Madonna's Role in a Feminist Culture

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Madonna's Role in a Feminist Culture In the book written by bell hooks, Outlaw Culture: Resisting Representations, she criticizes a number of the actions and viewpoints of Madonna. Claiming that Madonna has changed from appearing to be a strong feminist icon into a woman who no longer has a connection with feminist views, bell hooks examines how Madonna chooses to represent herself as well as Madonna’s changing role in the feminist world. According to bell hooks, initially Madonna was a very transgressive in a feminist sense, and now she appears to be almost welcoming of the phallocentric imperialist patriarchal views. I agree with our class discussion and with bell hooks’ critique, feeling that Madonna has changed from a woman who resisted male dominating ideas showing strong feminist characteristics into a more accepting view of patriarchy and sexism. First explaining the Madonna of the past as a cultural icon. Madonna was supported and idolized by feminists, because she portrayed herself as a very independent, strong, and powerful woman, unbounded by sexism and a system flooded with patriarchy. By transgressing the boundary of a sexist society, she showed us that a woman could be strong, independent, sexy, powerful, and just as good as any man, if not better. Over time, bell hooks explains, Madonna has changed, being more accepted by the patriarchal and sexist society, neglecting her previous advocation of feminist images. Madonna has done this, bell hooks argues, by posing very seductively in Vanity Fair magazine. These images supposedly show Madonna in very conventional and typical kiddie-porn photographs. When appearing in images like these, Madonna is implying that she openly welcomes sexist and patriarchal ... ... middle of paper ... ...se show me that bell hooks is correct in her critique of Madonna, changing from a once feminist cultural icon to a representation of the white supremacist patriarchal views. In her book, Outlaw Culture: Resisting Representations, bell hooks gives us a critique of Madonna, giving us examples of how Madonna has transformed into a figure whom has abandoned her feminist thinking. These examples include Madonna’s photographs, her book Sex, and quotations. I agree with bell hooks’ critique of Madonna because I feel that evidence can be shown in Madonna’s actions over time supporting her change in views. From Madonna’s portrayal of a feminist to an advocate of patriarchal ideas, it can clearly be seen that Madonna has withdrawn her stand as a feminist cultural icon. Works Cited hooks, bell. (1994). Outlaw Culture: Resisting Representations. New York, Routledge.

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