"You're a really cool person"

My article for Issue 5 of Teen Eye magazine. The Icons issue.

The TIME 100 has been released to readers annually since 1990, over two decades ago. A list of the 100 most influential people in America, as decided by ‘a debate among American academics, politicians, and journalists’. These people are considered the icons of our society. They were chosen because they represent something, and represent it well, earning them fame and power. Ranging from the likes of supermodel and computer coder Karlie Kloss, to the contentious and largely ridiculed Donald Trump, it is obvious that there is no clear correlation in personality or character among these 100 people. The world’s current metaphorical ‘Hall of Fame’ contains icons such as Martin Luther King, Michael Jackson, David Bowie, and Miley Cyrus. What they have in common, is that they are not common people with common beliefs and careers. They dare to diverge from the mainstream, and are idolised by society for their non-conformity. They were not necessarily loved or welcomed initially, but they stuck to their guns and made an influence on people with their individuality. What makes an icon an icon, is their ability to be different, and roll with it.

Google ‘pop-culture icons’ and you’ll find hundreds of links to thousands of websites and blogs with their own lists of icons. There seems to be an addiction to classification and structure, which has influenced the way our society works for as long as it has existed. We use lists and complex class structures to define ourselves as belonging to a certain sector of society. Now, in a rapidly progressing world, labels are supposed to mean less. Diversity is beginning to be celebrated, and our youth are told to express themselves and encouraged to form their own unique identities. But in reality, labels mean more than they ever have before, allowing people in the public eye to be respected for their diversity, while people in smaller communities still struggle to gain this respect.

Traditional ideas of conformity and social pressures come to mind when we use the word ‘labels’. It triggers memories of social cliques and that iconic scene in Mean Girls where all the girls rock up to school with holes in their tops, just because Regina George did. This may be an exaggerated example of conformity, and American teen movies may be an inaccurate representation of what high school is actually like, but the principle is there. Peer pressure and the fear of judgement lead a lot of today’s youth to subject themselves to conform to society’s standards and stereotypes which can ultimately limit their ‘potential’. It is easy to think about being different, but when you’re the only one not wearing Regina’s holy accidental fashion mess, it’s hard to avoid the strange looks. It takes grit and a whole lot of confidence to be the one to do something different. Lovable Friends character Phoebe Buffay’s penchant for telling the truth is slandered when she is fired for advocating animal rights to children. She sings “Then the farmer hits him on the head and grinds him up, and that how we get hamburgers.” The interesting part is that the children enjoyed her performance, but the parents put a stop to Buffay anyway. It is this recurring idea that tradition wins over change, that forces people to resort to tradition even though they want change. Buffay’s complete loyalty to her own opinions and individuality is hard to find, and marks her as an icon.

Diversity is something of a hot topic lately. The LGBTIQP+ community and the #blacklivesmatter campaign show that our society has a long way to go, until diversity becomes okay. An obsession with what’s ‘normal’ and having social norms means that diversity will always be an alien concept, and the diverse will always be alien people. Sure, progress is progress. Icons of equality like Miley Cyrus are accepted and loved for their voice. But when it comes to smaller communities in families, or schools, or towns, diversity becomes a much scarier concept to face. We idolise diversity in the media, but seem to be afraid of it in our personal lives. We can use these icons as a floatie in the pool of diversity. We can use them to inspire ourselves, and to conquer society’s norms. Australia’s Troye Sivan, now openly gay, struggled through his journey thinking that “If no one accepts me, at least Miley Cyrus will.” Cyrus’ presence as an advocate has probably helped thousands more accept their own identity. Icons like Cyrus can really use their platform to spread the message that diversity is okay.

Icons are usually different, but loved for their differences. Icons are something special, something irreplaceable. The classification of icons as icons means that ultimately, we remember the people who are different. The people who were not afraid to be different in a society that condemns and alienates difference. We are all different, but icons are those who are not afraid to show it. Let’s all take Phoebe Buffay’s mantra.

Repeat after her: “I’m a really cool person.” Iconic? Maybe not. But icons may become a thing of the past, if we can all find the courage to make different the new normal.

Love, Ingrid

Find Issue 5 - the Icons issue of Teen Eye Magazine at http://www.teeneyemagazine.com/