Icon Analysis

According to free dictionary.com an Icon is an image or representation; an important and enduring symbol; or one who is the object of great attention and devotion; an idol. An icon has the capacity to cross not only generational barriers but social and economic barriers as well. Knowing this I have chosen three icons, the first representing our youth, the second representing great strength, courage and how to be a leader, the last representing a time in our daily lives when we forget about what is wrong with the world and celebrate what is good and peaceful. My icons are “Winne-the-Pooh, Muhammad Ali, and Santa Claus.” Looking at this, one might say what a strange combination, and yes I would agree, however each icon represents something valuable that we are slowly losing as a society. First, Winne-the-Pooh first appeared in December 1925, when what became the first chapter of the book Winnie-the-Pooh was commissioned as a Christmas story by London's Evening News. (Wikipedia, 2008) Winne-the-Pooh touches people on a personal level; it does not represent the rich or the poor, the educated or non-educated, not even the young or old it represents the innocence and trust of a boy and the time shared with friends. Winnie-the-Pooh exists in American eyes because of a boy named Christopher Milne and his love for his teddy bear and a bear named Winnipeg in the London Zoo. This innocence is what we decorate our children nurseries and rooms with; spend billions of dollars each year on books, stuffed animals, DVD’s and more. In 1993, the Walt Disney Company acknowledged that Pooh Bear is second only to Mickey Mouse in their portfolio of the most-loved and trusted characters known to millions of people all the world over. By 1996, after the second release of 'the Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh', the Bear of Very Little Brain had proved to be more popular than any other Disney character. (Wikipedia, 2008) Secondly, Muhammad Ali. When you hear his name your mind is instantly drawn to the man who was a champion in the ring. However, many of us also know of Muhammad Ali as a champion and crusader outside of the ring. He is the most recognizable man on earth. And over forty years after he burst onto the scene as a gold-medal winner at the 1960 Rome Olympics, Muhammad Ali remains a magical figure, known and loved throughout the world. (Ali) An icon is someone who is the object of great attention and devotion; this is the exact definition of Muhammad Ali. Over the many, many years his name has been associated with controversy, conflict and great debate, his views and opinions on the war stemmed his actual name change from Cassius Clay. Many facts are known about Muhammad Ali but it is the combination of his humanitarianism, his artistry, and his passion for leading that has the world so in awe of his many talents. He is respected and loved by people of all races, cultures and backgrounds; his awareness for change has lead to his recognition in the ring and outside, earning him numerous awards and honors. Thirdly, in honor of the season approaching I chose Santa Claus, known in every country, every culture and every household. The name Santa Claus has been translated a variety of times, in Italian he is Babbo Natale, in Spain he is Papa Noel, and in French we call him Pere Noel. Whether you celebrate Christmas or not the image of a jolly old man in a red suit, belted at the waist carrying a sack full of toys is known by kids and adults worldwide. There are many variations to the tale of Santa Claus, but the premise in all of them remain the same, he travels at night with his sleigh and reindeer while delivering toys and gifts to good little boys and girls. Santa Claus is the tradition of Christmas; his job is to help us as a society be a little nicer to each other and a little more giving this time of year. To marketers and merchandisers he is one of the biggest marketing tools for advertisement of new toys, and products geared toward the young and old. As the season approaches department stores and malls everywhere will be hiring someone to play Santa, to draw in parents and grandparents alike, just to have their little ones picture taken on his knee. The stores ultimately profit because the object is to tell Santa what you want and then the moms and dads can buy it, increasing the stores sales and profits. The spirit of Santa Claus and the goodness he represents has become diluted in the popularity of gift giving.

References Ali. (2008). The official site of Muhammad Ali. Retrieved, November 15, 2008, from http://www.ali.com Icons. (n.d.) The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. (2003). Retrieved November 15 2008 from http://www.thefreedictionary.com/Icons Winnie-the-Pooh. (2008, November 9). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved, November 15, 2008, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Winnie-the-Pooh&oldid=250593451