Iconoclasm to me, is about a kind of idealism. You "break" the image because the image itself only represents an idea--it is not the idea itself. You recognize and call attention to all of the artificial constructs in life (in written, spoken, and visual language) in order to lay a common ground that has a humanistic spirit (oxymoron?) at its core.

As much as iconoclasm today has strong anti-religious sentiments, Iconoclasm is of Christian origins, which is where this connection with idealism started. You break the images or symbols of god because it is not god. It was a movement against idolotry with roots in Islam (a modern day example of iconoclasm is the Taliban's much-publicized destruction of ancient Buddhist statues in Afghanistan).

Yup. That's our history. Iconoclasts started as religious nuts. Fanatics directed by Roman Emperors, no less! Enforcers of the dominant paradigm, they were!

While the religious dogma has been washed away, iconoclasm today still seems to have a resolute idealism at its core. If you destroy all images because they lie, then you believe in some truth or reality beyond the image which cannot be conveyed by it.

But images, these illusions, have power. In this way, the iconolaters (religious figures, advertisers, marketers, politicians) can successfully manipulate illusions and wield them with great effectiveness. The ones who control the illusion always will prevail.

But the iconoclast does not want to control the illusion, even though, as even we ourselves know, our iconoclasm is simply another mask, another form of illusion. Or is it to be called truth? But calling it so would hasten our departure from iconoclasm.

So how does an iconoclast subvert the dominant paradigm without falling prey to losing the very ideals which they hold most dear? And is an iconoclast a more zealous advocate of idealism than the iconolaters and their fervent worshipping of their idols?

It seems to me that you can only go two ways with it: nihilism or idealism. Probably a trap of binary thinking on my part.

So, iconoclasts, where does our path lead? or does such a path exist for us?

just some thoughts...