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.
See World Heritage Site #Cultural_criteria
Icons and persons
According to Times of India:
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 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, Skoda 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 Dali 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". 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.
Icons by selected countries
Argentina
Australia
Austria
Brazil
Belgium
Canada
China
Colombia
Cuba
Czech Republic
Denmark
Ecuador
Egypt
France
Germany
Greece
Hungary
India
Iran
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Jamaica
Japan
Korea
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
Symbols
Cultural history
Popular culture