MODERN EYE-CONS: Timothée ChaLAMBet
i·con /ˈīˌkän/
noun
noun: icon; plural noun: icons; noun: ikon; plural noun: ikons
1.) a person or thing regarded as a representative symbol or as worthy of veneration.
Welcome back, Friends. Today, we continue our journey through my new illustration series. This series is ongoing, and I will add to it as time goes on. I already had a few finished illustrations (that I am going to finally share) that have been stacked in the drawers (so to speak) waiting for me to write these blogs to accompany them. With that said...
I would like to introduce my Modern Eye-cons Illustration series.
SIDE NOTE HERE: Most of what you are about to read, below, will be repeated in each of the mini blogs about this series. I chose to do this because not everyone reads each individual blog, and it is important to discuss some of the general information in each post. This way, if someone only reads one post, they still gain the benefit of the knowledge below. So, if you plan to read all the posts about this series, please forgive the repetition in some of them. If you wish to skip ahead, as you may have already read this information in a previous blog, please feel free to do so. The blog will pick up anew at Mr. Chalamet's image.
So, what exactly is an icon? What makes a certain person iconic? What is the criteria?
Let's do a little quick dive in and find out. Obviously, the word "icon" has a few other definitions, but today we are only concerned with the one that defines a human being as an icon. When we think of the word in this way, we are regarding someone who is widely admired for having great influence, significance, or transformative impact within a specific field or culture. They are characterized by widespread, lasting recognition that often transcends their original field to become symbols of ideals, such as freedom, rebellion, or excellence. Key traits include authenticity, trailblazing, and immense, enduring charisma.
How exactly does one become an icon? You might wonder to yourself, "How ARE they doing it?" When exactly do people cross over into this very exclusive sort of "club"? Where and and and and who defines someone officially as an icon of the times?... In order for an individual to become an icon, they really need to meet some informal but important criteria:
1.) Enduring Relevance & Longevity:
You need to be able to transcend time. Timelessness. Sounds heavy and groovy, right? Icons don't just fade away with the next trend cycle. They develop a long-lasting legacy that remains relevant across generations and often beyond their own death.
2.) Deep Symbolism & Representation:
Icons need to represent something beyond their own grandiosity. They need to represent a concept, a movement, or a set of values beyond themselves. We don't remember icons for who they were, mostly, but what they represented.
3.) That "IT" Factor:
Icons need to have unique talent, a magnetic presence, and a personal, unique brand of authenticity. They also operate as "rebels" who offer a new vision to make sense of societal, technological, or cultural changes. You may try to copy or emulate, but you can NEVER be the Original!
4.) Widespread Recognition & Universal Appeal:
"Everyone and their Mother" knows them. Icons possess a high degree of notability and are recognized by a wide, often international, audience. An icon will also often transcend and move beyond the relevance of their own professional field. They become more than just what they started out to be. They can often move into other areas of interest and profession.
5.) Significant Cultural Impact:
Icons often provoke conversations, change perspectives, and challenge the status quo.
6.) Fearlessness & Risk-Taking:
Icons are not deterred by the risk of failure and are willing to take audacious, sometimes polarizing risks.
These are, by no means, the only criteria, but some of the more major ones that may help us understand this cultural phenomenon a bit more.
Giuseppe Garibaldi, the first celebrity
Where did icons come from? When did this whole thing start?
The concept of celebrity culture and being an icon has its roots in the late 18th & 19th centuries. It evolved from increased literacy, the penny press, and the proliferation of portraiture, which made individuals "known" beyond their own local communities. In the late 19th century, the nouveaux riches sought status through personal publicity in the society columns and magazines of the day. While philanthropists, politicians, and other public figures were the best-known in the 1870s, by the 1890s, the new elite were people celebrated for their gossip value. This new cultural form of celebrity solidified between 1895 and 1920 with film, photography, and the Hollywood studio system, turning entertainers and figures into global icons. Today, social media has widened the scope and access to this niche and exclusive club, giving rise to "the influencer" as the latest form of a celebrity. However, 5 million followers in and of itself does not make one a cultural icon. There is more to being an actual cultural icon than that.
Who are some of these Icons?
Leonardo da Vinci
Cleopatra
Motzart
Isaac Newton
George Washington
Napoleon Bonaparte
Abraham Lincoln
Charles Darwin
Mahatma Gandhi
Albert Einstein
Marie Curie
Martin Luther King Jr.
Nelson Mandela
Marilyn Monroe
Elvis Presley
Muhammad Ali
Malala Yousafzai
The Beatles
Neil Armstrong
Misty Copeland
Oprah Winfrey
Madonna
Michael Jackson
Janet Jackson...
...and many, many more. The list is long and could go on for a while, but you can get the point.
Image Copyright BBC.
While I myself can point out icons from the past and the icons of my time/generation (I am getting up there in age). So, my view of modern culture is tinted by a sense of who I think is/was culturally relevant from my era. However, I began to ask myself, "Who are the new icons of today? Who are the Modern Icons of this next generation?" These individuals would likely be starting out in their young careers. This question seemed to not only (for whatever reason) decide to take up residency in my brain, but also began to develop the idea and concept for this illustration series. So, I started taking the idea more seriously. I began to really put some thought and research into who Millennials, GenY, and Gen Alpha are looking to as cultural representatives for the future they want to see for this world. Some of these icon choices seem rather obvious. Some I had to really dig for. I was both frozen within my generation's view of the world while simultaneously trying to understand the way the world is being viewed now through a younger generation's eyes. I have to admit, it has been quite a challenge trying to dive into the mindset of a younger generation and try to see things from their point of view; try to see who it is that they look up to as trailblazing a new revolutionary vision for this world.
My generation is actually a micro-generation referred to often as Xennials. We are stuck in the middle of Gen-X and Millennials. This has both advantages and disadvantages. We are the generation that remembers the time both before and after the internet existed, before smartphones were a thing, and we have become a generation known for our ability to adapt to new environments, situations, and technologies. And while that is a great advantage, we also have a tendency to get stuck within the nostalgia for our own youth.... but I digress. Let's get back to the art.
After deciding that, not only did I want to illustrate some sort of portraits of these new and emerging cultural icons, but I also wanted to blend this idea of portrait with that of an animal allegory. Why, you may ask? As an illustrator, I am drawn to and compelled by narrative. A portrait is nice, but a portrait that can tell a story is better. Animal allegories are a powerful narrative device for telling stories.
Image Copyright, Disney Animation Studios, 1973.
An animal allegory uses personified animal characters to represent human behaviors, social values, or historical figures, often for satire or moral instruction. Animals often symbolize traits like loyalty (dogs) or strength (bulls), allowing creators to discuss complex issues such as political corruption, societal structures, or psychological experiences in a simplified or symbolic manner. They enhance understanding, facilitate safe exploration of sensitive topics, and make abstract concepts more engaging and memorable for the audience. Not to mention that as an illustrator, I find it a lot of fun to draw people as personified animals. I couldn't tell you why. I just love it! lol
I love a great animal allegory! One of my absolute favorites is Disney's Robin Hood. Disney could have done ANYTHING with the source material. They could have had human characters tell the story, but they chose to tell it through personified animals. Is this why we still remember this 1973 classic? So why did Disney choose allegory? Disney had desired to adapt the European stories of Reynard the Fox as early as 1937. While Reynard was too much of a "villainous" anti-hero, animating Robin as a fox allowed the studio to keep the clever trickster archetype while making him a charming hero for children. Art Director, Ken Anderson, suggested the animal approach to align with the studio's specialty, aiming to recreate the appeal of characters like The Three Little Pigs for a new generation. The animals were chosen to reflect human personalities—Robin as a crafty fox, Little John as a loyal bear, and Prince John as a cowardly, weak lion. Also, after the success of anthropomorphic animals in The Jungle Book and The Aristocats, this style was familiar and efficient for the animators. The allegory just fit like a glove and made sense for the studio at the right time. It also made a timelessly endearing classic film that I still watch often to this day.
.jfif)
Image Credit Unknown
We discuss all these things so that we can talk about the subject at hand...
Timothée Chalamet (He/Him).
Chalamet is an icon and cultural trendsetter for his fearless, stylist-free fashion choices and his ability to bridge indie artistic credibility with massive blockbuster success. He's redefined modern masculinity and the "leading man", his ultratalented yet sensitive acting, and a Gen Z "soft boy" persona that rejects traditional macho stereotypes.
Through embracing sensitivity, vulnerability, and gender-fluid fashion, he resonates with a generation that shares his contemporary views on gender. Often collaborating with designers, he mixes high fashion with street style; notably wearing Converse on red carpets (for example). He was named the most influential man in fashion in 2019. He is identified as the leader of the "noodle boy" or "soft boy" trend. He is viewed as artistic, thoughtful, and accessible, distinguishing him from traditional, hyper-masculine Hollywood stars. As a prominent voice for Gen Z, his brand represents authenticity, creativity, and a shift away from traditional hyper-masculine stardom.
On top of all this, he is a mega talent to be reconed with. He quickly made a name for himself very quickly in the indie film circuit with films such as Call Me By Your Name, Lady Bird, and Little Women. He was nominated for an Oscar for his performance in Call Me By Your Name. He seamlessly transitioned from critically acclaimed indie credibility into leading roles in major franchises, such as Dune and Wonka. He quickly garnered critical acclaim for his ability to portray emotionally complex, nuanced characters. He has become known for his intense preparation and commitment to his craft. He has proven that he can act with a wide range and draw large audiences. He has established himself as one of the most versatile and celebrated actors of his generation. My favorite role of his, so far, is his role in Little Women. That is what really first put him on my talent awareness radar. I adore that movie, and I adore him in it.
He also just seems like a fun guy. He surprised fans by appearing at his own look-alike contest in New York City's Washington Square Park in October 2024. The actor posed for photos with doppelgängers before police dispersed the massive, unpermitted crowd. Miles Mitchell from Staten Island, dressed as Willy Wonka, won the contest. Who doesn't love that?
He's just magnetic in so many ways that scream iconic.
So... what animal does he get to be? How do I make this decision? I LOVE a god pun, and playing off of the phonetics of someone's name is always a good start. This type of referential accent is known as eye dialect. Eye dialect is the intentional misspelling based on a speaker's accent of colloquial speech. My pun for ChaLAMBet is actually a hybrid of both eye dialect and phonetical transcription (Writing a word to match how it is pronounced rather than how it is officially spelled) . While it is a temptation to use it, it doesn't always apply to the theme I want to create. However, in the case of this illustration, it works perfectly.
Lambs represent innocence, purity, gentleness, and vulnerability in literature as well as theology. I felt that this ran parallel to Chalamet's brand. He has been rebranding masculinity to include such attributes. He also tends to select roles with these nuanced qualities to them. Since I am also in some ways portraying/posing my Modern Eye-cons as Saints or Dieties, the lamb is, again, a perfect choice for that. In Christian theology and lore, the lamb is representative of purity and sacrifice. It is also the representation of the deity Jesus Christ (one part of the holy trinity that makes up the Christian god). The choice was obvious, clever, and kind of perfect. While my intention is not to make a direct correlation between Chalamet and Christ, the symbolism is the symbolism. I wanted to capitalize on a pun that also made a clever contribution to the concept.
On a side note, when I was researching reference images for lambs to use for this project, I came across a rather interesting article about a 5-legged lamb. I was fascinated and completely distracted lol.
Anyway...
.jpg)
I looked through several images of Chalamet and through some of the style iterations he has made for himself. I selected a few images from each iteration and began caricaturing them to see what was going to work best and what incarnation of himself made sense for this project. I ended up using 2 images. An older image of him, I liked for the pose. I just felt like it captured his attitude and brand quite well, and I used a more modern incarnation of Chalamet for the facial caricature. I felt like, ultimately, it is important to capture the most current likeness of a subject when it comes to caricature.
Again, we are using the referential devices from Byzantine Art: Symmetry and a halo to "Saint" or Diefy the EYECON. In Byzantine art, the halo and symmetry are fundamental, interconnected elements designed to convey spiritual, theological, and imperial authority rather than realistic representation. They transform art into a "window to the divine," emphasizing that subjects exist in a timeless, heavenly, and orderly realm. Symmetry in Byzantine Art represents and creates a sense of profound order, stability, and immutability, reflecting the unchanging nature of divine truth. I wanted there to be a simulation of symmetry in this illustration without it being strictly symmetrical. Just the appearance. I also added a halo around their head. The halo serves as a visual marker of holiness, divinity, and divine favor, signifying a person illuminated by God's grace.
This pretty much sums up what I wanted to say about Chalamet and about this illustration. I hope it inspires you all as it has inspired me. I look forward to sharing more from this Illustration Series with you. I hope it inspires you to find new ways in which to tell your own stories. With that being said, I encourage you all to watch a Chalamet film this weekend. I dare you! lol. It is supposed to be a rainy weekend here in the city, so I might throw on Little Women and cozy up on the couch with the kitties.
until next time,
Keep dreaming, keep sketching, keep thinking, keep laughing, and most important of all, keep making art.
LEWIS
Comments
Post a Comment