Simply Oversimplified

McCloud writes, “Words are totally abstract icons. That is, they bear no resemblance at all to the Real McCoy.” (198) The concept I think this statement is striving to elucidate is the vast range and usage of icons in everyday life. I find this quote interesting because it provides commentary on the use of icons, or symbols, and their elasticity, in terms of the potential range of application. Furthermore, it intrigues me because it touches upon an idea mentioned in Foss’ writing, the fact that words themselves are symbols. I have used the words icon and symbol interchangeably thus far; however, I feel it is pertinent to point out a distinction I have noticed. It is my understanding that symbols are words, people, places, ideas and/or images that represent something else. Icons are different in that they are “any image used to represent a person, place, thing or idea.” (McCloud 198) This means that spoken language is not an icon. This is slightly ironic as the words themselves are icons. An example of such an icon is the word “blog”. It is an image, or many parts, when written down, used to represent internet journal posts. However, when read aloud, it seems that it would lose its iconic value, simply because it's no longer an image. What then? Does the blog turn into a symbol instead? Is spoken word considered a symbol? Or must the blog’s, now separate, contents be analyzed in a different manner and with a different set of terms? If so, what terms?

Here is an example of a logical fallacy. The solution to poverty is very simple, just print more money. This is an example of oversimplification. This is fallacy because it presents a simple solution for a problem that is clearly more complicated than presumed.

If there was an idea custom made for a Jay Leno monologue, this was it: Global Warming. Isn’t that like the most ridiculous idea since Y2K, “The End of the World”? Whatever happened to glaciers melting simply because it’s hot outside? I happen to sympathize with the poor Global Warming cronies, though, perhaps because their events always have great air conditioning...

I personally don’t think Global Warming is a crock, but I know others who do. Being clever is clearly not my specialty, but I tried. I hope it wasn’t too painful to read.