The Hero in History

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The Hero in History

• At issue greatness causation
• Hook event-making vs eventful
• Hero archetype mythology in our culture

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The Mythology of the Hero
Athlete hero
Everyperson as hero
Fairy tale hero
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Mythical Hero (dep,initiate,ret)
Anti-hero
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Louis Cyr 1863-1912
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The Physical Stats

• Height 59
• Weight 316 lbs
• Biceps 24
• Neck 22
• Forearms 19
• Chest 60
• Waist 45
• Thighs 33
• Calves 28

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Louis Cyrs Tavern - Montreal

• Home base funding for tours, demonstrations
• Montreal Gazette, 1885
• I hereby challenge any man in the world, bar
  none, to a heavy weight lifting contest, without
  harness, for any sum from one hundred dollars to
  five hundred dollars a side.
• Yours truly, Louis Cyr

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• Tours Canada, the US, the UK
• 1889 invited to give a demonstration for the
  Prince of Wales in London
• Crowd of 5,000 raised a 250 kilo weight with one
  finger
• A back lift of 4,100 lbs
• The horse demo
• US and UK tours in the 1890s
• Barnum and Bailey Circus

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A flair for the dramatic Excitement and
tension Audience participation (18 fat men on a
piano)
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The Physical Feats

• Iron cross with 96lb right hand and 88lbs left
  hand
• 35 consecutive right arm presses with 162.8 lbs
• 552 lbs one finger lift
• 189 lbs with both arms straight in front of his
  body
• 986 lbs with one hand
• restrained 4 horses for 55 seconds

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Summary

• Heroes and Legends are created and sustained for
  specific reasons cultural, economic, political
• Look to broader historical issues and
  circumstances to find your explanations
• Louis Cyr look to the connections between
  strength, masculinity, and broader Canadian
  society

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George W Beers
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Paris Crew 1867 World champs
Inrigged boat used by Paris Crew note oar
locks on gunwhales not outrigged as they are
today
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from 1980 17-cent stamp artistic rendering
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?? Who in The Boy in Blue (1986) Nicholas Cage
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Hanlan featured front cover of Cdn Illustrated
News 1878
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Promo for 78 Lachine races w Courtney
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Louis Rubenstein
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