11 October 2022 – Steve Aze

Icons and idols

Inspiration, symbolism, and sophistry

Religious or not, we are surrounded by icons. From buttons on our computer screens where the smallest possible graphic stands for some important action. Through to huge “iconic” buildings like the Shard or the Eiffel Tower. From national flags to religious images, they all have meanings and misunderstandings.

Icons stand for an action, an idea, a culture, or an ideology. Steve argues that whether we decide to venerate icons, or join the modern iconoclasts in destroying them, it is important to be able to identify and understand icons in our own life and in the lives of those around us.

In this talk, Steve will look at how, religious or not, icons affect what we do and how we see the world around us. He will also consider some of the idols of our time in society, technology, culture, and economics — intended to serve us, but we end up serving them.

The talk will conclude with a look at some idols in Shropshire and in Stretton that, Steve says, are long overdue for toppling from their plinths. Steve will conclude with a positive vision of what might replace them.

Steve Aze

Steve’s chequered past includes: a childhood in India and Nepal; technical operations (mainly sound) for BBC TV and Radio; two years as a full-time student of Biblical Studies and Cross-Cultural Communications; a brief and undistinguished period as a missionary; radio producer; media relations and training for the national Methodist Church; FE lecturer in computer programming; software application developer and solution architect; technical director for a small software company making careers education resources. Currently Steve is a senior developer/analyst for a financial technologies company.

Steve is Eastern Orthodox.