Assignment 2 - 2 Icon Analysis

The three icons I chose to write about are Elvis, Michael Jackson and Nostradamus.  All three of these icons have their own significance in history.  Elvis was the king of rock ‘n’ roll and sold over a billion records worldwide.  He is considered to be the one of the most important people of the twentieth century and popular culture (Elvis, 2011).  Michael Jackson is considered to be a more influential artist of all-time (Michael, 2011).  He has sold over 750 million records worldwide and was inducted in the Rock ‘N’ Roll Hall of Fame twice and was also recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by the Guinness Book of World Records (Michael, 2011).  Nostradamus was a French physician and astrologist from the 1500’s.  He was just an ordinary man that has made over 1,000 predictions about the world and what might happen.  Funny thing is though; over half of them predictions have come true.

                I chose Elvis, Michael Jackson and Nostradamus because they all have a significant meaning in my life.  I chose Elvis because he is one of my favorite singers of all times.  I love all of his movies and his voice, to me, is that of an angels.  His voice is so tender and true and believable.  I chose Michael Jackson because as a child he was the king of pop.  I grew up listening to Michael Jackson and his songs had meaning.  I liked the fact that he cared about the world and wanted to make a difference in everybody’s lives.  I chose Nostradamus because the way he has predicted things in the world and they have actually came true is a bit intimidating to me.  My mother in law is telling me new things every day that he has predicted and little by little they are happening.  It is kind of scary to think that a man from so many years ago could predict what would happen many years after his death.

                What do these icons mean to me?  Well, Elvis was born poor and he did not let any of that affect him at all.  He took the gift that he was given and turned his life around and became loved and adored by millions around the world.  He showed the world that it does not matter who you are or where you come from, that anyone can do anything they want to if they just put their minds to it.  Michael showed us that just because you come from a family that had so many issues that you could still help as many people as you could even if it was only with your lyrics in a song.  He touched so many people, families and countries around the world.  Nostradamus is a little more difficult to explain.  To me, this icon means that he may be right about the world.  He has predicted so many things that have came true it is scary to think if the world will really end in 2012.  When you sit back and look at his predictions and really think about them, you will start to question life yourself. 

References:

Elvis Presley (2011). Biography.  Official Site of the King of Rock ‘N’ Roll.  Retrieved January 11, 2011

                www.elvis.com

Michael Jackson (2011).  The King of Pop Biography.  Retrieved January 11, 2011 from

                www.michaeljackson.com

Keyes, Bradley (1996). Nostradamus.  Could he see the future?.  Retrieved January 11, 2011 from

                http://www.activemind.com/Mysterious/Topics/Nostradamus