Sex Symbol
A sex symbol is a famous and/or notable person, male or female, who is found sexually attractive by the general audience.
The film industry played an important part in the rise of sex symbols. It disseminated images of beautiful people around the world, especially during film's silent era, when there were no language barriers.
The first sex symbols were Danish actress Asta Nielsen (nicknamed 'The Silent Muse') and 'It Girl' Clara Bow in the 1910s and 1920s. Actresses Theda Bara and Pola Negri, famed for their vamp roles, were also early female sex symbols. Rudolph Valentino became the first male sex symbol.
Film's Golden Age sex symbols include 1930s stars Marlene Dietrich, Greta Garbo, Jean Harlow (the 'Platinum Blonde'), Mae West and Clark Gable.
40's and 50's icons included Brigitte Bardot, Diana Dors, Ava Gardner, Betty Grable, Rita Hayworth, Audrey Hepburn, Veronica Lake, Sophia Loren, Jayne Mansfield, Marilyn Monroe, Kim Novak, Jane Russell, Elizabeth Taylor, Lana Turner, Mamie Van Doren, Marlon Brando, James Dean, Rock Hudson and Robert Mitchum.
Important 60's and 70's sex symbols included Ann-Margret, Jacqueline Bisset, Barbara Bouchet, Jane Fonda, Pam Grier, Ali MacGraw, Sharon Tate, Raquel Welch, Sean Connery, Steve McQueen, Paul Newman, Robert Redford, Burt Reynolds, Arnold Schwarzenegger and John Travolta.
Carrie Fisher--a sex symbol of the 1980's.As TV's influence grew during the last three decades there was a slight shift to TV stars becoming more famous, Pamela Anderson, Tiffani-Amber Thiessen, Carmen Electra, Farrah Fawcett, Jennifer Garner, Don Johnson, all became sex symbols through TV.
More recent silver screen icons are:
Jessica Alba, Monica Bellucci, Halle Berry, Scarlett Johansson, Angelina Jolie, Nicole Kidman, Keira Knightley, Winona Ryder, Orlando Bloom, George Clooney,Daniel Craig, Tom Cruise, Johnny Depp, Leonardo DiCaprio, Colin Farrell, Ralph Fiennes, Harrison Ford, Jake Gyllenhaal, Jude Law,Jared Leto, Clive Owen and Brad Pitt.
Rock and roll music also played a part in the introduction of sex symbols to pop culture.
Classic examples, such as The Beatles, Michael Jackson, Mick Jagger, Tom Jones, Jim Morrison, Elvis Presley, Prince, Grace Slick, Bruce Springsteen, Rod Stewart and Steven Tyler set the stage for contemporary examples, such as Justin Timberlake, Marky Mark and LL Cool J. Popular sex symbols include:
Jennifer Lopez, Christina Aguilera, Mariah Carey, Beyoncé, Toni Braxton, Cher, Janet Jackson, Madonna, Kylie Minogue, Sha***a, Britney Spears and The Pussycat Dolls.
Many teen idols are also sex symbols. In particular, boy bands are frequently regarded as sex symbols by adoring fans. Fans frequently focus their attention on a single member of the group, but the entire group is seen as a sex symbol by association.
There is often a discrepancy between teen idols and sex symbols. However, where teen idols are sex symbols to the youth audience, "real" sex symbols also appeal to adults, and sometimes appeal to the teenage audience as well.
The film industry played an important part in the rise of sex symbols. It disseminated images of beautiful people around the world, especially during film's silent era, when there were no language barriers.
The first sex symbols were Danish actress Asta Nielsen (nicknamed 'The Silent Muse') and 'It Girl' Clara Bow in the 1910s and 1920s. Actresses Theda Bara and Pola Negri, famed for their vamp roles, were also early female sex symbols. Rudolph Valentino became the first male sex symbol.
Film's Golden Age sex symbols include 1930s stars Marlene Dietrich, Greta Garbo, Jean Harlow (the 'Platinum Blonde'), Mae West and Clark Gable.
40's and 50's icons included Brigitte Bardot, Diana Dors, Ava Gardner, Betty Grable, Rita Hayworth, Audrey Hepburn, Veronica Lake, Sophia Loren, Jayne Mansfield, Marilyn Monroe, Kim Novak, Jane Russell, Elizabeth Taylor, Lana Turner, Mamie Van Doren, Marlon Brando, James Dean, Rock Hudson and Robert Mitchum.
Important 60's and 70's sex symbols included Ann-Margret, Jacqueline Bisset, Barbara Bouchet, Jane Fonda, Pam Grier, Ali MacGraw, Sharon Tate, Raquel Welch, Sean Connery, Steve McQueen, Paul Newman, Robert Redford, Burt Reynolds, Arnold Schwarzenegger and John Travolta.
Carrie Fisher--a sex symbol of the 1980's.As TV's influence grew during the last three decades there was a slight shift to TV stars becoming more famous, Pamela Anderson, Tiffani-Amber Thiessen, Carmen Electra, Farrah Fawcett, Jennifer Garner, Don Johnson, all became sex symbols through TV.
More recent silver screen icons are:
Jessica Alba, Monica Bellucci, Halle Berry, Scarlett Johansson, Angelina Jolie, Nicole Kidman, Keira Knightley, Winona Ryder, Orlando Bloom, George Clooney,Daniel Craig, Tom Cruise, Johnny Depp, Leonardo DiCaprio, Colin Farrell, Ralph Fiennes, Harrison Ford, Jake Gyllenhaal, Jude Law,Jared Leto, Clive Owen and Brad Pitt.
Rock and roll music also played a part in the introduction of sex symbols to pop culture.
Classic examples, such as The Beatles, Michael Jackson, Mick Jagger, Tom Jones, Jim Morrison, Elvis Presley, Prince, Grace Slick, Bruce Springsteen, Rod Stewart and Steven Tyler set the stage for contemporary examples, such as Justin Timberlake, Marky Mark and LL Cool J. Popular sex symbols include:
Jennifer Lopez, Christina Aguilera, Mariah Carey, Beyoncé, Toni Braxton, Cher, Janet Jackson, Madonna, Kylie Minogue, Sha***a, Britney Spears and The Pussycat Dolls.
Many teen idols are also sex symbols. In particular, boy bands are frequently regarded as sex symbols by adoring fans. Fans frequently focus their attention on a single member of the group, but the entire group is seen as a sex symbol by association.
There is often a discrepancy between teen idols and sex symbols. However, where teen idols are sex symbols to the youth audience, "real" sex symbols also appeal to adults, and sometimes appeal to the teenage audience as well.
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