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Which pop culture character do you think is the most recognizable on the planet?

29 Comments
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Santa Claus has been downgraded to "pop culture character"???

10 ( +12 / -2 )

Donald, er, Ronald McDonald has been downgraded to "pop culture character"?

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

Batman has been downgraded to "character"?

1 ( +4 / -3 )

I noted that Col. Sanders is not listed.

Nor is the Guy Fawkes figure, who I see more of these days than Mickey Mouse. And how about Uncle Sam?

-3 ( +3 / -6 )

Well Mickey Mouse off course, disney is watching you!

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Let's see what Mr. Google has to say:

"Mickey Mouse" Yields 48 million results

"Santa Claus" Yields 41 million results

"Mickey Mouse in Africa" yields only 700 results.

"Santa Claus in Africa" yields 20,000 results.

Santa Claus FTW!

6 ( +7 / -1 )

Super Mario if it were on the list

-3 ( +1 / -4 )

If it were in America or 1st world countries I'd say Disney has the head and shoulders advantage for market visibility, but in 2nd and 3rd world countries, I'd think Santa Claus is more generally "known" or recognized!

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Santa Claus has been downgraded to "pop culture character

The Santa Claus the world knows (and loves?) is based on a Coca Cola advertisement, so yes, I think that would count as "pop culture". : )

2 ( +5 / -3 )

Santa Claus is a pop ciulture character? Surely not!! Who fills my stocking evey Xmas and drinks the milk and eats the cookies?

1 ( +4 / -3 )

Hulk Hogan

0 ( +2 / -2 )

"Col. Sanders is not listed"

The Colonel was a real person.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

The Santa Claus the world knows (and loves?) is based on a Coca Cola advertisement, so yes, I think that would count as "pop culture". : )

No, that is an urban myth. Santa Claus was already depicted as red and white by the time the now-famous Coca Cola images came out. He was great for their brand as he had the same colouring.

Santa Claus (as known in America and increasingly around the world) is of Dutch origin, but is different to the English "Father Christmas" (or French Pere Noel) who traditionally wore green, but who is not based on a saint.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Where can we see the results of this poll?

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Once you vote, you'll be able to see the results so far.

Obvious missing option: The Invisible Man

0 ( +1 / -1 )

"Santa Claus in Africa" yields 20,000 results.

24,000 for "McDonalds in Africa". In your face, Santa!

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Arthur Guinness.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Might be some 1900 year old pop culture, but:

"jesus christ" 112,000,000 "Jesus Christ in africa" 63,300 results

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Spongebob? Bugs Bunny? Who compiled this list? Not surprised the Rat is winning.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

Santa Claus (as known in America and increasingly around the world) is of Dutch origin, but is different to the English "Father Christmas" (or French Pere Noel) who traditionally wore green, but who is not based on a saint.

If you ask children in Japan where Santa is form they will say some Nordic country or North Pole. Most of the time. They have a Santa Land in Finland. But you are probably right. As Santa comes from St. Nicolas where as in the Nordic countries Santa is referred to as an Yule Elf. But perhaps St. Nicolas comes from Yule elf as Christmas originally is a Pagan celebration. Coca Cola has nothing to do with it. That country with it´s fake culture.

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

Hands downs adorable Mickey Mouse created in 1928. A distinctive and quite unique character that many of us remember as a child. He even has a star on Hollywood Boulevard. In fact he's the only cartoon character that ever received a star. He's a cute, nice and good mouse. We will always love Mickey Mouse.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Santa Claus - seriously? Whose bright idea was it to include that?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

24,000 for "McDonalds in Africa". In your face, Santa!

FAIL!

"Ronald McDonald in Africa" gives you FOUR results!

HO HO HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

What's even funnier is "loch ness monster in africa" gives FIVE results!

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

A "pop culture character" is not excluded if the image is based on a real person.

Pop artists like Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein demonstrated that with their work. Warhol's iconic images of Marilyn Monroe are an example. And so KFC's smiling Kentucky colonel might well be considered.

In Lina Wertmüller's classic 1974 film, Swept Away, I recall a scene where the man, on an desert island, comes across an image that is so universally dispersed that he declares it "worse than Coca-Cola." (It's a crucifix.)

And so, I think about the iconic pop images of Che Guevara, Bob Marley and Nelson Mandela that appear on walls, T-shirts, and art all over the world and wonder if these might contend with Mickey Rat. However, if we look back at this question 50 years from now we might find that the most universally recognized image is of Barack Obama with the words "Yes, we can!" underneath, edging out "Hasta La Victoria Siempre."

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Missing option: Brian Boitano, the great sports celebrity and role model for all children asking themselves: "What would Brian Boitano do?".

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Britney Spears - people don't even treat her like a human being, she's the ultimate in celebrity objectification and commodification.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

If it were in America or 1st world countries I'd say Disney has the head and shoulders advantage for market visibility, but in 2nd and 3rd world countries, I'd think Santa Claus is more generally "known" or recognized!

Ehhhhh? 1st world countries...2nd and 3rd world countries...sorry, but wut? Santa Claus is Santa Claus everywhere! >_< Viva Babbo Natale! (in Italian xD)

0 ( +0 / -0 )

My Top 7 Most Recognizable Fictional Characters in Pop Culture from these

7.) Snoopy (Charlie Brown is very well known but not on the level of these icons)

6.) Hello Kitty (More newer and recent Famous in Japan and parts of Asia not as much anywhere else

5.) Batman (The Iconic DC character know everywhere 2nd to Superman)

4.) Superman (The face of superheroes one of the Most Recognizable Symbols of All Time how can you not know Superman)

3.) Ronald McDonald (This was tough but I gave Ronald the edge over Superman because McDonald's is everywhere even in Asia, Africa and Europe and they all associate it with Ronald McDonald

2.) Santa Claus (Christmas we all know that holiday celebrated by the world Coca-Cola Santa Claus is also one of the Most Recognizable Symbols of All Time almost everyone celebrates Christmas Santa Claus is Number 2)

1.) Mickey Mouse (4-1 are all hard decisions they're all super Famous and Recognizable but Mickey Mouse is known across the globe in Asia, Africa, Europe, North America, South America and Ocenia they'll all instantly Recognize Mickey all ages and generations a voting poll showed Mickey Mouse was more Recognizable than Santa Claus around the globe so the Number 1 Spot is Mickey Mouse

Honorable Mention

Godzilla - The Most Iconic Giant Movie Monster ever Godzilla is loved by all and no one can ignore that iconic roar

0 ( +0 / -0 )

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