Madonna as postmodern myth : how one star's self-construction rewrites sex, gender, Hollywood, and the American dream / Georges-Claude Guilbert.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Guilbert, Georges-Claude.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Madonna, 1958---Criticism and interpretation.

Madonna.

Madonna, 1958-.

Criticism and interpretation.

Physical Description:

viii, 254 pages ; 23 cm

Place of Publication:

Jefferson, N.C. : McFarland & Co., [2002]

Summary:

Madonna has long been accepted as a pop culture icon, but this text postulates a greater cultural importance by analyzing her as a postmodern myth.

This work examines how Madonna methodically discovered and constructed herself (often rewriting her past), the nature and extent of her ambition and the means she used to reach her goals. It also details the way in which she organized her own cult (borrowing from the gay community), devised her artistic output, and cunningly targeted different audiences. It also studies the fundamental contradiction -- virgin or vamp? saint or prostitute? -- that fuels Madonna's career and, describes how Madonna reflects today's society, its contradictions and its attitudes toward sexuality and religion.

Contents:

Definitions

Desperately seeking stardom

The fundamental contradiction

Drag

America's mirror.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 215-248) and index.

ISBN:

0786414081

OCLC:

50606423