This article may require cleanup to meet Wikipedia's quality standards. No cleanup reason has been specified. Please help improve this article if you can; the talk page may contain suggestions. (November 2010)

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (May 2009)

A cuckoo clock, symbol of the Black Forest and Germany.

A cultural icon can be a symbol, logo, picture, name, face, person, building or other image that is readily recognized and generally represents an object or concept with great cultural significance to a wide cultural group. A representation of an object or person, or that object or person may come to be regarded as having a special status as particularly representative of, or important to, or loved by, a particular group of people, a place, or a period in history.

In the media, many well-known manifestations of popular culture have been described as "iconic". Some writers say that the word is overused.^[1][2][3]

Icons and brands[link]

The Bond, 1918

Brands can reflect social values and changes, but many people have become weary of them.^[4] Many brands aspire to become cultural icons, but fail. Cultural icons are often timeless, imprinted in our consciousness. They can go through several stages, from "rumblings, undercurrents" via "catharsis, explosion" and "mass acceptance, ripple effect" to "glorification, representative value". While brands are rational and driven by features, cultural icons are emotional, free, driven by feeling, and creating emotional bonds. An example of "branding" might include the wearing of a consistent fashion look by such music stars as Michael Jackson or Elvis Presley, and female Madonna (entertainer), Britney Spears and Marilyn Monroe. Royal trappings or church garb could also be understood as a form of emotional iconography.

Definition[link]

Cultural icons may be national, regional or related to a city. And they can be symbols for a nation, or can evoke particular values held by that state. For example, France uses Marianne as a symbol of the French Revolution. Bruce Lee is a symbol for the martial arts and philosophical culture of insight and knowledge in the entire world.^[5][6][7] Charlie Chaplin symbolises comical action while Clint Eastwood is a worldwide symbol for strength and masculinity. Jackie Chan is a global icon of comical stunts and martial arts based action.^[8] Salvador Dalí is the worldwide icon for the bizarre and eccentric.^{[verification needed]}

Media overuse[link]

Some writers say that the terms "icon" and "iconic" have been overused. A writer in Liverpool Daily Post calls "iconic" "a word that makes my flesh creep", a word "pressed into service to describe almost anything".^[1] The Christian Examiner nominates "iconic" and "amazing" to its list of overused words, finding over 18,000 "iconic" references in news stories alone, with another 30,000 for "icon", including use of it for SpongeBob SquarePants.^[2]

See also[link]

• Icon
• Icon (secular)
• Icon (disambiguation)
• National icon
• Popular culture
• Replicas of Michelangelo's David

References[link]

External links[link]

• Our New Icons by The Daily Telegraph
• Nothing and no one are Off Limits in an Age of Iconomania by The Age

Darren Everett Criss (born February 5, 1987) is an American actor, singer, songwriter, instrumentalist, and composer. He is also a founding member and co-owner of StarKid Productions, a media and musical theater production company based in Chicago, Illinois. He is best known for portraying Blaine Anderson, an openly gay high school student, on the FOX television series Glee.

Criss first garnered attention playing the lead role of Harry Potter in StarKid's musical productions of A Very Potter Musical and A Very Potter Sequel. In January 2012, he made his Broadway debut, starring as J. Pierrepont Finch in the revival of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.

Early life and education[link]

Criss was born in San Francisco, California, the youngest son of Cerina (née Bru) and Charles William Criss, a banker and a former director of the San Francisco Opera, the Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra, the Stern Grove Festival, and San Francisco Performances. Criss is Eurasian – his mother, a native of Cebu, Philippines, is of Chinese, Spanish, and Filipino descent, while his father, a native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is of Irish descent. He has an older brother named Charles "Chuck" Criss (born April 15, 1985), a musician and member of the indie rock band Freelance Whales. Criss and his brother were raised in San Francisco, apart from 1988 to 1992, when the family relocated to Honolulu, Hawaii, and their father started the East West Bank, serving as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.^[1][2][3][4]

Criss' interest in music and the performing arts started in his early childhood — at the age of five, he began taking violin lessons, and, at ten, he was accepted into the Young Conservatory program of the American Conservatory Theater; concurrently, he made his professional stage debut, performing at the musical theater company 42nd Street Moon. Criss later became a multi-instrumentalist, mastering the violin, guitar, piano, cello, mandolin, harmonica, and drums, and he began composing songs by the age of fifteen.^{[5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12]}

Criss completed his elementary education at Stuart Hall for Boys, and then later graduated from Saint Ignatius College Preparatory in 2005; both are private Catholic schools located in the San Francisco Bay Area. During his time at Saint Ignatius, he was a member of various clubs, including the school government and the performing arts program, for which he was awarded the "Theater Arts Leadership" and the "Fine Arts" awards. Criss was also active in the school music scene - he was a violinist in the school orchestra (where he held the position of concertmaster), fronted his own band, and was voted "most likely to win a Grammy" by his peers. Academically, he received the National Latin Exam Award in 2002 (Maxima Cum Laude) and 2003 (Magna Cum Laude).^{[13][14][15][16][17][18][19]}

Criss majored in Theater Performance at the University of Michigan (he additionally pursued minors in Musicology and Italian, until opting out prior to graduation), and obtained a Bachelor of Fine Arts in 2009.^[20][13] 

Acting career[link]

For a list of acting credits by Criss, click here.

Theater[link]

Criss' Broadway debut How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying

Criss made his professional stage debut at the age of ten in 42nd Street Moon's 1997 production of Fanny, in the role of Cesario. The next year, Criss played Mauro in the Richard Rodgers and Stephen Sondheim musical Do I Hear a Waltz?, followed by Babes in Arms in 1999, in which he played Beauregard Calhoun.^[21][22][23]

Criss spent his formative years at the American Conservatory Theater, studying theater performance and appearing in a number of plays, notably A Christmas Carol, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and The Voysey Inheritance. He continued to hone his craft at St. Ignatius College Preparatory, taking on roles in classics such as The Music Man, The Diary of Anne Frank, and Fiddler on the Roof.^[7][24]

From 2005 to 2009, while attending the University of Michigan, Criss took part in numerous stage productions, including Pride and Prejudice, The Last Days of Judas Iscariot, A Few Good Men, and The Cripple of Inishmaan. He was also a participant in Basement Arts, the university's student-run theater organization, as both an actor and director. In the spring of 2008, he spent a semester abroad in Arezzo, Italy, studying Commedia dell'arte, among other theater-related subjects, at the Accademia dell'Arte.^{[24][25][26][27]}

In 2009, after receiving his Bachelor of Fine Arts, Criss, along with his friends and fellow classmates from the University of Michigan, founded StarKid Productions, a media and musical theater production company. His most prominent acting role with StarKid is that of Harry Potter in the YouTube viral musicals A Very Potter Musical and A Very Potter Sequel. Both productions are musical-comedies based on the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling. StarKid's plays have been viewed more than 100 million times on the company's YouTube channel, since its launch on June 19, 2009.^[28][29][30]

In January 2012, Criss made his Broadway debut, replacing Daniel Radcliffe in the role of J. Pierrepont Finch in the revival of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, for a three-week engagement at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre. His stint proved to be a success – aside from Daniel Radcliffe's final week, the musical had the three most lucrative weeks of its 11-month run with Criss in the lead role, grossing over four million dollars.^[31][32]

Television[link]

Criss as Blaine Anderson with The Dalton Academy Warblers

Criss portrays Blaine Anderson, an openly gay high school student, on the FOX television show Glee. He made his first appearance in season two in the episode "Never Been Kissed", which aired on November 9, 2010. Blaine attended Dalton Academy and was lead singer of its glee club, The Dalton Academy Warblers. Blaine initially served as a friend and mentor for Kurt Hummel, the bullied gay member of the Warblers' rival glee club, New Directions. Chemistry between the two characters, combined with fan support for the potential couple, led series co-creator Ryan Murphy to pair them romantically onscreen. At the beginning of the third season, Blaine transfers to McKinley High and joins New Directions; concurrently, Criss was promoted from recurring guest star to the show's main cast.^[33][34][35]

Discussing public response to his character, Criss stated that he particularly enjoyed comments from "people from parts of the world who are maybe not as exposed to certain ideologies", but had reconsidered their stance on relationships and human rights as a result of the Blaine and Kurt storyline. He called this response "phenomenal", and said: "I was a straight kid growing up in a very gay community and it's something that I've had to watch so many friends have to struggle with and have no place to go to identify in kind of a grander media culture. To be a small piece of that machine is incredibly wonderful."^[36]

The character of Blaine Anderson was voted No. 1 on AfterElton's list of Top 50 Favorite TV Characters (2012).^[37]

Criss' early television career includes roles on the television series Eastwick and Cold Case.^[38]

Films[link]

In August 2011, Criss made his feature film debut in Glee: The 3D Concert Movie.

In 2012, Criss will appear in the upcoming comedy Imogene. The film co-stars Kristen Wiig, Annette Bening, and Matt Dillon.^[39]

Internet[link]

In 2007, Criss made his online debut playing the role of Toby Phillips in the web series Little White Lie. It was released in 2009 by StarKid Productions.^[40]

Criss voices the character of Leopold Bonar from the Funny or Die web series Life of Leopold.^[41]

Music career[link]

For a list of select musical performances by Criss, click here.

Solo artist[link]

Criss began his solo music career playing in bars and cafes while he was a student at the University of Michigan. After the success of StarKid Productions, and then later finding fame with his breakthrough role on Glee, Criss quickly gained popularity and eventually began headlining notable venues such as Irving Plaza, The Roxy, The Hollywood Palladium, The Troubadour, and Lincoln Center. His repertoire consists of standards from the American Songbook and contemporary songs, as well as his own compositions. Being an avid Disney fan, he often includes songs from one of his musical idols, Alan Menken.^[42][43][44]

Criss continues to collaborate and perform with fellow University of Michigan alumnus, singer-songwriter Charlene Kaye. He duetted with Kaye on her songs "Skin and Bones" and "Dress and Tie", and is featured in her music videos for "Skin and Bones", "Magnolia Wine", and "Dress and Tie".^[45]

On July 20, 2010, Criss released an independently-produced EP called Human on iTunes. It debuted at No. 30 on the Billboard Top Heatseekers Albums chart and has reached the iTunes Top 20 Alternative chart.^[46][47][48]

On December 10, 2010, Criss became the 400,000th member of the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP).^[49]

In April 2011, Criss signed with Sony Music Entertainment. He will be recording a full-length studio album, though no release date has been set.^[50]

StarKid Productions[link]

Criss is credited as one of the primary songwriters and composers, along with A.J. Holmes and Carlos Valdes, for StarKid Productions. He has contributed songs to A Very Potter Musical (2009), Me and My Dick (2009), and Little White Lie (2009). Subsequently, Criss solely composed all the songs and music for A Very Potter Sequel (2010), its companion album A Very StarKid Album (2010), and Starship (2011).^[29]

On January 6, 2010, the soundtrack to Me and My Dick was released through iTunes. The album became the first-ever student-produced college musical to reach the Billboard charts, coming in at No. 11 on the Top Cast Albums chart.^[51]

On July 22, 2010, A Very StarKid Album was released digitally through iTunes and Amazon.com. The album reached No. 14 on the iTunes Pop Albums chart and No. 27 out of all Top Albums, officially topping Lady Gaga (No. 29) and Glee (No. 31) on the charts. The album also reached No. 19 on Billboard Top Compilations chart.^[48][47]

On April 29, 2011, the Starship album was released. It debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Top Cast Albums chart and No. 134 on the Billboard 200 chart, and reached No. 2 on iTunes Soundtracks chart and No. 4 on iTunes Top Albums chart.^[52]

Over the Thanksgiving holiday in 2011, Criss participated in StarKid's first national concert tour, The SPACE Tour, in the New York and Boston shows.^[53]

On March 13, 2012, The SPACE Tour album was released. It debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard Top Cast Albums chart, and reached No. 4 on iTunes Pop Albums chart and No. 17 on iTunes Top Albums chart.^[54]

[edit] Glee

Criss has contributed to the Glee soundtrack as lead singer of the The Dalton Academy Warblers and as a member of William McKinley High's New Directions. The Warblers are an all-male a cappella choir group whose backing vocals and arrangements are done by Tufts University's Beelzebubs.

Criss' first song on Glee, "Teenage Dream", hit No. 1 on the Billboard Digital Songs chart and the iTunes song chart, selling 214,000 singles in its first week, outselling the original version in its first week of digital sales. It was the first time a Glee cast track had reached the top spot, and is the show's fastest selling track to date. On July 13, 2011, the song was certified gold for selling over 500,000 copies.^[55][56][57]

Due to the chart success of singles by Criss and the Warblers in season 2, the album Glee: The Music Presents the Warblers was released on April 19, 2011. It debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 chart and reached No. 2 on the iTunes Albums chart.^[58]

From May 21 to July 3, 2011, Criss and the cast of Glee performed in Glee Live! In Concert!, touring the U.S.A., Canada, England, and Ireland. According to Billboard Magazine, it was the 16th most successful concert tour of 2011, grossing more than $40 million, with total attendance topping 485,000. All 40 dates sold out, including shows at Staples Center, Nassau Coliseum, and The O2 Arenas in London and Dublin.^[59][42]

Advocacy and charity work[link]

Criss is a supporter of the LGBT community and its causes. In December 2010, and again in 2011, he performed at 'Trevor Live', an event held in support of The Trevor Project, the leading national organization focused on suicide prevention efforts among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) youth. Criss is the recipient of Variety's Power of Youth Philanthropy award for his contributions to The Trevor Project.^{[60][61][62][63][64]}

Criss is a spokesperson for the Rock the Vote organization and its Democracy Day campaign. On March 23, 2011, he helped launch Democracy Class, a "national high school civics program...that uses pop culture, video, a classroom discussion and a mock election to teach young people the skills to navigate the elections process and engage as active citizens".^[65][66]

Criss recorded the Bob Dylan song "New Morning", featuring his brother Chuck Criss, for Amnesty International. It was part of the compilation album Chimes of Freedom: Songs of Bob Dylan Honoring 50 Years of Amnesty International, released on January 24, 2012.^[67]

Criss was chosen by UNICEF Philippines to represent their organization and accept a $25,000 donation from the Hollywood Foreign Press Association for the disaster relief of Tropical Storm Washi, on March 8, 2012.^[68]

Criss is the spokesperson for the Festival of New American Musicals. The organization's mission is "to foster the creators, to train and showcase the performers and in the process also to help build the next generation of musical theater audience and support." It's honorary co-chairs are Stephen Sondheim, Stephen Schwartz, Jerry Herman, Angela Lansbury, and Jason Alexander.^[69]

Criss has performed at charity benefits for the American Conservatory Theater, AIDS Project Los Angeles, New Conservatory Theatre Center, Toys for Tots, City of Hope National Medical Center, Motion Picture & Television Fund, Public School Arts, MusiCares Foundation, The Old Vic, UCLA's Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center and the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation.^[70]

Media appearances[link]

Criss has been a guest on various television shows, including The Ellen DeGeneres Show,^[71] Live with Regis and Kelly,^[72] The Glee Project,^[73] Access Hollywood,^[74] MTV,^[75] and The Today Show.^[76]

Criss has appeared on the magazine covers of Billboard, Out, Playbill, TV Guide, Da Man, Prestige, and Entertainment Weekly.^[77] He has also been featured in People,^[78] InStyle,^[79] Interview,^[80] Vogue,^[81] Teen Vogue,^[82] GQ,^[83] Rolling Stone,^[84] Variety,^[85] The Hollywood Reporter,^[86] Details,^[87] The Chicago Tribune,^[88] and The New York Times,^[89] among others.

Criss is featured in the fall ad campaign (2011) for Uniqlo, a Japanese clothing line.^[90]

Criss was named one of People Magazine's Sexiest Men Alive, and was ranked No. 1 on AfterElton's "Hot 100" list (2011).^[91][92]

Criss ranked No. 1 on GQ Magazine's "30 Under 30: The Most Stylish Young Men In Hollywood" list (2012).^[93]

Professional credits[link]

Musical performances[link]

Discography[link]

Awards[link]

References[link]