Iconoclastic

Iconoclastic is an adjective describing a stance, action, or impulse that challenges or overturns long‑standing beliefs, institutions, or revered symbols. The word derives from the Greek eikonoklastes (eikon "image" + klastes "breaker"), literally "breaker of images." Historically, iconoclasm refers to movements that destroyed or prohibited religious images, most famously in the Byzantine Empire during the 8th and 9th centuries and again during various periods of the Reformation. The term also appears in secular contexts to describe anti‑establishment attitudes.

During Byzantium, iconoclasm involved emperors and church leaders arguing that the veneration of images constituted idolatry, leading to imperial edicts and icon destruction. In Protestant regions, the iconoclasm of the 16th century saw the removal and defacement of church art and altars as part of reform.

In contemporary usage, iconoclastic describes individuals, ideas, or works that challenge accepted norms or sacred cows. It is often used in art, literature, philosophy, and journalism to acknowledge a provocative, reformist, or anti‑traditional stance. Iconoclastic artists, writers, or theorists may be praised for free inquiry or criticized for disrespect or nihilism.

Although the term connotes rebellion, it does not inherently imply destruction; some iconoclasts advocate deliberate reform or redefinition of symbols, rather than mere negation.

In summary, iconoclastic denotes a stance that challenges established beliefs or symbols, with a historical root in religious controversy but a broad modern application.