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POP CULTURE

 see VH1's 200 greatest Pop Culture Icons now

Our course, 'POP CULTURE,' stresses, as one of its focal points, analysis of popular culture's icons, many of whom happen to be 'celebrities.'  The following area of the POP CULTURE site features photographs of Pop Culture ICONS, CELEBRITIES, and SYMBOLS. 

Definitions of "Icon" and "Symbol"

http://www2.sptimes.com/Treasures/TC.5.4.4.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Symbol

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Icon

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pop_icon

http://www.answers.com/topic/pop-icon

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Icon_%28computing%29

 

  Abacus.  Ancient Chinese Calculator. Long before modern calculators and computers, like the Egyptians, the ancient Chinese were math wizards and built devices for arithmetic calculation.  The abacus was so efficient that some old-school academics still use it today. http://www.ee.ryerson.ca/~elf/abacus/

 

The American Flag. Old glory, the star-spangled banner.  Lately, this proud icon has served many in the West as a symbol of American patriotism; among the dominant nations, it is a symbol of both freedom and supremacy;  internationally, however, in many nations, it is a symbol of consumerism.  http://www.usflag.org/

 

Brigitte Bardot. French movie actress/bombshell.  When Bardot starred in 'And God Created Woman,'  the moral 'right' was up in arms.  Today, she is still internationally considered a symbol of sexuality and beauty. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brigitte_Bardot

 

The Canadian Flag.  Not a very old symbol, this one was created in the last forty years.  In that time, however, it achieved, at least until now, iconic status as a symbolic representation of peacekeeping and harmony.  http://www.pch.gc.ca/progs/cpsc-ccsp/sc-cs/df1_e.cfm

 

Cannabis leaf.  Once a mere representation in nature, a leaf from a plant from which psychotropic narcotics are derived, this symbol is now linked, by the status quo, to  hippies, communists, subversives, and radicals. http://www.websters-online-dictionary.org/definition/cannabis

 

Cybergirls   As a patriarchal society, we are not content with our inability to control the sexual attitudes, dress code, and behaviours of women-- so we invent new women.  More women... women who do not exist.  Lara Croft was a cybergirl...  Now, she's a pop icon.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cybergirl

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lara_Croft

 

Earth, planet, etc.   We've been pretty rough on the actual planet, but since the moon landings, pictures and images of the planet have served as inspiring icons of both the frailty/solitude and the beauty of the human condition and of the environment..  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earth

See the whole ball of... whatever.  Get Google Earth. http://earth.google.com/

 

Elvis 

(Elvis Presley).  Perhaps the greatest icon of them all, Elvis Presley was a Tennessee truck driver who transcended even the American dream to become the 'King' of white rock n' roll.  Having studied great blues artists like Big Mama Thornton, Presley was an expert in the appropriation of African-American culture, transforming it into pop culture.

Painting by Andy Warhol

 

Felix the Cat is an icon of early 1960s cartoons.  He is a representation of a more 'naive' genre of early cartoons, while simultaneously embodying cold war political iconographic meaning.  http://www.felixthecat.com/

 

Globe, school model.  Prior to the internet, this and the atlas (a geography book, filled with maps) were all we had.  Our conception of the world is based on this kind of 'conceptual model'-- it teaches us, perhaps wrongfully, that the world is something that we may understand, easily circumnavigate, and hold in our hands.  http://www.1worldglobes.com/classroomglobesandmaps.htm

 

Gumby   Like Felix the Cat, Gumby is a character/icon of a much more naive time in both animation (frame-by-frame pixelation) and in pop culture as a whole.  Each week, Gumby and his pal, Pokey, the horse, faced new adventures in mythic, mock-epic style.  http://www.gumbyworld.com/

 

Richard Hamilton's 'Just What is It That Makes Today's Homes So Different, So Appealing?' (1956. Collage on paper, 25 x 26 cm. Kunsthalle Tubingen. Collection Prof. Dr. Georg Zundel).   Richard Hamilton does not often receive due credit as one of the fathers of Pop Art.  His work precedes Warhol and, with Rauschenberg and Johns, serves as the template for the pop and collage genre.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Hamilton_(artist)

 

Jeff Koons. Rabbit. (1986. 104.1 x 48.4 x 30.5 cm). 

 

Moe (Szyslak) the bartender, one of the supporting characters of Fox TV's 'The Simpsons,' created by Matt Groening. Moe is voiced by Hank Azaria.  Like Archie Bunker in the 1970s, characters like the crusty Moe represent the 'average' working man.  http://www.thesimpsons.com/bios/bios_townspeople_moe.htm

 

Pepsi, like its rival Coca Cola, is a name whose brand has become synonymous with the product-- we ask for "a Coke" or "a Pepsi," rather than asking for "a Cola."  Other products whose brands have become synomous with the product:  'a Kleenex,' 'a Tylenol,' 'an Aspirin,' etc.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pepsi

 http://www.garybeene.com/pepsi/pep-hist.htm

http://www.dinesh.com/History_of_Logos/Worlds_Best_Brands_and_Logos/Pepsi_Logo_-_Design_and_History/

 

"Diddy" (formerly 'Puffy,' formerly 'Puff Daddy')  (Sean Combs).  Puffy (or Diddy, as he is now known) is a symbol of ultimate achievement in Hip Hop culture and Rap music.  Not only is he an artist and producer, he is an entrepreneur and ruler of a significant music and clothing empire.  Prior to becoming a humanitarian, he was often linked to actual violent altercations and other media events. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sean_Combs

 

Reefer Madness.  A 'warning' film that has become a cult favourite. 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reefer_Madness_(1936_film)

 

Keanu Reeves, star of 'The Matrix' (Scott Weiner/Stargaze Media Photos/People Magazine, April 23, 2001)   There are numerous websites devoted to this international movie star, whose personal wealth exceeds $100 million US.  As star of the hugely successful 'The Matrix,' he (along with his movie character) has achieved iconic status.  Much has been written about how he has few possessions and no real fixed address, living a frugal, wealthy-American version of Buddhism-- this fuels his legendary status all the more.  http://keanuweb.com/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keanu_Reeves

http://www.keanu-reeves.net/

http://keanu.org

 

Chuck Jones' 'Roadrunner,' the famous Warner Brothers character that has become an icon of triumph against harrassment.

 

Bart Simpson, one of the 'stars' of Fox TV's 'The Simpsons,' created by Matt Groening.  Bart represents youthful rebellion and mischief.

http://www.thesimpsons.com/bios/bios_family_bart.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bart_Simpson

http://www.time.com/time/time100/artists/profile/simpson.html

 

Britney Spears, pop star  

Britney is an example of how quick and merciless pop culture is.  A few years ago, the world's most famous pop star, sadly today, she is old news.  To keep up with trends, and to emulate, her idol, Madonna, she morphed from professional virgin to a much raunchier and uninhibited image.  The new Britney said, in numerous interviews, "This is the new me-- get used to it."  In the US, millions of parents expressed concerns that a previously 'positive' role model now dressed like a harem girl, complete with python.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Britney_Spears

 

Homer Simpson, one of the 'stars' of Fox TV's 'The Simpsons,' created by Matt Groening.

 

The Sphinx, Cairo, Egypt.

http://guardians.net/egypt/sphinx/

http://www.touregypt.net/featurestories/sphinx1.htm

http://www.sacredsites.com/africa/egypt/sphinx.html

 

Stonehenge, Salisbury Plains, England. This ancient site of worship and science is now an 'icon' for mystery and paranormal phenomena.   http://www.exn.ca/mysticplaces/stonehenge.asp

http://www.stonehenge.co.uk/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stonehenge

 

ATT Telephone, U.S.A. (circa 1950)

Formerly a mere means of communication, the telephone is now a symbol of its owner's connectedness with the world.  Young people today deem it unthinkable to be parted from their devices.  Ironically, in a recent study, over 25% of cell phone owners admitted that they were talking to no one, in an effort to look appealing to others.  

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telephone

http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/bltelephone.htm

http://www.fi.edu/franklin/inventor/bell.html

 

The Three Stooges

http://www.threestooges.com/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_Stooges

 

Andy Warhol's Campbell's Soup Cans (1962, Synthetic polymer on canvas; thirty-two panels, each 50.8 x 40.6 cm. Collection Irving Blum, N.Y.)

 

http://www.warhol.org/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andy_Warhol

 
 

Want to see lots more icons?

Check out VH1's choices for the 200 greatest Pop icons

Greatest Icons

American Presidents, African American activists, Suffragettes

http://www.loc.gov/rr/print/list/235_intr.html

Celebrities

http://www.celebritypicturesarchive.com/

http://www.didik.com/nycinpictures/celeb/celeb3d.htm

Pop Culture Icons: Surveys: who are the greatest? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/200_Greatest_Pop_Culture_Icons http://www.snet.net/features/survey/articles/1999/04160101.shtml http://www.epinions.com/musc-contemp_culture_influence      

 

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