Who do you consider really really good in 2008?

[[james]]

Hi!

I need your lovely help. For a journalism magazine project I have to write two articles, each profiling an icon or role model someone really really good of each gender for 2008. So, in the interest of time-saving gauging public reaction, who would you consider iconicreally really good?

Preferably young & upcoming and can be from any country. Also, please be realistic - no-one's going to consider Liz McDonald an icon for 2008 besides us!

Thanks! I owe you all you a Freddo.

[FeelsLikeKellyCrabtree]

Do you mean icon as in someone to aspire to or an icon of our times? Or maybe I've just misinterpreted the meaning of icon completely.

If it's an icon of our times I'd say Amy Winehouse, I imagine when the do a retrospective look of the 2000's in 30 years time it'll be her that is remembered, for both musical and cultural reasons. However, she seems like an obvious choice.

It's quite tough to think actually. It may be to do with the fact that there is a lack of truly interesting people around at the moment or it could be the half bottle of wine I polished off about half an hour ago.

[[james]]

Either really. Just someone who would be remembered for gaining promenance or just being ace. I might just be lazy and do Adele and some actor.

You're drinking during the day when you should be at work? I smell an intervention...

[Rad]

How is Adele an icon? I mean, I'm sure she's talented, and I hope she will release some nice material in time, but she isn't an icon YET. She's been to the Brit school, has a pleasant but not all that special voice and has released one really annoying single. And I'm not sure I could pick her out of a line-up, despite seeing her on TV and in photos lots. It will take a while before she moves from 'next big thing' to 'big thing'.

I'd say Kylie and David Beckham were both pretty iconic in their respective ways: Kylie as a cultural chameleon, 'survivor', gay icon, icon for women (cancer, rubbish love life, being small, being a mechanic in Neighbours etc); Beckham for being married with kids, a good (seemingly) dad, committed to football, maturing as he grows (he was a maturer England captain then he ever was as a younger player), does lots for charity, works a thong, works y-fronts... And both have global appeal, which is also good.

[The Moog]

I'm sorry, but Adele is really really, really really REALLY not an icon in any shape way or form.

[Adrian]

jbugle said:

Preferably young & upcoming and can be from any country.

Youg and upcoming does not an icon make.

I would heartily echo Rad's two suggestions, and Amy Winehouse, and also throw in Kate Moss for good measure.

If they can be from any country, I'd go with Ruslana from Ukraine. She, along with Lena Philipsson, is one of my icons*.

(*if I were the type to have icons.)

[jamiek]

Karma must be given for mention of the flame thrower yielding one!

I second Beckham for male icon - I struggle to think of inspirational male figures in the public eye. I know that offers absolutely nothing new to the debate so I apologise.

The only human being I deem as being truly iconic is Janet Street Porter but I think icons are subjective really - how highly you regard a celebrity depends on what you want out of them I suppose.

One persons Winehouse is another persons Katona.

[lowculture.co.uk]

If we're talking Lowculturally, then nobody mentioned above is an icon except Janet Street-Porter and perhaps Sarah Beeny at a push. David Beckham certainly isn't, and as for Adele - anyone else who agrees with this point of view on here will have their accounts deleted. Probably.

[Deleted]

If you want an icon for 2008, a new icon if you like then I would suggest Agyness Deyn. She's the new Kate Moss, only one who does interviws more than coke.

As for a male, what about Tom Ford? His line is going to go from strength to strength and what's more iconic than the guy who saved Gucci from becoming chav heaven, and then just left. Or Hedi Slimane, but he's not as well known, or hot.

Or what about John Paul McQueen, he's slightly iconic already, and I see no mention of the icons having to be real.

Although I do hope that you go for Agyness Deyn and then send me your research so it saves time on my hellish article. Good luck!

[xenomaniac]

camdenpirate said:

If you want an icon for 2008, a new icon if you like then I would suggest Agyness Deyn. She's the new Kate Moss, only one who does interviws more than coke.

Except that Kate Moss is iconic because she doesn't do interviews. Agyness Deyn on Jonathan Ross simply reinforced that models should be seen and not heard.

[FeelsLikeKellyCrabtree]

xenomaniac said:

camdenpirate said:

If you want an icon for 2008, a new icon if you like then I would suggest Agyness Deyn. She's the new Kate Moss, only one who does interviws more than coke.

Except that Kate Moss is iconic because she doesn't do interviews. Agyness Deyn on Jonathan Ross simply reinforced that models should be seen and not heard.

I have absolutely no idea who this Agyness Deyn is but I've seen her name quite a lot recently and always read it as Angus Deayton

[Nurse Dunkley]

I mean honestly, ADELE?!

[pauliepoos]

I agree with Rad - David Beckham and Kylie are both people who have transcended their origins and have over achieved to a point of being knocked down so many times that now they're just accepted and praised for their contributions to what they've done in their respective fields, where they've both overachieved what was destined for them.

[Cherubic]

Can everyone go up and look up the word icon and then think about what they've said please? It's a term rendered useless by its ubiquity. Traditionally an icon is an Eastern Orthodox picture of Jesus, or at a push Mary. Now while I accept that the term is now more widely used today I don't think that any definition that in its strictest sense encompasses Jesus and his mum should be expanded to encompass Duffy or Agnes Deyne.

In a pop cultural sense I suppose an icon is someone whose image is able to represent a particular era or cultural movement. Since this era is still ongoing it's impossible for their to be icons from it yet. They are icons of yesterday still with us, but they're not really icons any longer. Paul McCartney and Madonna spring to mind as being people whose image symbolised something but their face no longer does.

In conclusion what a shit assignment.

[coxy1979]

Can they be fictional characters?

2008 sees the return of Indiana Jones, a culturually iconic hero. If you're in any doubt - watch the trailer. Anyone who can elicit squeals from the silhouette of their hat is truly iconic.

[[james]]

Haha I completely retract the use of the word 'icon'. I'm just looking for someone who people like and would be quite interesting to churn 750 words out on. I'm not a fan of Adele but she just won a Brit and was on every single critic's Big In 2008 list so she seemed like a lazy option.

I quite like the idea of having Indiana Jones/Harrison Ford as it's not an obvious choice.

[Rad]

Well that puts Agnes D and Danny Noriega back in the running, doesn't it?

Martha Jones. She's awesome. Although she may be a bit 2007.

[Deleted]

Buffy. Do Buffy. That is all.

[[james]]

camdenpirate said:

Buffy. Do Buffy. That is all.

Funny story! I'm dressing as Buffy for a party this weekend. I refuse to lez up though.