--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When you say cultural icon, I scrunch my…" description: "\"When you say cultural icon, I scrunch my nose.\" — Ava DuVernay" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/133/ava-duvernay-4018_icons_when-you-say-cultural-icon-i-scrunch-my_1544653.jpg" --- # When you say cultural icon, I scrunch my nose. ![“When you say cultural icon, I scrunch my nose.” quote by Ava DuVernay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/133/ava-duvernay-4018_icons_when-you-say-cultural-icon-i-scrunch-my_1544653.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/133/ava-duvernay-4018_icons_when-you-say-cultural-icon-i-scrunch-my_1544653.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/133/ava-duvernay-4018_icons_when-you-say-cultural-icon-i-scrunch-my_1544653.jpg) > “When you say cultural icon, I scrunch my nose.” [Ava DuVernay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-duvernay/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker expresses skepticism toward the label “cultural icon,” implying it often feels superficial or misapplied. **In simple terms:** Questioning the value of the term “cultural icon.” Key Takeaway Critically evaluate labels before accepting them. Themes skepticism culture identity media representation Mood critical thoughtful Type analytical reflective When to use this quote - media criticism - personal branding - public discourse - artistic identity Key Concepts cultural capital symbolic meaning authenticity Questions to Reflect On - Why do we assign “icon” status so readily? - How does this label affect real cultural contributions? A Different Perspective The term can be overused, diluting genuine cultural significance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Icons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/icons/) ## Related quotes > [Michael Jordan was a cultural icon that everybody on the playground wanted to be. The Bulls dynasty was a huge part of my childhood…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/macklemore/michael-jordan-was-a-cultural-icon-that-everybody-on-the-playground/) [Macklemore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/macklemore/) > [I would say I'm - in the show, I'm a cultural Catholic, which is what I was.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-gaffigan/i-would-say-i-m-in-the-show-i-m-a-cultural-catholic-which-is-what-i/) [Jim Gaffigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-gaffigan/) > [“What we mean when we say that something is "cultural" is that it is roughly similar to what we find in other members of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pascal-boyer/what-we-mean-when-we-say-that-something-is-cultural-is-that-it-is/) [Pascal Boyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pascal-boyer/) > [“...American psychology effectively guaranteed its place as a cultural icon by helping to create the pathologies it simultaneously promised to treat. (p. 37)”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvin-dueck/american-psychology-effectively-guaranteed-its-place-as-a-cultural/) Alvin Dueck > [Sterling is a rare talent but cultural icon? I'm not so sure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simon-jordan/sterling-is-a-rare-talent-but-cultural-icon-i-m-not-so-sure/) [Simon Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simon-jordan/) > [Goldberg was as close to a cultural icon as WCW ever produced.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-heyman/goldberg-was-as-close-to-a-cultural-icon-as-wcw-ever-produced/) [Paul Heyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-heyman/) > [My style icons are Leigh Lezark, Gwen Stefani and Shirley Manson.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marina-and-the-diamonds/my-style-icons-are-leigh-lezark-gwen-stefani-and-shirley-manson/) [Marina and the Diamonds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marina-and-the-diamonds/) > [Wisdom is a living stream, not an icon to be preserved in a museum. Only when a practitioner finds the spring of wisdom in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/wisdom-is-a-living-stream-not-an-icon-to-be-preserved-in-a-museum/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [The SF genre, of course, is really an organically evolved, marketplace-determined, idiosyncratic grab bag of themes and signifiers and characters and icons and gadgets,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-di-filippo/the-sf-genre-of-course-is-really-an-organically-evolved-marketplace/) [Paul Di Filippo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-di-filippo/) > [My icons do not raise up the blessed savior in elaborate cathedrals. They are constructed concentrations celebrating barren rooms. They bring a limited light.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-flavin/my-icons-do-not-raise-up-the-blessed-savior-in-elaborate-cathedrals/) [Dan Flavin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-flavin/) > [On the news that the Tsar had sent the troops icons to boost their morals, General Dragomirov quipped: 'The Japanese are beating us with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orlando-figes/on-the-news-that-the-tsar-had-sent-the-troops-icons-to-boost-their/) [Orlando Figes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orlando-figes/) > [We segregate men from women, and no matter how many times we insist that men and women are equal, men and women should be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-j-t-mitchell/we-segregate-men-from-women-and-no-matter-how-many-times-we-insist/) [W. J. T. Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-j-t-mitchell/) > [What makes a gay icon is someone who possesses both masculine and feminine qualities simultaneously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupaul/what-makes-a-gay-icon-is-someone-who-possesses-both-masculine-and/) [RuPaul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupaul/) > [My style icon is anyone who makes a bloody effort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabella-blow/my-style-icon-is-anyone-who-makes-a-bloody-effort/) [Isabella Blow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabella-blow/) > [There are so many great artists, I think, who kind of suffer from being icons, legends, acknowledged masters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-linklater/there-are-so-many-great-artists-i-think-who-kind-of-suffer-from-being/) [Richard Linklater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-linklater/) ## More by Ava DuVernay > [We're living based on laws and ideas that we, as a society, embraced back in the days of slavery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-duvernay/we-re-living-based-on-laws-and-ideas-that-we-as-a-society-embraced/) [Ava DuVernay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-duvernay/) > [All the traditional models for doing things are collapsing; from music to publishing to film, and it's a wide open door for people who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-duvernay/all-the-traditional-models-for-doing-things-are-collapsing-from-music/) [Ava DuVernay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-duvernay/) > [Don't wait for permission to do something creative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-duvernay/don-t-wait-for-permission-to-do-something-creative/) [Ava DuVernay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-duvernay/) > [Netflix represents, as well as all the streaming services, something that I've been talking about being so important to inclusive voices around films.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-duvernay/netflix-represents-as-well-as-all-the-streaming-services-something/) [Ava DuVernay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-duvernay/) > [I didn't go to film school. I got my education on the set as a niche publicist in the film industry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-duvernay/i-didn-t-go-to-film-school-i-got-my-education-on-the-set-as-a-niche/) [Ava DuVernay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-duvernay/) > [Hollywood needs more women directors, and Mama Ava needs a carafe and a half of that sweet vino divino.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-duvernay/hollywood-needs-more-women-directors-and-mama-ava-needs-a-carafe-and/) [Ava DuVernay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-duvernay/) > [I've been to Sundance eight times as a publicist and thought I was very prepared. I mean, who could've been more prepared for me?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-duvernay/i-ve-been-to-sundance-eight-times-as-a-publicist-and-thought-i-was/) [Ava DuVernay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-duvernay/) > [I think it's a wonderful time to be a black woman who makes films. It's a good time to be an artist period. Traditional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-duvernay/i-think-it-s-a-wonderful-time-to-be-a-black-woman-who-makes-films-it/) [Ava DuVernay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-duvernay/) > [I think for female filmmakers a big issue is making their second and third films.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-duvernay/i-think-for-female-filmmakers-a-big-issue-is-making-their-second-and/) [Ava DuVernay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-duvernay/) > [I make films about black women and it doesn't mean that you can't see them as a black man, doesn't mean that he can't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-duvernay/i-make-films-about-black-women-and-it-doesn-t-mean-that-you-can-t-see/) [Ava DuVernay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-duvernay/) > [The documentaries were something that I could do for a small amount of money, and then I felt like as long as I found…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-duvernay/the-documentaries-were-something-that-i-could-do-for-a-small-amount/) [Ava DuVernay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-duvernay/) > [ \[ Hollywood\] is a patriarchy, headed by men and built for men. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-duvernay/hollywood-is-a-patriarchy-headed-by-men-and-built-for-men/) [Ava DuVernay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-duvernay/) > [I know that sounds a little bit corny, but I've found some solace in that. I hope art can continue to do that for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-duvernay/i-know-that-sounds-a-little-bit-corny-but-i-ve-found-some-solace-in/) [Ava DuVernay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-duvernay/) > [We have to find new ways to work without permission, new ways to turn corners and go through doors that are closed off to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-duvernay/we-have-to-find-new-ways-to-work-without-permission-new-ways-to-turn/) [Ava DuVernay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-duvernay/) > [We're a new world and it's not pretty. It's going to be for the brave to figure out how to survive in this.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-duvernay/we-re-a-new-world-and-it-s-not-pretty-it-s-going-to-be-for-the-brave/) [Ava DuVernay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-duvernay/) [Explore all 117 Ava DuVernay quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-duvernay/) ## More Icons quotes > [There are so many great artists, I think, who kind of suffer from being icons, legends, acknowledged masters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-linklater/there-are-so-many-great-artists-i-think-who-kind-of-suffer-from-being/) [Richard Linklater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-linklater/) > [My style icon is anyone who makes a bloody effort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabella-blow/my-style-icon-is-anyone-who-makes-a-bloody-effort/) [Isabella Blow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabella-blow/) > [What makes a gay icon is someone who possesses both masculine and feminine qualities simultaneously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rupaul/what-makes-a-gay-icon-is-someone-who-possesses-both-masculine-and/) [RuPaul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rupaul/) > [We segregate men from women, and no matter how many times we insist that men and women are equal, men and women should be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-j-t-mitchell/we-segregate-men-from-women-and-no-matter-how-many-times-we-insist/) [W. J. T. Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-j-t-mitchell/) > [On the news that the Tsar had sent the troops icons to boost their morals, General Dragomirov quipped: 'The Japanese are beating us with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orlando-figes/on-the-news-that-the-tsar-had-sent-the-troops-icons-to-boost-their/) [Orlando Figes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orlando-figes/) > [My icons do not raise up the blessed savior in elaborate cathedrals. They are constructed concentrations celebrating barren rooms. They bring a limited light.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-flavin/my-icons-do-not-raise-up-the-blessed-savior-in-elaborate-cathedrals/) [Dan Flavin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-flavin/) > [The SF genre, of course, is really an organically evolved, marketplace-determined, idiosyncratic grab bag of themes and signifiers and characters and icons and gadgets,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-di-filippo/the-sf-genre-of-course-is-really-an-organically-evolved-marketplace/) [Paul Di Filippo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-di-filippo/) > [Wisdom is a living stream, not an icon to be preserved in a museum. Only when a practitioner finds the spring of wisdom in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nhat-hanh/wisdom-is-a-living-stream-not-an-icon-to-be-preserved-in-a-museum/) [Nhat Hanh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nhat-hanh/) > [My style icons are Leigh Lezark, Gwen Stefani and Shirley Manson.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marina-and-the-diamonds/my-style-icons-are-leigh-lezark-gwen-stefani-and-shirley-manson/) [Marina and the Diamonds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marina-and-the-diamonds/) > [Jerry Garcia was one of the original American icons. He played naturally and beautifully.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ornette-coleman/jerry-garcia-was-one-of-the-original-american-icons-he-played/) [Ornette Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ornette-coleman/) > [You can never take too much care over the choice of your shoes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-dior/you-can-never-take-too-much-care-over-the-choice-of-your-shoes/) [Christian Dior](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-dior/) > ["You're a sex icon." Why? Because I played a vampire in a movie? It's all very unearned. If I had the best freaking abs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kellan-lutz/you-re-a-sex-icon-why-because-i-played-a-vampire-in-a-movie-it-s-all/) [Kellan Lutz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kellan-lutz/) > [All I want to do is be a gay icon. I was reading Lady Gaga's twitter, because she has like 12 million followers, or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mindy-kaling/all-i-want-to-do-is-be-a-gay-icon-i-was-reading-lady-gaga-s-twitter/) [Mindy Kaling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mindy-kaling/) > [My beauty icon is Angelina Jolie.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-benson/my-beauty-icon-is-angelina-jolie/) [Ashley Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-benson/) > [I don't think these women are stupid. I think they're selling a personality that's very marketable: Wouldn't it be fun if we were all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reese-witherspoon/i-don-t-think-these-women-are-stupid-i-think-they-re-selling-a/) [Reese Witherspoon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reese-witherspoon/) [Browse all 402 Icons quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/icons/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When you say cultural icon, I scrunch my nose.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ava DuVernay" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-duvernay/when-you-say-cultural-icon-i-scrunch-my-nose/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Icons" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-duvernay/when-you-say-cultural-icon-i-scrunch-my-nose/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/133/ava-duvernay-4018_icons_when-you-say-cultural-icon-i-scrunch-my_1544653.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/133/ava-duvernay-4018_icons_when-you-say-cultural-icon-i-scrunch-my_1544653.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/133/ava-duvernay-4018_icons_when-you-say-cultural-icon-i-scrunch-my_1544653.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When you say cultural icon, I scrunch my nose.” — Ava DuVernay", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Ava DuVernay", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ava-duvernay/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When you say cultural icon, I...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-duvernay/when-you-say-cultural-icon-i-scrunch-my-nose/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ava-duvernay/when-you-say-cultural-icon-i-scrunch-my-nose/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```