It
was an advertisement I came across. A tag line I’ve seen used
before. Promoted a product available in what was termed iconic
new styles.
And
it’s that phrasing that makes me roll my eyes. It’s like those
banners and packaging for the latest version of an existing product
that claim new and improved. If the product is new, it’s not improved.
If the product is improved, it’s not new.
Without
heading to a dictionary, I think most of us understand the ideas
surrounding using a word like iconic. It relates to something
that is for the most part established and recognizable, even when
removing the considerations created by time.
Now
I have heard the debate that iconic tends to lend itself toward
more recent developments. Idea here would be when bringing up
a term like classic. Classic equals old. Iconic for more recent
memory. I’m willing to consider such ideas… but there’s still
a problem.
Iconic
seems to get thrown around for way too many items that haven’t
earned most of the elements necessary for the definition.
But
this wasn’t meant to be an essay about iconic new styles.
Not
completely. I’m not trying to start a debate about iconic that
follows the template of the one often surrounding irregardless.
Instead,
I’m finding myself a bit frustrated by the neon sign marketing
approaches where, apparently, I’m supposed to be swept away by
the brilliance of something that hasn’t even shown it deserves
credit for any level of quality or approval.
Have
you ever opened up a clothes dryer? It’s a giant metal bucket,
being spun around by a rubber belt while a really strong hair
dryer blows into it.
Some
of you may be laughing right now. For the others, I simply hope
you will kindly understand the intended absurdity of my description.
I get that a clothes dryer has a bit more going on than a belt
spinning a bucket while hot air blows in. But the idea is sound…
there hasn’t exactly been a massive development in new clothes
dryer technologies or designs over the years. It’s the same darn
thing. Drum, belt and a lot of hot air.
Washing
machines got front loaders… kitchen ranges have all sorts of new
designs, bells and whistles. Clothes dryers? Not all that fancy,
new or improved.
We’ve
even reached a point where double-sink counters in a home bathroom
might qualify for iconic status. Again, clothes dryers? Yawn.
Sure,
there are people that want me to be impressed that my home appliances
can send me e-mails and texts and alerts and more. Which is… you
know…
Lovely.
I
guess.
Honestly,
I don’t really care.
I
think double-sinks in the bathroom are a waste. I don’t get it.
Not for me. If you like them, good for you. I’m not impressed.
I
also don’t need my washing machine reaching out to my smartphone
to let me know the towels are finished. I suppose it’s a nice
feature. I absolutely have been upstairs, forgotten I was doing
laundry, and lost three or fours hours when I could have moved
stuff to the dryer and gotten the next load of laundry moving
along.
When
you don’t have a smartphone, you don’t care about the salesman
telling you about all the great things your new appliance can
connect with you to do. You just want the machine to wash your
clothes at an affordable price while lasting for several years.
But that’s probably wandering a bit too far down a side street.
Let’s get back on track (or at least try)…
The
same way smartphones and social media and streaming services and
more have swept into daily lives, becoming so familiar that even
those not using them understand a bit of the basics, I am certain
there are new things in development that will sweep us all away.
We’ll be astounded. We’ll be amazed. Many will become iconic.
Most of us will even be happy.
That
does not mean that all of them will.
Just
some.
And
if anyone is listening, inventing a dryer that will also fold
your clothes is something I’d be willing allow the title of iconic
new design immediately upon release. EVERYONE will appreciate
one of those.