An Icon, is it?

When you’re an icon, you’re not just a person—you’re a myth.

In fact, the myth Is what transcends into reality when it’s a face you recognise the myth with. An icon is a representation of the ‘wow’ factor a celebrity carries along with him/her. The persona and the attributes we assign to the icon are largely created by the media, be it any. Human in its form, but an icon dazzles, an icon fascinates, an icon is worshipped. An icon, at times replaces God. Their life in reality is of absolute negligence in front of their reel life which is relevant, exciting and in all its content ,all  set to be evocative.

But what is it , as Herwitz puts it, “What is it about film and television culture, the star system, and consumer society that have made the shift from the human form to icons”? The answer lies in our aspirational values, our human abilities of acceptance  and dependence on the media to create ‘opinion ‘ and thus, perspective. We let the icon rise above the culture, above the masses. If we give it a thought, the icon seems powerless to an individual, but  in fact  we, as individuals and a social set up are powerless to the awe, excitement it generates or carries. We submit, subconsciously or consciously to the larger than life image that has been created for the icon..

Plus the brand value an icon generates is immense, for they themselves rise from being a  brand to a cult. It helps a brand stand out, stand tall, adds to the brand recall and serves an an assurance. They are the communication and the communicators for the brand

Despite the fact, that the life of an icon may be short lived and  at the end, its the paparazzi that makes an icon , the icon he is. His reality does affect it.  But the power bestowed on them to shake the emotional appeal of masses is immense, and perhaps, the reason for them letting go of the real to be the reel.