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.Heard about the famous icon? We have - far too often , The Independent (London), January 27, 2007
 See World Heritage Site #Cultural_criteria

Icons and persons
Some of the most significant cultural icons include Whitney Houston, Marilyn Monroe, Elvis Presley, George Michael, James Dean, Che Guevara, Madonna, Jim Morrison, John Lennon, Michael Jackson, Frank Sinatra, Bob Marley,  Kurt Cobain, the Beatles, Elizabeth Taylor, Walt Disney.

Icons and brands
Brands can show social values and changes, but many people have become tired of them. 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, Whitney Houston 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
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.  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. Salvador Dalí is the worldwide icon for the bizarre and eccentric.

Media overuse
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".Let's hear it for the Queen's English , Liverpool Daily Post  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.Modern word usage amazingly leaves us yearning for gay, old times , Christian Examiner

Icons by selected countries
Argentina

Australia

Austria

Brazil

 Belgium 

Canada

China

Colombia

Cuba

Czech Republic

Denmark

Ecuador

Egypt

France

Germany

Greece

 Hungary 

India

Ireland

 Israel 

Italy

Jamaica

Japan

 Korea 

Malaysia

 Mexico 

Nepal

Netherlands

 North Macedonia 

 Norway 

New Zealand

Pakistan

Portugal

Russia

 Saudi Arabia 

Serbia

South Africa

Spain

Sweden

Switzerland

Turkey

United Kingdom

United States
Further information: Americana

 Vietnam 

Related pages
 Icon
 Pop icon
 Popular culture

References

Other websites
 Our New Icons  by The Daily Telegraph
 Nothing and no one are Off Limits in an Age of Iconomania by The Age

Category:Symbols
Category:Cultural history
Category:Popular culture