3 Pop Culture Icons

3 Pop Culture Icons
Three examples of pop culture icons are Pac-Man, Brittany Spears and Tiger Woods. “Pac-Man was first released in Japan on May 22, 1980. Immensely popular in the United States from its original release to the present day, Pac-Man is universally considered as one of the classics of the medium, virtually synonymous with video games, and an icon of the 1980s popular culture. When Pac-Man was released, most arcade video games in North America were primarily space shooters such as Space Invaders, Defender, or Asteroids Pac-Man succeeded by creating a new genre and appealing to both genders. Pac-Man is often credited with being a landmark in video game history, and is among the most famous arcade games of all time.” (wikipedia , 2010)
I chose Pac-Man as an example of a pop culture icon, because I remember fondly the transition from Asteroids to the arcade hit. I did not understand at that age, the true impact it created in the pop icon history book. Everyone was playing it, guys, girls, moms and dads. It was on every kids Christmas list. The simple game of eating dots, while being chased by ghosts; lead the way for our current advancement in the video game world.
“Spears made it big when she was just seventeen years old with her music, 'Hit Me Baby One More Time,' and she stayed on top with 'Opps... I did it again.' Spears became a true idol and controversial pop icon. (B, Melissa, 2007)
The early years of Britney’s career: a symbol of a little girls dream, from Disney channel star to pop idol. Most of us can remember dressing up, and making dance routines to our favorite current top 20 song. We gathered with our girlfriends, grabbed a few brushes for microphones, and sang for hours, an early form of passion. I can look at Britney and remember how I felt at that young age. I remember my oldest daughter going through that same experience, looking at her the same way.
“His presence rocketed television numbers, the 2000 U.S. Open spinning record overnight ratings for its weekend telecasts even as Woods crushed the competition. He attracted staggering commercial endorsements, played before sellout crowds, and graced countless magazine covers. Woods is a multi-ethnic blend; Earl is equal parts African-American, Chinese, American Indian and white and his mother Kutilda is Thai. He diversified his sport's audience, colorizing galleries and refueling the dreams of minority golfers.” (Carter, B. 2007)
Tiger Woods is a symbol of drive, and ambition, a product of being pushed by his father from the age of 18 months of age and until his father’s death in 2006, a rise and fall of an American icon. Tigers Drive: “This is pretty much a 12 hour day. Look at how it breaks down:
• 1.5 Hours fitness
• 4.5 Hours of ball striking
• 2.0 Hours of playing
• 2.0 Hours of short game
2.0 Meals, shower and rest time that is 8.5 hours of golf” (Haney, H. 2007-2008)
Any sports playing, loving American can look at Tigers successes and be motivated. Young players just starting out and older players who just love the game, icons like Tiger keep pipe dreams alive for us all.
Tiger has fallen under much scrutiny in the recent months, which make him even more of an icon, but in a more negative way than I have described. In this paper I chose to focus on the positive he has brought to many of us, the game of golf, and sports as a whole.





Reference


B. Melissa, 2007 Britney Spears-Pop Icon and Media Magnet retrieved on April 7, 2010 http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/401252/britney_spears_pop_icon_and_media_magnet_pg2.html?cat=33

Carter, B. 2007 ESPN.com Tiger Emerges from Woods as a golfing icon retrieved on April 7, 2010 from http://espn.go.com/classic/biography/s/woods_tiger.html

Haney, H. Best Strategies for better golf.com Tiger Woods Practice retrieved on April 7, 2010 from http://www.best-strategies-for-better-golf.com/tigerwoodspractice.html

Wikipedia 2010 Pac-Man retrieved on April 7, 2010 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pac-Man