Icon Analysis

Icon Analysis

                When someone says “Icon,” many different things may come to mind.  In today’s society, icon has come to mean a very different thing than times past. The widespread use of the world “icon,” especially in the technology world with computers, tablets, and smart phones, the average person would say “little image” if you were to ask them what an icon was.  However, an icon, in the sense of pop culture, is much more than that.  An Icon, which can be a person, place, thing, or even idea, is simply one that has surpassed a level of status in the terms of popularity, to the point it has carved its own place out of history.  While most would think celebrities are iconic, most are not; only the absolute pinnacle of celebrities are able to achieve the status of “Icon.”  So, with that, you may be wondering what a few examples of an icon may be.  I’ll discuss one each of a person, place, and thing that I believe have become pop culture icons.

                To start, what if I asked you to complete this sentence: “It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s…”  What would you say?  You would probably (correctly) guess that the next word is none other than “Superman.”  Certainly, Superman is a pop culture icon, and has been for decades.  Superman is arguably the best of all the superheroes, and unmatched in popularity by any other super hero with possible exceptions [ties] with Batman and Spiderman.  Most boys, and even some girls love watching the shows and reading the comics of this do-good icon.  Superman is a testament to the fact that a pop icon doesn’t have to be living, or even, tangible.  The very idea of this super hero is enough.

                Sometimes, Icons are places.  “The Big Apple” is enough to get that point across.  New York City is not only the most populous city in the United States, but it is the number one destination city for tourism in the entire world.  From the busy streets filled with yellow cabs and the countless skyscrapers, to Central Park and the New York Stock Exchange, there is no denying that New York City has made its place not only in pop culture, but in history as well. 

                Lastly, Icons can be things as well.  As a board game geek, I must admit while I’m not the most skilled player, Chess is an iconic game.  This game of logic and critical thinking has a very long history, spanning over 1,500 years.  Chess is so popular, in fact, that is has even birthed its own myths, such as the idea that all Chess players are smart, and/or geeky.  It doesn’t stop there, however.  This game has such an iconic status, it is the very measure of how “smart” computers be, with Chess Grandmasters playing supercomputers in the geekiest battle of man vs. technology. 

                Pop culture icons are very important, as they have profound impact on each and every one of us, even if not directly.  As a self-proclaimed nerd, I find computers, and programming in particular, to be very fascinating.  My wife loves New York City, and has been equally drawn to it as I have been to technology.  While on the other hand, I can say I had zero interest in Superman (I was more into Hotwheels and Tonka trucks), I know that a vast number of boys have Superman help shape their childhood.  While some icons have more of an impact on culture than others, all pop culture icons do their part to shape the way each of us live and interact with each other, and the experiences we have in life in general.