Recently, two names have vied for attention in media headlines: soldier and icon Lei Feng and NBA basketball star Jeremy Lin.

Both of them are role models for young people in China but the "Linsanity" trend is turning out to be more appealing than the "Learn from Lei Feng campaign." Why are people more willing to follow a sports star than a revolutionary hero? It might be intriguing to make a comparison between the two idols.

In my opinion, the changing faces of idols shine a light on the changing facets of our society. 

Borrowing the perspective on idols put forward by German scholar Leo Lowenthal (1944) in his work The Triumph of Mass Idols, Lei Feng, as a revolutionary model, belongs to the ideals of production whereas today's celebrities, mostly film stars and sports personalities, belong to the ideals of consumption.

As seen in the US during the 40s, the rise of celebrities from the world of entertainment has accompanied China's transition from a society focused on production to one centered on consumption. As such, these newly-fangled icons, from a radical perspective, exemplify the urge to consume through showing lives lived in glamorous and luxurious surroundings. 

From wanting Jeremy Lin's shoes to craving Zhang Ziyi's cars and house, these role models lead people to compare their lives to those of their stars, potentially leading to feelings of frustration.

Whenever I feel this frustration at living in an increasingly materialistic society,  I often recall the simpler days of my childhood and the purity of the Lei Feng spirit.

In the shared memories of the 1980s generation, soldier Lei Feng was an indelible icon. Stories in our primary school books reminded us time and again to learn of Lei's loyalty to the country, his enthusiasm for helping those in need and his values of frugality and perseverance.

In those days, a "classic" description of ourselves in our essays usually went along the lines of "Today I did a favor for somebody else (such as giving my seat to an elderly person on a bus), and when I was asked my name, I pointed to the red scarf under my collar, and proudly responded, "My name is the Young Pioneer."

This childhood idol started to fade away during rebellious moments of our youth, after we encountered more fascinating role models to follow. We became obsessed by singer Michael Jackson, basketball player Michael Jordan, and numerous Hollywood and Hong Kong film stars.

But in an era when entertainment stars dominate TV programs, newspapers and the Internet, I feel I miss the simple poster of the young soldier in uniform holding a gun with a resolute facial expression. Apart from pursuing the lifestyle we learn from celebrities, I believe that Lei Feng reminds us of the virtues of human beings, which we should never forget no matter how times change. It gives us the courage to lead a simple but meaningful life.