An icon is a well-known image, symbol, or object that has social, cultural, or historical significance. Icons often trigger strong cultural associations or emotions and can represent an important figure, movement, or idea. Essentially, icons are used to express meaning and ideas. New York City is full of icons that capture the character of the city, such as food items, notable athletes, musicians, statues, architecture, and more. I chose the hot dog stand because it is one of the first things that comes to mind when I think of New York City streets. The NYC hot dog stand represents the city’s immigrant history and fast-paced life. Hot dogs first appeared in New York in the 1860s when German immigrants began selling sausages in buns, quick and cheap meals, from pushcarts throughout Manhattan. Nathan’s hotdogs started in Coney Island in 1916, helping push the NYC hotdog across the country. By the 1950s, hot dogs were everywhere in the city, and still to this day, they have major prominence for both tourists and locals. Overall, hot dog carts are a major part of the city, and they represent New York’s fast-paced life and mix of cultures.
Sources
Mittenthal, Eric. 2016. “Hot Dog History | NHDSC.” Hot-Dog.org. 2016.
“This Is the Original | Nathans.” n.d. Nathansfranks.sfdbrands.com.
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