Post 6 - Icons

Symbols can be seen everywhere. From the Nike swoop to the Pepsi logo, we have been bred from birth to associate these and many other symbols with a product or an ideal. I loved how the reading dealt with superheroes as American icons. They do represent an ideal held by everyone- the weak and lowly (mild mannered reporters, teenagers, etc) rise to fight other worldly foes. We all have a nerd inside of us that aspires to be that superhero. Or, as the reading suggests, maybe we all have a superhero inside of us that is secretly a nerd. Popular culture is so effective in grabbing people's attention because it takes from elements that we all relate to and weaves it into a symbol- an icon.

It is impossible to escape the reaches of popular culture. References and allusions creep in unexpectedly. I believe that as artists we are to use popular culture as a tool to further connect ourselves with the audience. I may not want to throw in cheap references to brand name clothes or whatever is cool, but it is important to know what is currently popular with your audience. Different icons can be seen as a type of archetype for the underlying reason people like it, and looking into that can be very valuable in relating to your audience.

As an artist, understanding popular icons is a way to keep myself grounded in our culture. Artists tend to distance themselves from what everyone else likes and pursue more "artistic" ventures. I believe that in order for us to create quality, successful films, it is vital for us to understand the audience. The audience is selfish, or at least self-indulgent, at movies. They generally want to have a good time and escape their lives for a bit. What better way to keep my work relatable than to keep in mind what the audience would know? It allows for the audience to own the production for themselves. It's like reaching out and giving high fives to everyone. And who doesn't like a good high five?