The Best of Coast to Coast AM Episode 283: Apotheosis, Brothers Grimm & Mother Goose!
Mar 20, 2026
A dive into apotheosis, from Brumidi’s Capitol fresco to superhero deification. A look at Mother Goose origins and how the Brothers Grimm rewrote childhood tales. A surprising rhyme called 'Robin the Bobbin' makes an appearance. Myth and riddle collide with the Sphinx and Oedipus. Little cultural curiosities pop up, from Rin Tin Tin’s WWI beginnings to quirky listener tech tales.
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Apotheosis As Cultural Immortality
- Joshua P. Warren defines apotheosis as elevating a human or idea to divine status and shows it appears across art and religion.
- He links apotheosis to cultural immortality, using Constantine Brumidi's Apotheosis of Washington as a visual example.
Art Creates Timeless Presence
- Warren argues art grants a form of apotheosis by preserving creators' minds across centuries.
- He cites Homer, Beethoven, and Mozart as examples whose works let listeners inhabit the composer’s mind long after their lives.
Mother Goose Predates Brothers Grimm
- Joshua P. Warren recounts Mother Goose originating with Charles Perrault's 1697 French publication.
- He contrasts that to the Brothers Grimm, who published in 1812 and often retold Mother Goose tales with darker spins.