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Previous Thread Next Thread Print Thread icon #23187 03/16/2001 6:43 PM Joined: Dec 2000 Posts: 2 bgassman stranger bgassman stranger Joined: Dec 2000 Posts: 2 In our local newspaper there recently appeared an obituary headline that read "U. theater icon Robert Wilson dies." This called my attention to a use of "icon" that I have recently noticed in other headlines and in other places; that is, the use of the word to label people that have distinguished themselves in one way or another like "pop icon," "Hollywood icon." "Senate icon," etc. Have you observed this usage, and what do you think of it? I think it's quite silly and deserves to be laughed out of the language if possible. ( This is is no way a disparagement of Robert Wilson. I think he deserves a more meaningful label than the one the headline writer used.) Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: icon #23188 03/16/2001 6:58 PM Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 13,858 wwh Carpal Tunnel wwh Carpal Tunnel Joined: Jan 2001 Posts: 13,858 At least it is preferable to "idol". And the religious usage of "icon" has been supplanted by its use in computer language, so it isn't remotely blasphemous now. What short handy substitute can you offer? Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Re: icon #23189 03/17/2001 2:49 PM Joined: Nov 2000 Posts: 3,439 New England, USA wow Carpal Tunnel wow Carpal Tunnel Joined: Nov 2000 Posts: 3,439 New England, USA Since in theatrical parlance to die means to flop or fail to deliver a convincing performance or production, I think the hed has a double meaning for those who read it ....AND given the nature of the deceased's profession/avocation, many theater people would! Perhaps something more applicable to his actual theater work would be better .... Producer Robert Wilson dead Dramatist Robert Wilson dead Actor, manager, etc etc. As for "icon" ... too many taking the easy word. Now, in my day ...(old-time Editor maundering on ...) wow Copy Link to Clipboard Share Post on Facebook Share Post on Twitter Moderated by  Jackie  Hop To General Topics ------  Information and announcements  Q&A about words  Wordplay and fun  Words and languages in schools  Miscellany  Weekly Themes  Looking for (writers, speakers,... (Old) Weekly themes. (have been... ------  Words from medicine  Beheading words  Meta-words  Words from classical mythology  Animal Safari  Words with unusual etymologies  Eponyms or words derived from p...  Loanwords from German  English as a global language Print Thread Switch to Threaded Mode Show Likes Link Copied to Clipboard View Profile Private Message Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary View Profile Private Message Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary View Profile Private Message Follow User Forum Posts Like Summary

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