern Architecture** Villa Savoye **6) Piece of “Classical” Music (the genre, not the period)** Beethoven’s 9th **7) Piece of Jazz Music** Birdland **8) Piece of “Pop” Music** Billy Jean **9) Piece of Rock Music** Stairway to Heaven **10) Piece of Blues Music** Love in Vain (I can’t think of anything really) **11) Piece of Folk Music (English language)** This Land is Your Land **12) Piece of Latin Music** Conga **13) Novel** Moby Dick **14) Poem** The Raven **15) Movie** Shawshank Redemption **16) Stage Play – Drama** Streetcar Named Desire (thats not a musical right?) **17) Stage Play – Musical** Les Miserables **18) TV Drama Series** E.R. **19) TV Comedy Series** Married with Children **20) TV News Program** 60 Minutes ---
**Author:** ![brownie55](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f14d63/32.png) [@brownie55](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/brownie55)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2007, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-poll-the-most-famous-_______/396430/73 "2007-03-19T23:20:41Z")
I just want to thank a bunch of posters for fighting my ignorance regarding sculpture. I would never have classed the Statue of Liberty as a sculpture, but I see my definition was way to narrow. If the question had asked statue I’d have been right there with you, but I always thought of sculpture as a reduction from a larger mass, never as a casting. Ignorance fought! I do stand by that answer on that one, though. Standing by my answer on one lead me to a different question. After reading the thread, how many of you would change at least one answer? I would change three; poem, drama, and musical. Oddly, it was that type of question that kept me off of Jeopardy. OK, maybe not so oddly. You? ---
**Author:** ![MaxTheVool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MaxTheVool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaxTheVool)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2007, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-poll-the-most-famous-_______/396430/74 "2007-03-19T23:21:33Z")
1. Painting --\> Mona Lisa, and this HAS to be universal. 2. Piece of Sculpture --\> Mike’s Dave (Michealangelo’s David) 3. Instance of Classical Architecture --\> Parthenon edges out Coliseum 4. Instance of Medieval Architecture --\> Notre Dame 5. Instance of Modern Architecture --\> Eiffel Tower 6. Piece of “Classical” Music --\> “Ode To Joy”, ie, 4th movement of Beethoven’s 9th 7. Piece of Jazz Music --\> No idea 8. Piece of “Pop” Music --\> “Yesterday” by the Beatles 9. Piece of Rock Music --\> “Satisfaction” by the Rolling Stones 10. Piece of Blues Music --\> no idea 11. Piece of Folk Music --\> “Happy Birthday to You” 12. Piece of Latin Music --\> no idea 13. Novel --\>War and Peace 14. Poem --\> Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening 15. Movie --\> The Wizard of Oz 16. Stage Play – Drama --\>Romeo and Juliet 17. Stage Play – Musical --\>Phantom of the Opera 18. TV Drama Series --\> CSI 19. TV Comedy Series --\> Seinfeld 20. TV News Program --\>60 minutes ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2007, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-poll-the-most-famous-_______/396430/75 "2007-03-19T23:27:00Z")
[QUOTE=brownie55] I just want to thank a bunch of posters for fighting my ignorance regarding sculpture. I would never have classed the Statue of Liberty as a sculpture, but I see my definition was way to narrow. If the question had asked statue I’d have been right there with you, but I always thought of sculpture as a reduction from a larger mass, never as a casting. Ignorance fought! I do stand by that answer on that one, though. Standing by my answer on one lead me to a different question. After reading the thread, how many of you would change at least one answer? I would change three; poem, drama, and musical. Oddly, it was that type of question that kept me off of Jeopardy. OK, maybe not so oddly. You? [/QUOTE] I would change my Medevial Architecture ? to Notre Dame ---
**Author:** ![OtakuLoki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ac8455/32.png) [@OtakuLoki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OtakuLoki)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2007, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-poll-the-most-famous-_______/396430/76 "2007-03-20T00:33:13Z")
[QUOTE=brownie55] Standing by my answer on one lead me to a different question. After reading the thread, how many of you would change at least one answer? [/QUOTE] I would change, if I could, my answer to both the medieval and modern architecture questions: Notre Dame over the Tower of London, and The Empire State Building in place of Gaudi’s Cathedral in Barcelona. For the first instance because I must have had a massive brainfart to have not thought of Notre Dame right off the bat. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2007, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-poll-the-most-famous-_______/396430/77 "2007-03-20T00:48:24Z")
So far my biggest surprise is the lack of votes for I Love Lucy. I voted for M_A_S\*H, but after I voted, my wife asked me, isn’t Lucy the most famous by far? I thought she was right. Only 7 votes so far of the total. ---
**Author:** ![Key\_Lime\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/48db29/32.png) [@Key\_Lime\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Key_Lime_Guy)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2007, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-poll-the-most-famous-_______/396430/78 "2007-03-20T01:04:24Z")
[QUOTE=brownie55] After reading the thread, how many of you would change at least one answer? [/QUOTE] I would change Modern Architecture [Fallingwater] to **World Trade Center** (so obvious now). Eiffel Tower and Sydney Opera House are also better answers. Several categories like Novel and Poem seem to have many plausible answers. My responses [Ulysses and Leaves of Grass] don’t seem outstanding, but not necessarily trumped either. ---
**Author:** ![Merkwurdigliebe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/74df32/32.png) [@Merkwurdigliebe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merkwurdigliebe)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2007, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-poll-the-most-famous-_______/396430/79 "2007-03-20T01:55:21Z")
1. Painting Mona Lisa 1. Piece of Sculpture The David (the one in Florence) 1. Instance of Classical Architecture Parthenon or Pantheon 1. Instance of Medieval Architecture dunno, Notre Dame? 1. Instance of Modern Architecture Guggenheim in New York 1. Piece of “Pop” Music Hmm…Thriller? 1. Piece of Rock Music Smells like teen spirit 1. Novel Difficult to say here because most of the ones I know are only borderline popular so I’ll have to guess. War and Peace? 1. Movie Casablanca 1. Stage Play – Drama Death of a Salesman 1. Stage Play – Musical Les Miserables 1. TV Drama Series Law and Order 1. TV Comedy Series Friends (I like seinfeld, but…) 1. TV News Program 60 Minutes ---
**Author:** ![Rodgers01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b19c9b/32.png) [@Rodgers01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rodgers01)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2007, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-poll-the-most-famous-_______/396430/80 "2007-03-20T02:46:02Z")
1. Painting – The Mona Lisa 2. Piece of Sculpture – Michelangelo’s David 3. Instance of Classical Architecture – The Coliseum in Rome 4. Instance of Medieval Architecture – Cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris 5. Instance of Modern Architecture – Sydney Opera House 6. Piece of “Classical” Music (the genre, not the period) – Pachelbel’s Canon in D 7. Piece of Jazz Music – Nothing. I can’t think of one, single “most famous” piece of jazz music. 8. Piece of “Pop” Music – “Sweet Caroline” by Neil Diamond 9. Piece of Rock Music – “My Girl” 10. Piece of Blues Music – Ditto Jazz – nothing. 11. Piece of Folk Music (English language) – “This Land Is Your Land” 12. Piece of Latin Music – “La Bamba,” Richie Valens version 13. Novel – “The Grapes of Wrath” by Steinbeck 14. Poem – Mary Had a Little Lamb 15. Movie – Citizen kane 16. Stage Play – Drama – “The Diary of Anne Frank” (?) 17. Stage Play – Musical – “Oklahoma!” 18. TV Drama Series – CSI 19. TV Comedy Series – Seinfeld 20. TV News Program – 20/20 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-poll-the-most-famous-_______/396430.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-poll-the-most-famous-_______/396430.md?page=5)