1. Icon – Donald and Christine McQuade define icon as a recognizable symbol or representation, something that stands for something else; one thing is acting as a substitute or symbol for another; anything that has a greater meaning behind it. About everything can be utilized as an icon: an object (engagement ring), a word (love), a letter (the arched M), a person (Elvis Presley), a corporate logo (the Mercedes Benz star), a painting (Madonna and Child), a picture (Migrant Mother), an animal (Tony the Tiger), etc.
Symbolism – The word icon is an icon itself. It symbolizes all the things that can be an icon. Anything that is a symbol can be an icon.
Conflict – Almost anything can be an icon, which is why there is confliction of what the definition of the word. There’s a conflict of what a definition really is. Russell Baker states, “The term icon has escalated to ‘epidemic’ proportions”.
2. “The peace sign. The happy face. The four-leaf clover.
Glimpse at them for a split second, and you know exactly what they mean. Because behind every powerful icon lies a powerful idea.”
Donald and Christine McQuade point out that the term icon has altered through the years; it has altered through an expansion of the word. The word was once used as a “representation of a sacred figure”, but today the word is as an identification of a symbol or a person; it is another term for symbolism. An icon is a symbol that can differentiate what bathroom a male or female can use. An icon is a person that represents something important; Michael Jordan is an all around American icon, due to the fact that he is a professional basketball athlete and he also has his own sneaker line. He is a representation of hard work, success, and benefiting from what he’s done. An icon is a corporate logo, the Nike swoosh and even the Wendy’s girl (Wendy) with the red bangs and two pigtails. An icon is a painting, such as the Mona Lisa, contains beauty and magnificence, yet it represents uncertainty, through the artist’s talent of being able to trap the viewers with the uncertainty of whether Mona Lisa is smiling or grimacing. Superheroes are icons too; such as Superman and Spiderman, they are fictional characters who are secretly nerds who are overtaken by society yet when they change into “superhero mode” they are their city’s saviors. Therefore they represent the greater good.
Nevertheless, every icon, regardless of the type, whether it’s a person or a symbol, there is a greater meaning to every one of those icons.
3. Since there are many ways icon is expressed what is the true definition of an icon? What other ways can icon be expressed as? Is there an end to what an icon could be?
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9 comments:
...good questions
i think an icon is a representation of something you believe in. For example, the American flag is not just an ordinary flag, but it is the belief that people have freedom and their own rights.
I agree with Mark. An icon is what you think it is. There is not just one definition of an icon, it is what you think it means. A flower is a symbol of differnt things to differnt people.
I agree with the quote bout staring at a peace sign and knowing exactly what it represents and means. When you quickly glimpse at a Cross or a Jewish star, you know what it represents-religion.
Many icons have different meanings to different people. One icon could represent one thing to someone and that same icon could represent something totally different to someone else. However, I also agree with what alyssa said that when you see a certain icon, you know exactly what it stands for.
In a sense an 'icon' is a portrayal of ones self in it's ideal form. So when someone has an icon it usually has a characteristic of the person. In short an icon is an idea that is representative of the concept or trait it's attached to.
An icons symbolism has no limits. It is a representation for each and every person to decide for themselves what they think it stands for. If a pen, to one person, is simply a pen then that his their interpertation. But if a pen to another person shows how far mankind has gone in the sense of evolution then it has been taken to a deeper level by that person.
There are no limitations when it comes to the symbolism of a icon. A rose could symbolize beauty because of the soft red pedals, yet can also symbolize danger because of the thorns it contains. The sky is the limit when it comes to icons.
No, I don't think there is an end to an icon's meaning. It can mean something different to every person. Its how they interpret it. Its meaning will always evolve with the times, so a person can really only know its history, its definition and its representation to that person.
Natalie Shields
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