Pop Icons

This image brings together three of the greatest pop icons in history: Elvis Presley, Michael Jackson, and Lady Gaga. The first is Elvis Presley, the ‘King of Rock and Roll’. Elvis’ charisma, bold style and attitude, and numerous hit records made him one of the most influential artists of the 20th century. The second is Michael Jackson, the ‘King of Pop’. Michael Jackson was a groundbreaking artist from childhood through to his adult years. He broke new ground in music, dance, and entertainment as a whole. The last icon is Lady GaGa, an impressive new force in pop music with radical influences in fashion and media.

The image does not have an informative linguistic message in the form of a caption or words within the picture. It is assumed that the viewer will be able to recognize all three of the people within the photograph. To understand that it is a picture of cultural icons, whoever is looking at the picture, needs cultural knowledge. The image also does not have “relay”; the images alone convey information, and there is no text to fill any cultural gaps.

This also ties to the literal message. It is a photo, a representation of people, edited to look as if all three of the people are standing next to each other. Each person is different – race, style, gender and era. There is nothing in the background, and all of the images are in black and white.

The literal message – the images and what is literally seen in the picture – support the symbolic message. These are three well-known icons in American history. These three images combined into one represent American pop music: how it has progressed over time its cultural effects. Each artist rebels (even in death) against the status quo of his or her generation. Each artist performed a new and different style of music, and they expressed themselves with clothes that represented them – were often bold, theatrical, and unusual. Finally, each artist swept up the entire youth of a generation (depending on which generation and artist is being examined).

This is where the background and mindset of the audience comes into play with the interpretation of the image. Older generations may gravitate more to the image of Elvis, of early rock’n’roll. African Americans may connect more to Michael Jackson, who often sung of race and racial differences. The youngest generation may be inclined to focus on Lady Gaga, the current cultural trend. Each image represents each person, and how they are culturally connected to their audiences.

Each person in this collage represents both a singular person – an individual with an identity and a life beyond fame, and a cultural icon. The picture only displays the latter view, or the artists as we perceive them culturally. Elvis is young, suave, and handsome; Michael Jackson is dancing up a storm; and Lady Gaga is singing loud and turning heads. However, despite the fact that the picture shows these artists as preserved cultural images, the history behind each artist is common knowledge. Elvis had drug and alcohol problems, Michael Jackson had similar substance problems and a lot of negative attention for his personal life, and Lady Gaga faces discrimination and hatred for being outlandish and supporting the gay community.

Recognition of the icons within the picture is critical to understanding the symbolic message. These are artists that, whether you like them or not, have undoubtedly and enduringly impacted American culture. They are each significant in their own identity and presentation, and to understand the picture you need to connect to all three.