A Picture is Worth 1000 Words...

There are many things that we can define as art just like there are many things we can define as iconic.  So what makes an image iconic? Well the answer is I don’t know.

There is no explicit definition.  Google-ing the answer will give you many good answers but no definitive one.  I think that an image is iconic if it is

• ·      a well known piece, referenced by others
• ·      has an impact on public opinion
• ·      sets a standard in history

Many photos can be “iconic” to different people for different reasons but I think that these are the three main factors that make an image iconic for all.

Another factor that could come into consideration could be time.  A photo that is iconic to my parents or grandparents could be just as iconic to me or I could have no connection to it at all. 

An icon is defined as

• ·      a pictoral representation
• ·      a sign whose form suggests meaning

Iconic is defined as

• ·      relating or resembling
• ·      famous or well known
• ·      believed to represent a particular idea

So it is fair to argue that there are similarities between the two words—they both represent other things, however they are still not quite the same.

To help demonstrate my point I am going to show some iconic photos.

This photo would be iconic because it was right after President Kennedy was assinated.  Jackie was still in her pink outfit and was very composed as LBJ was sworn in as president.

This photo was very iconic of the Great Depression (though there was some speculation about whether it was posed based on the photographers other photos from the same time).

I was not around for either of these historical moments but they are representative of American history.






This is iconic for clear reasons. 9/11 was a tragic event for New Yorkers and Americans as a whole.

These two images, though from different times, have been compared to each other with the second being a reference to the first photo.  Both photos seem to evoke the same American Spirit and hope in rough times.

These images to the right demonstrate the same idea.  Each photo is paying tribute to the original idea in someway.






















People like Marilyn Monroe and Twiggy were Iconic in their way too because they set standards in their industry.

Things like these are called icons because they represent something however I would not qualify them as iconic.  I suppose that you could argue that they represent something iconic like Facebook or Social/Corporate America. However, I think that for something to be iconic to me it has to have historic or some kind value to it.