The word “iconic”, writes Jonathan Meades in the new issue of Intelligent Life, "is today’s expression of humankind’s perennial bent towards aggrandisement.” Tim de Lisle, editor of the magazine, announces the new issue ...
You can’t switch on the television these days, or open a newspaper, without hearing the word “iconic”. Everything from the new American president to the old British phone box has been hailed as an icon. In the new quarterly issue ofIntelligent Life, on sale now in Britain and across Europe, the Middle East and Africa, Jonathan Meades takes a witty look at the iconic epidemic.
In his research, Meades finds that people have written about an iconic baby lotion, an iconic cassoulet, an iconic enema, an iconic shoehorn and an iconic Coventry City football shirt of the 1970s, as well as umpteen iconic buildings and celebrities.
The word “iconic”, he writes, is “cosily religiose, softly spiritual… It is today’s expression of humankind’s perennial bent towards aggrandisement.”
Meades, author of our cover story on Zaha Hadid ("The first great female architect", Summer 2008), traces the history of the word, from the ancient Greeks and the early Christians (the original iconoclasts), to the Nazis and Stalin, and on to the visual bombast of today’s stadium-rock concerts. He makes it plain: iconic is indeed the adjective of the age.
Plus...
The latest in the Authors on Museums series: the bestselling novelist Anthony Horowitz on why he loves Tate Modern
A profile of Andrew Sullivan, by Johann Hari
A profile of Andrew Sullivan, by Johann Hari
The photo essay: slavery today: the faces of indentured labourers in India, photographed by Pete Pattisson
Ed Smith on why it’s hard to warm to Tiger Woods
Julie Kavanagh on Stefan Zweig, a scintillating writer who should be more famous than he is
How to buy a sofa
Leonard Rossiter by his daughter: living with a comic genius
Leonard Rossiter by his daughter: living with a comic genius
The cuddly couturier: an interview with Alber Elbaz of Lanvin
Mike Atherton on Guyana, the country his wife comes from
Mike Atherton on Guyana, the country his wife comes from
Andrew Marr on Magna Carta: what did it actually say?
The career of Helen Mirren, from the London stage in 1968 to the new movie State of Play
The career of Helen Mirren, from the London stage in 1968 to the new movie State of Play
Most of the contents will be posted here, bit by bit, over the three months that the magazine is on sale. As ever, do let us know what you think.
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