The first idea that comes to mind when I think about Icons are things that have changed my life and shaped me to be the person that I am today. Everyone has an Icon or an Idol that helps to shape them to the person that they are or help them determine who they want to be. I have had plenty of Icons growing up but the three that really stick out to me are Barbie, Sesame Street, and G.I Joe. These are Icons that have changed many people’s lives and have changed my life tremendously.
When I started with this paper the first Icon that came to mind was Barbie. I love Barbie and so has the world since “1959” (Bellis, 2010). She has been my friend, when no one else wanted to be. I have told her all my secrets and all my dreams. I enjoyed her fashion with her heels, fabulous outfits, and glamorous cars. I loved Barbie so much that I would run home to play with her and her friends. In our house one of Barbie’s good friends was G.I. Joe coming about in “1982” (O’Brien, 2010). G.I. Joe a great man, he taught all the boys how to be just like him. Fighting for what’s right and making the world a better place. Even though Barbie and G.I. Joe showed us how to live, Sesame Street taught us everything else. Since “November 10, 1969, the day the show first aired, blinking to life on public television stations nationwide” (Loredo,2010), Sesame Street has been teaching children of all ages how to share and care and most of all the letters and numbers that are needed to live in America. These are all examples of why I chose this Icons they have not only changed my life but so many other lives as well.
Barbie means life to me, I have a daughter and she idolizes Barbie just like I did as a child. Barbie has done it all she has been a princess, a teacher, and even a doctor, but most of all she has been a role model. “There has been some controversy over Barbie's figure when it realized that if Barbie was a real person her measurements would be an impossible 36-18-38” (Bellis, 2010). Despite these mechanically issues Barbie is a good role model because she let little girls know that they could do anything, just like Barbie. G.I. Joe was a role model as well. G.I. Joe was so cool with his gun and various accessories. G.I. Joe to me was the boy version of the Barbie. He only found but he was good at it. It just made boys want to succeed in whatever it is that they do. The characters on Sesame Street were not really role models but children often wanted to be as smart as Big Bird or as friendly as Elmo. Sesame Street was like going to school without leaving your home. You could learn a different letter and number every day. Sesame Street has been on air for almost 41years and the show still teaches children the same sharing and caring method that were taught so many years ago.
References
Bellis, M. (2010). The history of Barbie dolls. Retrieved on October 4, 2010 from http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/blbarbiedoll.htm.
O’Brien, R. (2010). Action figure profile: G.I. Joe 25th anniversary snake eyes. Retrieved on October 4, 2010 from http://actionfigures.about.com/od/actionfigurereviews/a/snake-eyes.htm.
Loredo, B. (2010). Sesame street: A celebration- 40 years of life on the street’s. Retrieved on October 4, 2010 from http://www.sesamestreet.org/onair/history/articles.
Amanda Mcgraw
ReplyDeleteAll of these icons are things that I grew up with as well. Not so much the GI joes, but I have heard of them and have had one doll. Barbies are an icon not just to children as a form of play, but as a figure to look up to. She is an icon of the american dream.