At first glance, it’s a mismatch of epic proportions.
One, after all, is a cultural heavyweight, a place famous for its sinful food and its scrumptious music and its freewheeling spirit, for legendary jazz performers such as Jelly Roll Morton. The other is a stolid, serious and responsible locale famous for … well, Jared, the Subway guy.
One stays up late. The other gets up early.
One wears the nickname “The Big Easy.” The other is dubbed “Naptown.”
But America loves an underdog. And Indianapolis is no slouch in the cultural realm.
The real competition, we decided, isn’t between the pro football teams fielded by the cities who will face off in Sunday’s Super Bowl. The true tussle occurs on the scarred and windy plains of pop culture, where each burg sends forth its talented champions, ready to do battle for the sacred honor of their respective hometowns.
Measuring cultural impact is a complicated endeavor. New Orleans may have more bars than does Indianapolis — but the cleanser Bar Keepers Friend has been made in Indianapolis since 1882.
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Indianapolis was the birthplace of Allan Bloom, the University of Chicago professor and author of the influential 1987 book “The Closing of the American Mind.” But New Orleans is responsible for the broadening of the American waistline, thanks to the city’s signature pastry, the beignet — deep-fried dough dusted with confectioner’s sugar.
Which city has meant more to our nation’s pop culture?
We have no idea who will prevail Sunday. When it comes to the cultural Super Bowl, however, we have a winner.
Despite the obvious head start enjoyed by New Orleans, despite Bourbon Street and Mardi Gras, despite jazz and shrimp and crawfish, our money’s on Indianapolis — by a whisker.
Why? Well, Indy has seven entries on our list of notable arts features, to the six associated with New Orleans. But what put Indianapolis over the top is even simpler. It’s a big, old-fashioned hunk of pure Midwestern bias:
Indianapolis is closer to Chicago.
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Indianapolis
1. Brendan Fraser: actor in the “Mummy” movie franchise
2. Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds: R&B musician, songwriter and producer
3. Kurt Vonnegut: author of “Slaughterhouse-Five” and many other books
4. Jane Pauley: TV personality, married to “Doonesbury” cartoonist Garry Trudeau
5. David Letterman: late-night prankster
John Dillinger buried in Crown Hill Cemetery
“Seeing Indianapolis” (1911) silent film; shared a reel with “His First Long Trousers”
New Orleans
1. Emeril Lagasse: peppy television chef made his name in the Big Easy
2. “Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call — New Orleans” (2009): Nicolas Cage stars as a depraved cop in post-Katrina New Orleans
3. Louis Armstrong: jazz trumpeter and singer
4. Brad Pitt maintains a home there; recently spotted at Saints game
“The Big Easy” (1986): Dennis Quaid and Ellen Barkin in stylish murder mystery
Jelly Roll Morton: ragtime pianist, bandleader, composer