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Role of Madonna as a cultural icon
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Madonna is one of the most recognizable female artist and performer in the world. She has inspired so many people, not just fans. Madonna’s career hit sky-high when debuting her first 3 albums. She faced many challenges, but learned how to get through them. She is not just a phenomenal artist, but she is a phenomenal dancer.
Madonna was born in Bay City, Michigan on August 16, 1958. Her born name, Madonna Louise Veronica Ciccone, was inherited from her mother, Madonna Louise Fortin, although they liked to call her Madge. Her mother was an x-ray technician and a dancer while her father, Silvio “Tony” P. Ciccone, was a defense engineer. They were strong willed Catholics who raised their children under strict rules. Madonna was the middle child of a total of six children. Madonna was introduced with a big impact on her life when her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer while being pregnant with her youngest child. Since she was pregnant, she had to hold off on her treatments, but she grew even sicker. Madonna’s mother died on December 1, 1963 when she was only thirty years old, and when Madonna was only five. Madonna’s father remarried their housekeeper, Joan Gustafson. Madonna was very angry and rejected her religious background. Furthermore, Madonna was known for her perfectionism and high-achievement. While attending college at the University of Michigan, she received a full scholarship to their dance program. While studying, she got an offer to go and dance at the Alvin Ailey Theater in New York. She was such a profound dancer, that she got a once in a lifetime offer to be choreographed by Pearl Lang. While she was here, she found out how much she loved to dance, and therefore, she dropped out of college. She was faced with ...
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...as accomplished. Moreover, Madonna is one of the most recognizable celebrities known throughout the whole world.
Works Cited
http://www.imdb.com/news/ni0551887/ http://www.rollingstone.com/music/artists/madonna/biography http://www.thebiographychannel.co.uk/biographies/madonna.html http://rockhall.com/inductees/madonna/bio/ http://www.biography.com/people/madonna-9394994 http://www.cnn.com/2013/06/07/us/madonna-fast-facts/ http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000187/bio http://www.people.com/people/madonna/biography/ http://www.mad-eyes.net/news/faq.htm http://www.aceshowbiz.com/celebrity/madonna/trivia.html http://www.entertainmentscene360.com/index.php/madonna-hates-the-color-orange-and-five-more-fun-facts-about-the-material-girl-3766/ http://www.theguardian.com/music/2008/aug/15/madonna.50.pop.facts http://www.contactmusic.com/news/50-fascinating-madonna-facts_1077576
Wayside Madonna is an oil painting on canvas by Edith Catlin Phelps. It was painted around 1939. Painted in southern California, it is a genre painting that is part of the regionalism movement but also has a religious subject. This painting is currently part of the permanent collection at Bowers Museum in Santa Ana, California. Phelps's oil painting Wayside Madonna ultimately focuses on the lady in the foreground, providing a narrative about southern California culture, and places an emphasis on the need for a more American focus and style of painting that does not rely so heavily on European art.
You can see her influence in most of today’s art. I grew up on Janet’s music and I simply love each era of her work. To me, Janet is more than a singer, she is a true artist.
Diana Ross was born in 1944. Emerging from the housing projects in Detroit to become an international superstar, she gained prominence first as a member of the supremes, then as a solo artist. The mention of her name evokes the indelible image of the broadly smiling diva, the long hair, sequined gowns, etc.
she will forever be loved and inspirational by many keeping her popularity and fame for another
Without a doubt there is one major performer that certainly stands out within our pop culture world. The name of this very famous American icon is, Dolly Parton. Dolly has surpassed any rags to riches story that ever lived. She has touched the lives of so many individuals over many decades through her many talents. Dolly started her career at a very young age and continued fulfilling her life endeavors through country music, pop music, and even acting. This American icon didn’t stop with just her talents, she also gave back to our society through charity, fundraising, and establishing her own theme park. Dolly Parton was brought up in a very poor family, however through much dedication she became the famous icon everyone idolized today.
You know she's a Jackson. And you know she's a singer. Of course, you know the girl can dance. You know she's a leading lady in Hollywood. And maybe you still think of her as a cute little girl with a famous last name and big , bright eyes. Do you think she's what she was yesterday? Better think again. As many of her other fans and followers already know, the only label that fits her is… Janet.
“From the beginning, the camera and I were great friends. I know the eye of the camera is on me—eye to eye. It loves me, and I love it (Whitney Houston).” Whitney Houston was destined to be a star from the day she was born. With Aretha Franklin as her godmother, she had nothing but RESPECT for the music industry. With many hit singles, and a voice to match, Whitney Houston was truly an icon.
Music is an inspirational outlet that can be used to convey a message to other people who relate to that message. Music can become even stronger when the person who is performing it is an inspirational source as well. For the past 30 years Madonna has become a well-known artist, actress, and role model to the people who support her. All artists know that they are only number one until someone else comes along and replaces them with more intriguing work to offer. Lady Gaga has been said to be the new Madonna of our generation and is quite often compared to her in many ways by her musical and styling choices. They both share similarities such as their musical genre, style, feminine empowerment, and their support towards the gay community. Their differences can also be seen in those same fields as well.
Madonna is a controversial legend whose attitudes and opinions on sexuality have forced the public to take notice and change the image of females in society. Madonna believed women’s sexuality was a natural aspect of life; therefore, she dared to challenge the rules and definitions of femininity and sought to expand the meaning of it. In a male dominated world, she wanted to focus on the importance of women and let them have a voice of their own. Madonna shattered all the myths on traditional beauty standards and made her statement on sexuality and feminism, which changed how society viewed the standards of beauty. She impacted female power by encouraging sex- positivity into her music and her style. It is mainly because of Madonna that ordinary women, and women in modern entertainment have more choices and freedom which continues to influence further generations.
Carmen Miranda was born in Portugal in February 1909. Her christened name was Maria do Carmo Miranda de Cunha. Her parents were Jose and Maria. She grew up in a strict Roman Catholic household. Jose was both a salesperson and a barber. However, Carmen was only educated until she was fourteen years old. Afterwards she began working at a department store to help support her family. She was both a model and a saleswoman. To pass the time she sang to her fellow co- workers. This lead to her big break when a chance encounter with a guitarist landed her a vocal gig on a local radio station and a job at a nightclub. Her father did not approve of the way his daughter’s life was headed. However, when presented with the sum of money she would make his mind changed. He still didn’t want her full name to be used though so she became known as “Carmen Miranda” (Carmen, 2006).
Rihanna, from her very first music videos has compelled public eyes as an effigy, an icon and a statement of music lifestyle. Her independent outlook, badass attitude mixed with a Caribbean accent has undoubtedly confined not only music but the whole popular culture of our time. Diamonds, We Found Love, Bitch Better Have My Money and S&M are some of the top songs by this epic singer. Songs that today rule bars, dance clubs, parties and of course her numerous fans.
Modern society has made a sub-culture that lives in a reality that is not real. It is so far from the truth that the inhabitants of this sub-culture so often cannot live in both realities and have become a spectacle for others to marvel at. This sub-culture is made up of entertainers, millionaires, and athletes. The people in this group can range from newborns to death and some live on well after. The specimens that I find an interest in are the young ones that enter into this society not knowing well that their lives will never be the same. Britney Spears was just another victim of the society that brings into their prison.
Louise Veronica Ciccone or is also known as “Madonna” the American icon singer, who was also songwriter, actress, and businesswoman all at the same time, the "Queen of Pop" was her title since the 1980s. She was everything you could ever think of, but how did she get there? Everyone has to work hard to get where they want to be, well Madonna was very successful, her rise to fame took a family tragedy, and all she wanted after that was to be heard. She was more than determined. Even as a child she wanted the spotlight on her, and so it was.
The Oxford English dictionary defines a diva as "a distinguished female singer" (Oxford University Press, 2014). Both Maria Callas and Madonna fit this definition, despite doubts about their singing ability. They share a dramatic presence, both on and off stage, which distinguishes them from others. Madonna and Maria Callas are both singers whose personality and presence are often given more weight than the strength of their technical performance. Madonna's vocal ability, Jones tells us, was largely considered "the weakest aspect of her performance" (Jones, 2008, p.165).
Madonna’s reputation, however, provides little evidence to suggest any redeeming diva qualities or musical talent. Specifically, her voice is ‘often criticised as being the weakest aspect of her performances’ (Moohan, E,. 2008, p.163) and she upholds her status as a diva due to the ‘notion of her as a powerful and controversial figure’ (Nick Jones, 2008, p. 171) and not her artistic pieces. Madonna’s commanding and creative influence as an entrepreneur enables her to captivate and maintain her position. √ Good. I’m enjoying your discussion Ole.