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River Phoenix: an icon of his time, not so much now

posted 8 years ago by TheGoforth
9 replies | jump to latest

I find it fascinating how some stars are really iconic in their own day and age but don't really crossover into the present day as timeless icons. River is one such figure, he has more of a cult around him now but certainly not on the level of a Cobain: and yet, back in the 90s, their deaths had equally impact on the zeitgeist.
Greta Garbo is another, she was the biggest movie star in the world in her day but many people in the 21st century don't even know who she is. Why are some stars forgotten about and other stars endure: is it to do with fashions and trend?

[–] pypsqweek 7 years ago

I think more about River Phoniex as an icon than I do Kurt Cobain. However, thats because i grew up watching River Phoniex movies in the 80s and early 90s. I didnt even know who Kurt Cobain was until he died. Even now, Kurt's image and music doesnt resonnates with me the same as other people nor do I think of him as an icon. But that doesnt mean he was an icon to some people and they keep how they viewed him alive in their kids. Even kids now, they are interested in their generation. One which neither men probably wont be apart of. One thing for sure they were very talented men whose careers were cut way too short. Its just one died at the peak of his career. The ither died in the slump of his career. Both men were an impact of their generation though.