Icon Analysis

There are so many different icons that I have seen through my years but the three that stick out most strongly with are Harley Davidson, Mount Rushmore, and teddy bears.  Anyone who has been born and raised in the United States should know each of these icons backgrounds.  Harley Davidson has been around since the beginning of the twentieth century.  A creation of Davidson brothers Arthur and Walter with friend William S. Harley, this legendary icon was started in a ten by fifteen foot wood shed in Wisconsin.  A heavy supplier of motorcycles for the United States military through both World Wars and Korean War, now a days enjoyed by millions of riders throughout the world.  Another turn of the century American symbol is the beautiful carved Mount Rushmore with four famous presidents of George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Thomas Jefferson and Theodore Roosevelt.  This monument represents the first 150 years of American’s history set in the spectacular Black Hills of South Dakota.  And finally the one childhood toys that are collected by even adults, the famous Teddy Bear, so named after an adventurous president Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt in 1903. 

Retrived from http://www.saveshenandoah.com/trip-and-traveling/fans-of-harley-davidson-rendezvous.html

I choose these three American icons, each created shortly after the turn of past century, because they represent different aspects of history.  With Harley Davidson motorcycles, the struggles this company had gone through over the past century prove that something purely made in America can strive to greatness.  Mount Rushmore is always been a symbol of America that millions of tourist go to see every summer in the Black Hills.  It is a huge reminder of the sacrifices our fore fathers gave to make the country we live in free.  And the teddy bear is a childhood toy at just about every kid had growing up.  Not many toys survive past even a few decades let along over a century.  Even adults have addictions to collecting them, which they are called “Arctophiles”. 

Taken August 14, 2012 by Desire' Barker

Each icon gives me the meaning of being free in different ways.  With a Harley Davidson motorcycles there is the long tradition of being out on the open road with the wind and smells of the outdoors hitting your face.  The few times I have been privileged to ride on one has giving me the feel of freedom from my worries.  The feel of freedom also came from our yearly visit to see Mount Rushmore each summer.  I would look up at those stone faces and think how those men helped to make our country free in their own different ways.  Even this summer, as we drove by it, I got this feel of being proud to be American.  And teddy bears have always been an obsession of mine even now as an adult I collect them.  I always felt comfortable with a faithful teddy bear wrapped in my arms and even to this day can be caught sleeping with one when I am sick.  I have a huge collection and will continue to gather my furry friends forever.

Retrieved from http://www.fanpop.com/spots/tamar20/images/28344675/title/teddy-bear-wallpaper

References:

Blue Ribbon Bears at http://www.blueribbonbears.com/history.htm

Harley Davidson at http://www.harley-riders-guide.com/harley-davidson-history.html

Mount Rushmore. (2008, April 2). New World Encyclopedia, . Retrieved 19:01, October 5, 2012 from http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/p/index.php?title=Mount_Rushmore&oldid=681700.