Book excerpt: This book investigates the ontology as well as the social and cultural impact of US icons. American Studies scholars from various nations have come together to explore origins, maintenance, and manipulation of icons and to trace their hegemonic as well as subversive impact. Icons experience mutation, modulation, adjustment, and diversification until they either fade or join the pantheon of core US icons, becoming almost eternal. Contributions include analyses of iconic figures such as Billy the Kid, Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers; stereotypes from obese bodies via Aunt Jemima to iconic femmes; and material icons such as the Dollar Bill, the Zapruder footage of the JFK assassination or iconic sites like the Vietnam Veterans Memorial.