20TH
CENTURY ICONS
William
Burroughs
Stokeley Carmichael
Fidel Castro
Ossie Clarke
Angela Davis
Allen Ginsberg
Che Guevara
Jimi Hendrix
David Hockney
Abbie Hoffman
Mick Jagger
V I Lenin
John Lennon
Pablo Picasso
Paul Robeson
Andy Warhol
Mao Zedong |
WILLIAM
BURROUGHS (1914-1997)
The founding father of America's counterculture, and author of The Naked Lunch,
the infamous book that became his masterpiece and made him an icon of the avant-garde. |
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STOKELEY
CARMICHAEL (Kwame Ture): (1941-1998)
Born in Trinidad. Chairman of
SNCC (Students Nonviolent Coordinating
Committee). Joined the Black Panthers
- founded in Oakland, California in 1966.
Played key role in formation and popularisation
of ideas of black power. Hon. PM of Black
Panther Party. In 1968 married Miriam
Makeba.
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FIDEL
CASTRO (1927- 2016)
Leader of the Cuban Revolution. After an 18-month guerilla campaign in the Sierra
Maestra, he and his supporters entered Havana and ousted Batista in January 1959.
Became Prime Minister then President. Cuba remains a thorn in the flesh of the
USA who continue to impose a trade embargo on the island.
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OSSIE
CLARKE (1942-1996)
British fashion designer who was a key figure in shaping and defining the 1960s.
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ANGELA
DAVIS (1944
- )
Radical black activist and philosopher. Born in 1944 in Birmingham, Alabama.
In late 1960s was a prominent member of the Black Panther Party. In 1970 became
the third woman in history to appear on the FBIs most-wanted list.
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ALLEN
GINSBERG (1926-1997)
US Beat poet, anti-war protester,
and gay activist.
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CHE GUEVARA
(1928-1967)
Latin American revolutionary. Born 1928 in Argentina, joined Fidel Castro in
his guerilla campaign which led to the overthrow of Cuban dictator Batista in
1959. Left ministerial post in Cuba to continue his revolutionary ideals organising
guerilla uprising in jungles of Bolivia. Captured and killed in 1967 by the Bolivian
military.
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JIMI
HENDRIX (1942-1970)
Ground-breaking rock guitarist who changed the vocabulary of the instrument beyond
anyone before or since. Master of blues, R&B and rock. Met the classic tragic
end after brief four-year reign as a superstar. |
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David
Hockney (1937-)
British painter, draughtsman, printmaker, photographer, and designer. After a
brilliant prize-winning career as a student at the Royal College of Art, Hockney
had achieved international success by the time he was in his mid-20s, and has
since consolidated his position as by far the best-known British artist of his
generation. |
Abbie
Hoffman (1936-1989)
A countercultural icon of the 1960s, Hoffman was successful in turning many hippies
into political activists. He was best known for his rejection and parody of American
corporate culture, and was one of the defendants at the infamous 'Chicago 8'
trial.
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MICK
JAGGER (1943-
)
As lead singer for the Rolling Stones Jagger is one of the most popular and influential
frontmen in the history of rock 'n roll. |
V
I LENIN (1870-1924)
Hero of the Russian revolution. Leader of the Russian Social Democrats - the
Bolsheviks. Led the October Revolution in 1917 and became head of the new revolutionary
government. His slogan was "Peace, Land, Bread." Five days after his
death in 1924, Petrograd (St Petersburg) was renamed Leningrad. |
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John
Lennon
(1940-1980)
Born in Liverpool and made his name as singer-songwriter with the Beatles.
Also dabbled in revolutionary politics and performance art after marrying
Yoko Ono. Assassinated in December 1980 in New York.
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pablo
picasso
(1881-1973)
Possibly the greatest artist of the 20C. Born in Malaga, Spain, and settled
in Paris in 1904. Co-inventor of Cubism with Georges Braque. His painting
of the horrors of war - Guernica (1937) - is considered the most powerful
political image in Modern Art. He was adored by the public, exciting controversy
and mass media attention.
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Paul
Robeson
(1898-1976)
He has been described as one of the greatest Americans of the 20C. He was
a revered singer, a writer, actor, athlete, cultural scholar and political
activist - a Renaissance man who spoke 15 languages and travelled the world,
becoming an international figure who championed the rights of the oppressed.
In his home country every attempt was made to silence and discredit him.
In 1950 his passport was revoked and he could no longer travel abroad to
perform
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andy
warhol
(1928-1987)
Artist and experimental film-maker. Born 1928 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
From working class beginnings he became an American legend. He blurred
the distinction between fine and commercial arts, developing the practice
of Pop Art. Died in 1987. |
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MAO
ZEDONG
(1893-1976)
Chinese communist leader who began the Long March and subsequent guerilla campaign
which eventually led to the establishment of the Peoples Republic of China in
October 1949. As Chairman he became the object of a massive cult of personality
and was also responsible for the Cultural Revolution of 1965. |
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