Living Icons - BBC Culture show
 

Don't know if any of you guys watch the Culture Show, but the Living Icons poll they're running is quite interesting, check it out:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/arts/livingicons/

Up for the award is:

the 10 are:
-Morrissey
-Bowie
-McCartney
-Michael Caine
-David Attenborough
-Stephen Fry
-Alan Bennett
-Kate Moss
-Vivienne Westwood
-Kate Bush

In my opinion, it gonna have to be Macca or Bowie, what do any of you think? Thought we could have our own little poll!

david attenborough or maybe even stephen fry but kate moss, for fuck sake. its a pete doherty generation

Yeah, not sure why 'the stupid' are on aloud on this list!

she is cute tho..............

True...but it's not about cute! If it was a cute poll, I would definately vote for her!

Stephen Fry.

Fucking hell. What a hateful list. Obviously Attenborough is the only one who really deserves it. Michael Caine for fuck sake....

I'm incensed that M E Smith isn't on that list. I would vote for Mozza, but he's a veggie. I've already voted for Vivienne Westwood because I like her and she's had the largest ostensible impact and influence upon the world (obviously Alan Bennet probably more so, but I'm not overly fond of him). Bowie and Macca can fuck right off.

actually alan bennet's the only one i've never heard of!

Edit: Undoubtedly David Attenborough.

David Attenborough's cool and everything, and I respect him, but fuck that guy.

Why do you say that Danny? He's the best naturalist of our time.

But Stephen Fry! He's the best over-studied know-it-alls of our time!

EDIT:

Actually, fuck it. Give it to Alan Davies.

Stephen Fry is for sure second.

Culture? Icons? Where are the artists? What about Hockney or Wallinger or one of the YBA group? Or Gilbert and George? What about architects? Sir Norman Foster's work is known by all - a rare thing for an architect. At least we get one playwright, I suppose, but it's conveniently a playwright celebrated for his work ouside of theatre (in which case, how about Stephen Poliakoff?). And what about Antony H Wilson?


You should be, sir. You should be.


Quite right, if I may say so.

From the list, I'd go for Attenborough or Fry, although I recognise the McCartney, Bowie and Westwood are legitimate considerations even if I'm personally not too keen.

Oh, Gilbert and George. If not MES then them. Although the whole issue of there being two of them is probably what prevents the consideration. Norman Foster is a good one... I knew the name, but I had to Google to remind me of the buildings... which is part of the problem with architects is that they're not generally terribly well-known. Architects should be seen and not heard. I was talking to an architect on Friday who said the same, and he also mentioned that Iraqi [?] lady architect who's been living here forever and designed that gallery in Chicago.

Steven Fry is wonderful, and most entertaining, but...cultural icon? He's just an incredibly verbose comedian with a moderate talent for writing, isn't he? Is it on the basis of talent or celebrity?

...and the Science Centre in Wolfsberg. That's Zaha Hadid, born in Baghdad. She's as famous as Foster in truth, but Foster has managed to get a lot of work actually commissioned and built, and much of it is well-known. By architectural standards he's a superstar.


I can agreee with you there, but if one was choosing purely from that list then he' pretty high up.. I do think his massive talent (and managing a long career span without becoming rubbish) marks him out as a bit special though.

And where is John Peel?

You have to be alive to be considered.

edit: unless that was just a general enquiry as to his whereabouts, in which case he's to be found at St Edmundsbury Cathederal, I believe.

Oh yes,silly me.

Zaha Hadid, excellent, thankyou. I particularly like her because her designs look so utterly beautiful on paper, and are also utterly impractical (in many senses).


Yeah, true. I think we can agree the list is of dubious providence. Which is why I chose Vivienne Westwood. Not necessarily the best, but certainly one of the more consistently challenging and interesting designers operating out of Britain. I think Kate Moss is pretty important, but she's also merely a clothes horse.

Pah. Pah I say.

If we're considering the recently deceased, I would say Sarah Kane without a second's hesistation, even over the mighty Peel. Seriously, go, buy her complete plays. She's fucking incredible.

Sarah Kane's a good nomination, from the little I know but unfortunately the poll encourages selection along populist grounds ("If your icon died tomorrow, would they make front page news?").

If you've not read/ seen 4.48 psychosis yet, do so immediately. I'll apologise if you feel compelled to kill yourself following it.

do you remember that nations hero show. what the fuck where half the people doing on there? winston churchill! oliver cromwell!

I've never read that one, but I do remember this review of it: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main...4/btkane14.xml.