Poe Mania in Media - Other media

So the challenge is to discuss Poe’s influence in at least two other media…

We’ve studied many different aspects of Edgar Allen Poe in this class. Dissecting his personal life from birth to death, gaining a greater understanding of his work, educating ourselves on his influences such as phrenology and mesmerism, we have learned much about this American literary great.

But what do we know of his influence today? How has his meager influence, existence even, of the 19th century transcended to the magnitude it is today?

Our children study his works today. But, Poe’s influence goes well beyond Vincent Price audio performances of “The Raven,” or movie renditions of “House of Usher.”

When I Googled on ‘Edgar Allen Poe, influence,’ something in the first page of the results caught my eye… Edgar Allen Poe STAMPS!

Stamps? …how interesting.

It seems that Poe’s influence as a brilliant American author transcends well beyond audio recordings and Hollywood B flicks. So, for your information, and a little fun, I’d like to digress on the pointed topic for a moment, step outside the box, and demonstrate Poe’s relevance in the more obscure modes of ‘other’ media.


U.S. Postal Service -
has commemorative stamps of Poe. His handsome likeness will grace the fronts of letters traveling through our vast United States Postal Service - possibly to the four corners of the world where a provincial leader, tribesman or Eskimo will surely recognize the distinguished smug, American, mug.






The Information Age –
“Edgar Allen Poe's Ladies on your computer screen,” The Edgar Allen Poe's Ladies Screensaver will certainly brighten your day, and put money into the pockets of the developers; all while installing a nice undetectable spyware that sucks the resources right out of your system. Even the women in Poe’s life can’t escape his Doppelgänger existence - revel in his fame, become infamous from frustration.



The “Midnight Mysteries: Edgar Allen Poe Conspiracy PC Game” by Mumbo Jumbo should keep you entertained for a few minutes while the spyware sufficiently zaps your entire life’s catalog of JPGs. Notice the raven and Lenore, and the inference to Poe’s fondness of Sherlock Holmes detective novelties.


Décor -
Marilyn Manson apparently painted this huge abstract painting of Poe to hang in his mansion. (StyleHive.com)






A stark contrast from his days struggling as a starving writer in the 19th century, Poe’s influence can be found in many different, of course odd, facets of media, education, literature, and communications of today. While Poe found it difficult to earn even $50 for his short stories and poems then, all kinds of people, in all different regions of the world, are profiting from life and brilliant works of Edgar Allen Poe.

Perhaps better than benefiting yourself in life is benefiting many more in death?

References

StyleHive.com. "Original Mix Media Painting of Edgar Allen Poe By Artist and Rocker Marilyn Manson 2004." Retrieved 22 Jun. 2009. Stylehive.com.

Loeser, Marilyn. "Post office issues Edgar Allen Poe commemorative stamp." GateHouse News Service: 23 Jan 2009. Retrieved 22 Jun. 2009.