A pop icon is a celebrity whose fame in pop culture constitutes a defining characteristic of a given society or era. Although there is no single definitive test for establishing "pop icon" status, such status is usually associated with elements such as longevity, ubiquity, and distinction. Moreover, "pop icon" status is distinguishable from other kinds of notoriety outside of popular culture, such as with historic figures.^[1]

[edit] Longevity

Usually, the pop icon status of a celebrity is contingent upon longevity of notoriety.^[2][3] This is in contrast to cult icons, whose notoriety or recognition may be limited to a specific subculture. Some pop icons have left a lasting and indelible mark in the area of their career, and then gone on to attain a lasting place of recognition in society at large.^[4]

[edit] Ubiquity

A common element of pop icon status is the ubiquity of imagery and allusions to the iconic figure.^[5] It is common for the figure to be recognized and even celebrated in areas outside the original source of celebrity status.^[6] An example of this is Albert Einstein, a physicist whose image and legacy have been represented in comic strips, t-shirts, greeting cards and many other contexts.^[7]

[edit] Distinction

Often pop icon status implies distinguished association with a societal ideal or archetype. It is not uncommon for iconic figures to have a nickname or sobriquet that is used to emphasize this association. Sometimes the very name of such individuals is even used as a synonym for common words or ideas. Einstein, for example, is routinely associated with genius and ingenuity. Marilyn Monroe is associated with sex appeal.

A number of pop icons are distinguished for having died at a young age. These include James Dean, Jimi Hendrix, Bob Marley, River Phoenix, Jean Harlow, Jim Morrison, Tupac Shakur, The Notorious B.I.G., Bruce Lee, Janis Joplin, Kurt Cobain Selena and Marilyn Monroe, among others. Other deceased celebrities cemented their status as pop icons by virtue of their role in captivating the ethos of their era, as is the case with Elvis Presley, John F. Kennedy, and Michael Jackson. Many still-living celebrities also attain the status of pop icon; solo recording artists such as , Cher, Britney Spears, Tina Turner, Madonna, Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, Annie Lennox, David Bowie and Janet Jackson as well as musical groups such as The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Aerosmith, U2, and Spice Girls are examples.

Some pop icons, such as Mickey Mouse,My Little Pony, Betty Boop, Mario, Winnie the Pooh, Bugs Bunny, Shrek, Pikachu, Superman, Spider-Man, Batman and Homer Simpson, are fictional characters. Even inanimate objects have been recognized as pop icons.^[8][9][10]

Some figures attain transitory or context-specific "pop icon" status for particular events that captivate public attention, such as in the case of the O.J. Simpson trial.^[11]

[edit] Notable pop icons

• Aerosmith^[12]
• The Beatles^[13]
• David Beckham^[14]
• Jon Bon Jovi^[15]
• David Bowie^[16]
• Mariah Carey^[16]
• Jackie Chan^[16]
• Cher ^[14]
• Kurt Cobain^[16]
• Dimebag Darrell^[16]
• James Dean ^[17]
• Celine Dion^[18]
• Bob Dylan^[16]
• Judy Garland^[16]
• Che Guevara^[16]
• Guns N' Roses^[14]
• Jimi Hendrix^[16]
• Audrey Hepburn^[19]
• Whitney Houston^[16]
• Michael Jackson^[16]
• Elton John^[16]
• Michael Jordan^[16]
• Led Zeppelin^[16]
• Bruce Lee^[20]
• John Lennon^[16]

^[21]

• Madonna^[22]
• Britney Spears^[16]
• Bob Marley^[16]
• Freddie Mercury^[16]
• George Michael^[16]
• Kylie Minogue^[23]
• Marilyn Monroe^[24]
• Elvis Presley^[13]
• Prince^[25]
• The Rolling Stones^[16]
• Babe Ruth^[16]
• Frank Sinatra^[16]
• Spice Girls^[16]
• U2 ^[14]
• Janet Jackson^[16]

[edit] See also

• Cult icon
• Gay icon
• Popular culture
• Sex symbol
• Teen idol
• List of honorific titles in popular music

[edit] References

[edit] Further reading

• Marcel Danesi (2007). Popular Culture: Introductory Perspectives. Rowman & Littlefield. pp. 112–115. ISBN 074255547X. 
• Cullen, Jim. Popular Culture in American History. Blackwell Publishing, 2001. ISBN 0631219587