[Tom Edgerton]

If "soul" isn't in itself sufficient for greatness, and I grant you it may not be, I wouldn't agree that innovation or "newness" alone is a sufficient measure either.

A work might be very effective in capturing or documenting the psychological terrain of the culture in which it is produced, but I'd submit that the great works are universal and transcend history.

This example isn't technically innovative for its time, nor does it depict anyone particularly charismatic or remarkable within that culture, but I'd consider running into a burning building to save it.