Christ To Coke: How Image Becomes Icon

How does an image become iconic? In Christ to Coke, eminent art historian Martin Kemp offers a highly original look at the main types of visual icons. Lavishly illustrated with 165 color images, this work examines eleven universally recognized images, both historical and contemporary, exploring their origins and cultural significance.

Kemp begins with the stock image of Christ's face, the founding icon of early Christian icons. Some icons discussed include general symbols like the cross, the lion, and the heart-shape (as in "I Heart New York"), as well as specific images such as the Mona Lisa, Che Guevara, and the famous photograph of the napalmed girl in Vietnam. Modern icons from politics (American flag), business (Coca-Cola bottle), and science (DNA double helix, E=mc^2) are also examined.

The book narrates the stories of these icons using the skills of a leading visual historian, providing vivid and personal insights. Some stories are humorous; others are moving, improbable, or based on profound ideas. It reveals how these images adapt across various contexts, often in unexpected ways.

Informative, amusing, and surprising, Christ to Coke entertains and intrigues readers with the fascinating narratives Martin Kemp weaves around these famous images.