Calliope (epic poetry)
Euterpe (lyric poetry)
Erato (love poetry)
Polyhymnia (sacred poetry)
Clio (history)
Melpomene (tragedy)
Terpsichore (choral dance and song)
Urania (astronomy)
Thalia (comedy)
The problem is that nobody has sent all us mortals an update on the modern arts. Are there new muses, or have the existing nine taken up each new pursuit as it became widespread enough to require a muse?
I'd like to think that nine is enough. So here's my plan:
Calliope (television, film (except as noted below), and broadcast news)
Euterpe (poetry and assorted special needs of Henry Rollins)
Erato (pornography, romance novels, et al)
Polyhymnia (televangelists)
Clio (prose and bad poetry)
Melpomene (tragedy, Woody Allen films, et al)
Terpsichore (music, dance, and performance art)
Urania (astronomy, astrology, and 900-number-psychics)
Thalia (British television, computer software, "Cats")
