Cultural icon
A cultural icon can be a symbol, logo, picture, name, face, person, building, or other image. It is easily recognized and generally represents an object or idea with great cultural significance to a wide cultural group. It has a special status as representing, or important to, or loved by, a particular group of people, a place, or a period in history.
In the media, many well-known examples of popular culture have been called "iconic". Some writers say that the word is overused.[1][2][3]
Icons and persons[edit]
According to Times of India:
Che Guevara, Madonna, Jim Morrison, James Dean, Marilyn Monroe, John Lennon, Michael Jackson, Frank Sinatra, Bob Marley, Elvis Presley, Kurt Cobain, the Beatles, Elizabeth Taylor, Walt Disney — these are names that refuse to fade out. No generation gap can lower their popularity. They will always remain a symbol of youth.
— Times of India, July 1, 2009, [4]
Icons and brands[edit]
Brands can show social values and changes, but many people have become tired of them.[5] Many brands want to be cultural icons, but fail. Cultural icons are often timeless, imprinted in our consciousness. They can go through several stages, from "rumblings, undercurrents" via "catharsis, explosion" and "mass acceptance, ripple effect" to "glorification, representative value". While brands are rational and driven by features, cultural icons are emotional, free, driven by feeling, and creating emotional bonds. An example of "branding" might include the wearing of a consistent fashion look by such music stars as Michael Jackson or Elvis Presley, making them instantly recognizable. Royal or church clothing could also be understood as a form of emotional iconography.
Examples include: Andy Warhol, Budweiser, BMW, Chanel, Coca-Cola, Guinness, Harley-Davidson, LEGO, Martha Stewart, Nike, Norman Rockwell, Vuitton, Škoda Auto...
Definition[edit]
Cultural icons may be national, regional or about a city. And they can be symbols for a nation, or can show the values held by that state. For example, France uses Marianne as a symbol of the French Revolution. Bruce Lee is a symbol for the martial arts and philosophical culture of insight and knowledge in the entire world.[6][7][8] Charlie Chaplin symbolises comical action while Clint Eastwood is a symbol for strength and masculinity. Jackie Chan is a global icon of comical stunts and martial arts based action.[9] Salvador Dalí is the worldwide icon for the bizarre and eccentric.
Media overuse[edit]
Some writers say that the terms "icon" and "iconic" have been overused. A writer in Liverpool Daily Post calls "iconic" "a word that makes my flesh creep", a word "pressed into service to describe almost anything".[1] The Christian Examiner added "iconic" and "amazing" to its list of overused words. It found over 18,000 "iconic" references in news stories alone, with another 30,000 for "icon", including use of it for SpongeBob SquarePants.[2]
Icons by selected countries[edit]
Argentina[edit]
Australia[edit]
Austria[edit]
Brazil[edit]
Belgium[edit]
Canada[edit]
- Buiobuione Vancouver Multicultural.jpg
The northern lights
China[edit]
Bruce Lee Statue at the Avenue of Stars
Colombia[edit]
Cuba[edit]
Czech Republic[edit]
Denmark[edit]
Ecuador[edit]
Egypt[edit]
France[edit]
French Empire & French language
- Félix Nadar 1820-1910 portraits Jules Verne (restoration).jpg
- New Ubisoft Logo.jpg
Germany[edit]
Greece[edit]
Hungary[edit]
India[edit]
Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh
Dr. B. R. Ambedkar
Buddhism (historical Birthplace)
Dalai Lama (refugee in India)
Jainism (historical Birthplace)
Indian Cricket Team & Cricket
Holi (festival)
Iran[edit]
Achaemenid Empire (Persian Empire)
Ireland[edit]
Israel[edit]
Italy[edit]
Beretta & Beretta 92
- Scuderia Ferrari.png
Jamaica[edit]
- Photo of Miss Lou.jpg
Japan[edit]
- MOMYSCAR Colorado license plate 2014.jpg
Kiyomizu Temple, Kyoto
Todaiji Temple in Nara
Great Buddha at the Todaiji Temple in Nara
Korea[edit]
Flag of South Korea
Flag of North Korea
Hanbok (female and male)
Taekwondo, Korean martial arts
Gyeonghoeru (Royal Banquet Hall) at Gyeongbokgung Palace, Seoul
BTS (Kpop group) boy band
Korean Kimchi
Korean Metal Chopsticks
Chosŏn'gŭl/Hangul, Korean native alphabet
Mexico[edit]
Nepal[edit]
Khukri Knife
Netherlands[edit]
North Macedonia[edit]
Norway[edit]
New Zealand[edit]
Pakistan[edit]
Portugal[edit]
Russia[edit]
- Flag of the USSR.png
Saudi Arabia[edit]
Serbia[edit]
South Africa[edit]
Spain[edit]
Cervantes and Don Quijote
Sweden[edit]
Pewdiepie, video game commentator
Switzerland[edit]
Matterhorn Mountain
Turkey[edit]
Sultan Ahmed Mosque (Blue Mosque)
United Kingdom[edit]
Cucumber sandwiches with Tea
- Tolkien 1916.jpg
British East India Company & British Raj
Suits & Formal Wear
United States[edit]
Further information: Americana
Jim Beam & Kentucky Bourbon
Jack Daniel's Tennessee Whiskey
- Metallica 02, the band.jpg
- Ariana Grande Grammys Red Carpet 2020 (cropped).png
The Apollo 11 Crew: Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins
Bald eagle (national bird)
American Bison (national mammal) [15][16][17]
Willys Jeep & Jeep
Tommy Gun (Tompson Submachine Gun)
Diversity, Melting Pot culture of fusion & Assimilation
Opportunity & Economic Growth
Vietnam[edit]
Flag of Vietnam (Unified Vietnam, unified by North Vietnam)
Previous flag of South Vietnam, now known as Freedom and Heritage Flag
Áo Dài, Vietnamese garment
Beef noodle soup, Phở
Vietnamese pork roll, Bánh Mì Thịt Nguội
Emblem of Việt Cộng
Imperial City, Huế
Vietnamese Latin alphabet with historic Chu Nom
Ho Chi Minh, 1946 (born Nguyễn Sinh Cung)
Lotus flower from the Mekong Delta, Vietnam
Vovinam (aka Võ Việt Nam) or Việt Võ Đạo is Vietnamese native martial arts. Võ means martial arts.
Related pages[edit]
References[edit]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Let's hear it for the Queen's English Archived 2014-06-11 at the Wayback Machine, Liverpool Daily Post
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Modern word usage amazingly leaves us yearning for gay, old times Archived 2013-02-26 at the Wayback Machine, Christian Examiner
- ↑ Heard about the famous icon? We have - far too often Archived 2012-10-26 at the Wayback Machine, The Independent (London), January 27, 2007
- ↑ The Past Beckons
- ↑ "Lessons from Cultural Icons - How to Create an Iconic Brand" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-09-15. Retrieved 2013-02-14.
- ↑ Stein, Joel (14 June 1999). "Bruce Lee: With nothing but his hands, feet and a lot of attitude, he turned the little guy into a tough guy". The Time 100. New York: Time Inc. Archived from the original on 5 June 2010. Retrieved 7 June 2010.
- ↑ "From Icon to Lifestyle, the Marketing of Bruce Lee". nytimes.com. 11 December 2009. Retrieved 3 June 2011.
- ↑ "Dragon's Heart: A kungfu master's living legacy". chinadaily.com. 5 January 2011. Retrieved 10 June 2011.
- ↑ "Stuntman to Martial Arts Superstar Jackie Chan reveals the man behind the camera on CNN's Talk Asia". CNN-Asia Pacific. 9 April 2008. Archived from the original on 2 October 2011. Retrieved 10 June 2011.
- ↑ "American food: The 50 greatest dishes". CNN Travel. 12 July 2017.
- ↑ Cambridge University Press (2011). "Definition of "as American as apple pie"". Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus.
- ↑ "Popular Apple Sayings". U.S. Apple Association. Archived from the original on 1 July 2011.
- ↑ How the Reagan White House shaped ‘80s style
- ↑ 4 U.S.C. § 41 ("The seal heretofore used by the United States in Congress assembled is declared to be the seal of the United States.").
- ↑ National Bison Legacy Act, Pub. L. 114-152, 130 Stat. 373 (approved May 9, 2016), § 3(a) ("The mammal commonly known as the 'North American bison' is adopted as the national mammal of the United States.")
- ↑ "15 Facts About Our National Mammal: The American Bison". United States Department of the Interior. May 9, 2016. Retrieved May 27, 2016.
- ↑ Harris, Gardiner (May 9, 2016). "Obama Signs Law Making Bison the First National Mammal". The New York Times. Retrieved May 27, 2016.