http://usinfo.state.gov/journals/itsv/0606/ijse/icons.htm
And this website has a list of some things that are considered American icons. Check it out and see how many are familiar.
http://www.studio360.org/americanicons/
And the top 20 of VH1’s 200 Greatest Pop Culture Icons:
http://www.vh1.com/shows/dyn/the_greatest/68038/episode_wildcard.jhtml?wildcard=/shows/dynamic/includes/wildcards/the_greatest/200_greatest_icons/ranked_list/1_20_aux.jhtml&event_id=865242
Now compare the names on this list to the names found on this one:
http://www.dlmark.net/hundred.htm
When the class mentioned 2008 icons she made the list:
Some other names that made the list were Bono, Barack Obama, Brad Pitt, Oprah, Michael Phelps, Stephen Colbert and Johnny Depp.
When the class told our all time icons he got the most votes:
George Washington, The Beatles, Mahatma Ghandi, Muhammad Ali, Mother Theresa and Nelson Mandela also made the list.
When juxtaposed the differences between 2008 or pop culture icons as opposed to icons throughout history is striking. And possibly a little ridiculous? There is not really anyone that made the 2008 list that could really compare to someone like Nelson Mendela or Martin Luther King, Jr. (in my opinion anyways). Possibly this is where the difference between icons and heroes becomes significant. In my opinion, a hero can be an icon but icons are not necessarily heroes. Here are the definitions of the two:
Icon:
An important and enduring symbol: "Voyager will take its place ... alongside such icons of airborne adventure as The Spirit of St. Louis and [the] Bell X-1" (William D. Marbach).
One who is the object of great attention and devotion; an idol: "He is ... a pop icon designed and manufactured for the video generation" (Harry F. Waters).
Hero:
A person noted for feats of courage or nobility of purpose, especially one who has risked or sacrificed his or her life: soldiers and nurses who were heroes in an unpopular war.
A person noted for special achievement in a particular field: the heroes of medicine.
Most people on the 2008 list for the most part are only icons, while many of the people on the all time list can fit into the category of hero (once again this is my opinion). For now, the people listed on the 2008 icons are all relevant figures, but what about 10 years from now? What is it that makes the two lists different? Which people on the 2008 list have the potential to become a truly historical icon?
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And just if you’re interested, amidst all my googling for this assignment I came across this essay about heroes written by a child who moved from China to Canada. It’s pretty much adorable:
http://www.bookrags.com/essay-2006/1/15/132333/969
31 comments:
Time is what makes someone a hero. I believe that heroes don't really become heroes until after they die. If you look at who the heroes in America were 200 years ago they were all people who made a difference in our lives today. Madonna and Bono will not have the same impact in 50 years as did FDR. Obama might if he becomes president and pushes through legislation that makes a difference to Americans for decades. Time can only tell.
That essay is adorable. :) it's amazing to me that someone so young can recognize that what matters is that someone has a "full-love" heart. I think if more people solidified what they valued first, and then thought about who they considered a hero, the lists would be drastically different.
I don't think we can choose or decide who is going to be a hero - time will decide. Some people look like they are going to really make a difference in the world but they fizz out.
I thought the list of VH1's list of pop culture icons was similar to my own opinion of an "icon". When I think icon, I think popularity. When I think hero, I think of someone older with . I also agree with you that heroes can be icons, but icons aren't necessarily heroes.
I think it's hard to tell who will be a hero from the list made in class. If Obama comes through with his promises for change, I think he could possibly become an American hero. Michael Phelps may also be a hero to some. He's the number one Olympian of all time. His record may not be beat for many years to come. To some, that is heroic. In 50 years we will be able to tell who passed the test of time and surpassed icon status and onto hero status.
I'm not sure if any of those people would be on a list 10 years from now. Maybe Oprah. But it's really based on popularity right now, so only time will tell.
In my opinion, I think that part of the problem is the easy access we have into all of today's pop-icons lives. There's a vast amount of shows dedicated to finding faults in celebrities (tabloids) and politicians. If many of our traditional icons and heroes were alive today, or had their popularity in these times, I'm afraid we'd find so much fault with them too.
The reason a person receives attention is a good indicator of whether or not they'll be a hero or an icon. Modern icons receive attention for musical talent, Hollywood fame, or in many cases scandals.
Look at the heroes from the past, why were they recognized. They didn't do things to entertain, but rather they did things to change society and make a difference. The work of a hero can benefit all people, and the work of a icon can merely entertain.
Sadly we are part of a generation that will put both living and dead hero candidates under a microscope and search until some bad information is found. I don't think it's possible for any living person to be a societal hero. We're even deconstructing our historical icons and heroes with a constant-skeptical eye.
i agree that only time will tell. I think that Oprah could make the second list eventually for some people. I really liked Chris Taylor's comment about how the reason someone receives attention is a good indicator of whether or not they are a hero. For lots of people, Oprah's charitable actions put her in the hero category. But I think that for the most part, most of those that made our icons list won't become heroes.
I agree that only time will tell with heroes. Maybe Bono has done great things for AIDS and Africa but do you really think people will care about him in about 30 years? Probably not, while people liek the Founding Fathers, and Abraham Lincoln, etc. will still be admired for years to come.
I think that one person's point of view may be a little different than another's. One person may feel like JFK was a hero, but one person may feel like he was just an icon. Like many have said before, only time can tell if someone is a hero. I thought vh1's ranking was right on, but kind of funny at the same time to see Oprah on top. It's hard to see any of the icons of today being heroes in the future. I just don't have much confidence in the world today.
Not to sound like a homer, but Bono may become an all-time figure when all is said and done. He, like his personal hero MLK, has done A TON to provide freedoms to deserving people throughout the world. And with his unique political-musical prowess, he has an enduring personality that will be recognizable for decades to come.
when I think icon, I think of a notorious figure, someone who everyone knows. When I think hero, I think of a noble person with true character. An icon is based more on popularity and image, where a hero is based on character and influence. While we have a say in creating icons, we do not have control over who will act in a way that will categorize them as a hero.
I think it's interesting that as an English colony that became independent, our heroes and icons for the first hundred years were white men. As native Americans became more prominent, their impact grew. Now Latin Americans and African Americans are routinely seen as idols and heroes. It's a good sign we are multicultural. I think our age idolizes icons more than in the past, and/or it is more fleeting. Like the yearly edition of your favorite reality show, or Paris Hilton being famous for, uh.. no talent whatsoever. It's hard to break through that clutter.
i think that oprah, barak obama and michael phelps are the ones that have the greatest opportunity for hero-hood. they are the ones that already have or possibly will make history and accomplish something heroic.
VH1's #1 was Oprah?!?! With #2 Superman... I have to disagree. I do have to agree that it is time that will make a hero. We need time to tell us who has made a difference. The people we call heroes now are the people that through time made a difference. I think there's a lot of potential heroes, we'll see what they do with that potential
I believe the reason we don't have heros today is the fault of the press ( I shouldn't say this as this is the field I am going into!) But it is the truth. Our media today is much more focused on the negative and obsessed with hollywood 1 hit wonder type stars. I think the press in the time of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln were more positive and made them into Heros. After all how would you even know what you know about these people if it were not brought to you by the media. The reason for this change is a change in society, in the past readers wanted to see people succeed and they needed an idol to look up to, today we need re-assurance that we are not that bad and we want to see other people fail and never become a Hero!
Out of the icons, i think Bono has the most potential to become a hero later on. He does a lot of work trying to make the world a better place and uses his influence and status for the right reasons. Even if he doesn't accomplish his goal 100% he will definitely go down in the books as a major player in the poverty/aids crisis.
The top icons 10 years from now will be somewhat different. The recent icons like Britney and Justin Timberlake may still be on the list, the the so-called "old-timers" like Madonna may not anymore.
I really think Obama could if he fulfills his promises. He'd proabably be the "coolest" president our country has ever seen. A young, black version JFK of our generation.
what can i say more. everything was well said. I agree that time is the judge. Time will decide who'll stay and who'll go. But I doubt that anyone on the list would make it to be a hero in the next 200 years. I might be wrong. But I haven't seen the "hero" qualification in any of them.
I think Michael Phelps, Barack Obama, Oprah and Bono will be considered heroes years from now (If they continue on the right track. You just never know what any of them could do or say in the years to come). They all stand Most of them came from humble beginnings, made it, and in most cases, they are using their status to help the less fortunate and the world in tremendous ways. They are also breaking barriers and records. I 'd go with those guys from the 2008 list
Today's heroes are based off of popularity, like many of you said. But the reasons we love them have nothing to do with their heroic acts. We are in a culture obsessed with tabloids following their every move just waiting for them to mess up. I am very interested to see who would be considered the heroes of our generation, although by the time they are considered heroes, I will no longer be alive. I think that Oprah will be remembered for all the good she has done. She exemplifies the American dream. And she lets everyone know how great she is. Michael Phelps will also be remembered, until someone beats his record. We are in constant competition when it comes to things like this. We want to make a difference. And we all want to be remembered. Very few are.
The TEST OF TIME WILL TELL ALL! Who are we to say that Obama will not be a Hero like MLK? HE still has many years to live and people to persuade and lead. There is no way you can become a Hero until about 100 years after you die!
If someone can truly stand the test a time, he or she becomes a hero. People may become a hero overnight for some great deed, but sadly those people are often forgotten after a period of time. The length of time will "weed out" true heroes for our society from those who are merely iconic.
i'd say very few of them. the people on the 2008 list are fads. they are trendy and will soon go out of icon style with the exception of obama, surprisingly enough, only because he's running for president and will be recorded in history books.
i don't believe in heroes, unless they are fictional. heroes are a person you can look up to and feel that they can never fail. But that person doesn't exist.
but as time moves on, people become perfect in our minds and heroes are created in time. and that's why heroes are change after time.
I said this on another post, but I believe it's even more appropriate here. The line dividing icons and heroes is really narrow, and people typically become lasting icons because they are someone's hero. Political reformers tend to stand out on lists of heroes because they do something that a lot of people can categorize. But what about the actors, musicians and artists who springboard revolution and progress? They should be just as much a part of a list of heroes as men like Abraham Lincoln and Thomas Jefferson. I think there's a lot of fear to admit someone as "shallow" as a pop musician could possibly be one's hero, but don't fret to admit what's true.
The meaning of the word "relevant" itself is very subjective. I would argue that few on the 2008 list are actually "relevant" today. Some on that list, though, will continue to build iconic status and some might even be considered heroes in generations to come.
In my opinion, for example, if Bono and Lance Armstrong keep doing what they're doing and don't do anything to totally destroy their credibility, they will someday make America's generally accepted list of heroes.
-Michael Williams
I do agree that with the lists which were created in class, many on the icon list or those which are popular now in 2008 aren't able to hop on over to the heroes list. It makes it much more clear with the different definitions you gave for idols and heroes why this is. Heroes simply sacrifice themselves or their time/interests for the benefit of society with no real expectation of any return for their efforts. If someone from the 2008 icon list did become a heroe in the future I would be surprised but it always is possible.
I kind of wish that our heros could be defined right now, that we don't have to wait for political leaders to save our economy or end the war on terrorism. But heroism does take time and the right people to become heros. An icon could just become anyone that got famous with the right connections.
Barack Obama has the potential to become a true hero (provided he is elected).
While he lives and is politically active, he can't be idolized, but when he is gone and people start talking about the good old days, he is likely to come up.
We idolize presidents for shining in times of crisis (and we have times of crisis here and now). We idolize minorities for breaking through barriers (like Jackie Robinson). And we admire charismatic leaders who can unify people behind a cause (like JFK).
He fits the bill. I think he'll be remembered well.
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