# Does Canada have a "national epic"? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 12, 2007, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-canada-have-a-national-epic/418947 "2007-09-12T18:41:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2007, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-canada-have-a-national-epic/418947/21 "2007-09-12T19:49:40Z")
[QUOTE=severus] In contrast, while the United States is also quite diverse culturally, I think there is more of a sense of shared memory. [/QUOTE] Albeit most of them shared “false memories”. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Hypnagogic\_Jerk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hypnagogic_jerk/32/4252_2.png) [@Hypnagogic\_Jerk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypnagogic_Jerk)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2007, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-canada-have-a-national-epic/418947/22 "2007-09-12T19:52:34Z")
Maybe, but they are no less real to those who grew up with them. And stories built around these memories, true or not, will resonate with the people. ---
**Author:** ![Baffle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/dec6dc/32.png) [@Baffle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baffle)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2007, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-canada-have-a-national-epic/418947/23 "2007-09-12T20:06:08Z")
It’s quite clearly the ‘Heritage Moments’ series. “I smell burnt toast!” has been etched into every single Canadian’s consciousness. ---
**Author:** ![Mindfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mindfield/32/19759_2.png) [@Mindfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mindfield)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2007, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-canada-have-a-national-epic/418947/24 "2007-09-12T20:37:34Z")
[QUOTE=Baffle] It’s quite clearly the ‘Heritage Moments’ series. “I smell burnt toast!” has been etched into every single Canadian’s consciousness. [/QUOTE] Moreso than the haunting flute that underpins the _Hinterland Who’s Who_ shorts? I think not! ---
**Author:** ![xnylder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/bbce88/32.png) [@xnylder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xnylder)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2007, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-canada-have-a-national-epic/418947/25 "2007-09-12T20:55:25Z")
[QUOTE=severus] I submit that Canada is far too diverse culturally and in terms of its relationship with history to have a true “epic” historical film that would ring the same to many people. I mean, I’ve seen or heard of a few Canadian historical movies, but I’m quite sure that they wouldn’t mean anything to a majority of Canadians. In contrast, while the United States is also quite diverse culturally, I think there is more of a sense of shared memory. [/QUOTE] I’m with **Severus**. I can think of several film and TV shibboleths for Quebec that would leave the rest of the country scratching their collective heads. The aforementioned “Bon Cop Bad Cop”, “Les Boys”, “Aurore l’enfant martyre”, “Les belles histoires des pays d’en haut”, and especially the children’s series “Passe-Partout” all illustrate Quebecois culture (for better or for worse), but the rest of the country, not so much. (Which reminds me of “The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz”, but I’ll stop now.) ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2007, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-canada-have-a-national-epic/418947/26 "2007-09-12T21:50:03Z")
Red Green… ---
**Author:** ![Hypnagogic\_Jerk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hypnagogic_jerk/32/4252_2.png) [@Hypnagogic\_Jerk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypnagogic_Jerk)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2007, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-canada-have-a-national-epic/418947/27 "2007-09-12T22:06:00Z")
[QUOTE=Mindfield] Moreso than the haunting flute that underpins the _Hinterland Who’s Who_ shorts? I think not! [/QUOTE] I want to point out that I have never heard of _Hinterland Who’s Who_ (what is it, by the way?), while I have seen some of the Heritage Moments, including the one **Baffle** was referring to. [QUOTE=xnylder] I’m with **Severus**. I can think of several film and TV shibboleths for Quebec that would leave the rest of the country scratching their collective heads. The aforementioned “Bon Cop Bad Cop”, “Les Boys”, “Aurore l’enfant martyre”, “Les belles histoires des pays d’en haut”, and especially the children’s series “Passe-Partout” all illustrate Quebecois culture (for better or for worse), but the rest of the country, not so much. (Which reminds me of “The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz”, but I’ll stop now.) [/QUOTE] Right, although I’m not sure if any of these movies and shows are exactly to the level of what **Sampiro** is looking for. _Passe-Partout_ might have had the same impact in Quebec _Sesame Street_ had in the US, it’s not a “national epic”. I was trying to find an example of a Quebec film that could be the cultural equivalent of _Gone with the Wind_, and didn’t think of anything. Maybe I just didn’t think hard enough. On the other hand, I’m sure we can think of a book that reaches this level, if only in the early 20[sup]th[/sup] century _roman du terroir_. I find it interesting, though, that **Mindfield** named Atom Egoyan as a Canadian filmmaking legend, but not Denys Arcand. I think the title applies to him as well. ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2007, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-canada-have-a-national-epic/418947/28 "2007-09-12T23:05:33Z")
[QUOTE=severus] I want to point out that I have never heard of _Hinterland Who’s Who_ (what is it, by the way?) [/QUOTE] [Hinterland Who’s Who](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LwWHk8azaAc) is/was a series of 1 minute shorts about Canadian wildlife that used to play in much the same spots as Heritage Minutes do now. ---
**Author:** ![Hypnagogic\_Jerk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hypnagogic_jerk/32/4252_2.png) [@Hypnagogic\_Jerk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypnagogic_Jerk)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2007, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-canada-have-a-national-epic/418947/29 "2007-09-12T23:21:50Z")
[QUOTE=Gorsnak] [Hinterland Who’s Who](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LwWHk8azaAc) is/was a series of 1 minute shorts about Canadian wildlife that used to play in much the same spots as Heritage Minutes do now. [/QUOTE] Oh, yeah, I’ve seen this before. ( **Mindfield** will be happy to learn that the flute sound is in fact how I recognized it. ;)) I don’t remember what it was called in French though. ---
**Author:** ![psychonaut](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/psychonaut/32/4655_2.png) [@psychonaut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/psychonaut)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2007, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-canada-have-a-national-epic/418947/30 "2007-09-13T00:02:47Z")
Degrassi Junior High ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2007, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-canada-have-a-national-epic/418947/31 "2007-09-13T00:19:27Z")
Read “THE CREMATION OF SAM McGEE”-that’s a real canadian epic! ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2007, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-canada-have-a-national-epic/418947/32 "2007-09-13T00:28:03Z")
[QUOTE=Mindfield] Although it has improved lately, Canada’s “legacy,” if you want to call it that, within the movie industry is … well, not Hollywood. It’s barely even Bollywood. Unless you consider shows like _The King of Kensington_ or _Anne of Green Gables_ [/QUOTE] There’s the answer to the question. The “Anne of Green Gables” miniseries in unquestionably, as it stands, our national epic, at least for English Canada. For Quebec, it’s probably “Les Boys.” I’m not sure which side is unlucky. ---
**Author:** ![solkoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/919ad9/32.png) [@solkoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solkoe)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2007, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-canada-have-a-national-epic/418947/33 "2007-09-13T00:47:37Z")
I’ll start with the novels. Two of the best that I have ever read include the already mentioned _The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz_ by Mordechai Richler and _Fifth Business_ by Robertson Davies. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2007, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-canada-have-a-national-epic/418947/34 "2007-09-13T01:27:57Z")
Having seen a number of productions by the esteemed National Film Board of Canada in various high school classes, I vote for [Phoebe](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0223924/) . ---
**Author:** ![xnylder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/bbce88/32.png) [@xnylder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xnylder)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2007, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-canada-have-a-national-epic/418947/35 "2007-09-13T01:48:26Z")
[QUOTE=RickJay] There’s the answer to the question. The “Anne of Green Gables” miniseries in unquestionably, as it stands, our national epic, at least for English Canada. For Quebec, it’s probably “Les Boys.” I’m not sure which side is unlucky. [/QUOTE] Perhaps the ultimate Canadian epic would combine these two… ANNE (in earnest voice): “You see, Marilla, all it takes to win at hockey is mental toughness - la dureté mentale!” ---
**Author:** ![Strinka](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/strinka/32/512_2.png) [@Strinka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Strinka)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2007, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-canada-have-a-national-epic/418947/36 "2007-09-13T01:49:56Z")
I think the real question here is which city gets the +100% Great People birth rate? ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2007, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-canada-have-a-national-epic/418947/37 "2007-09-13T01:51:25Z")
This thread is about to take an epic trek over to Cafe Society. Colibri General Questions ---
**Author:** ![Sal\_Ammoniac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8dc957/32.png) [@Sal\_Ammoniac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sal_Ammoniac)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2007, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-canada-have-a-national-epic/418947/38 "2007-09-13T02:30:21Z")
How about _Maria Chapdelaine_? Written by a Frenchman, naturally. ---
**Author:** ![GingerOfTheNorth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/cdc98d/32.png) [@GingerOfTheNorth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GingerOfTheNorth)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2007, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-canada-have-a-national-epic/418947/39 "2007-09-13T02:43:18Z")
For books, “[The Stone Angel](http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/books/The-Stone-Angel-Margaret-Laurence/9780771047077-item.html?ref=Books%3a+Search+Top+Sellers)” or “[The Stone Diaries](http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/books/The-Stone-Diaries-Carol-Shields/9780143036395-item.html?ref=Search+Books%3a+'the+stone+diaries')” or perhaps “[We Were The Mulvaneys](http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/books/We-Were-The-Mulvaneys-Joyce-Oates/9780452282827-item.html?ref=Search+Books%3a+'We+were+the+mulvaneys')”. Damn, I miss my CanLit. I can’t even buy a danged Max Haines book down here. I have to add, the CBC each year does “Canada Reads” to vet out the best in new fiction in Canada, and declares a winner. This year it was “[Lullabies for Little Criminals](http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/books/Lullabies-for-Little-Criminals-Novel-Heather-Oneill/9780060875077-item.html?ref=Books%3a+Search+Top+Sellers)” ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2007, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-canada-have-a-national-epic/418947/40 "2007-09-13T03:12:23Z")
[QUOTE=GingerOfTheNorth] or perhaps “[We Were The Mulvaneys](http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/books/We-Were-The-Mulvaneys-Joyce-Oates/9780452282827-item.html?ref=Search+Books%3a+'We+were+the+mulvaneys')”. [/QUOTE] Unless Canada recently annexed the State of New York, how is this Canadian? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-canada-have-a-national-epic/418947.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-canada-have-a-national-epic/418947.md?page=3)