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David Bowie experimented a lot with his appearance and image – you could say maybe he tried 100 styles – and of all of his looks, it's the lightning bolt – Aladdin Sane – that has become the designated Bowie Schelling point, the universal Icon https://t.co/ONu4ASPgpX


when writing an earlier tweet I found myself assuming that the lightning bolt persona was Ziggy Stardust, because that's the name I've heard most often associated with Bowie. But no, Ziggy predated Aladdin Sane, and there's a moderately iconic outfit associated with that persona https://t.co/HPoWeao0gt


I suppose the sun(?) on the forehead was an attempt – and to be clear, people do still appreciate this. it succeeded at what he was trying to do https://t.co/uaYhjVNflw


the eyepatch and neckscarf combination is another memorable and distinctive motif this too is a look that gets recreated. another success https://t.co/xAw41IXPbZ


Bowie was prolific. He released 27 studio albums. Y'know, that's what I admire about him. I get the sense that he didn't think of himself as a great artist with talent oozing out of his pores (eg Prince, for example). I sense he was having fun, experimenting, fooling around https://t.co/VUePhGMxa7


when artists choose to depict bowie, they almost invariably throw in the Aladdin Sane lightning bolt. it's just too distinctive and arresting for you *not* to include it. People even mash it up with his other images https://t.co/fHAxW8CjCB


I personally prefer it when tattoos of icons are a little abstract rather than overly photorealistic or detailed https://t.co/ShafFjpkCX


oh yeah and he's been immortalized in emoji ⚡️ https://t.co/z6TKvHkrVo