Madonna A Pop Icon free essay sample

Born in the 1980s, I was exposed to the colorful and vibrant music of popular music. At an early age, I became familiar with various female artists who have graced the radio and television air waves. Their popularity was so immense that young girls and even the older ones from across the globe have emulated all the aspects that were incorporated in their stardom such as their music, fashion and mannerisms. Among the most famous female pop stars back then was Madonna. She gained unprecedented popularity and obtained unwavering celebrity status. Most of her contemporaries during the 80s withered when the 90s came, but Madonna was able to go with the changes and continued to reinvent herself to match the constantly transforming style of the modern society. Presently, Madonna is still making headlines through an incessant innovation of her own style. There are many current pop stars who have disclosed their admiration for Madonna. We will write a custom essay sample on Madonna: A Pop Icon or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page For them, her music inspired them to reach for their dreams and explore their musical talents. According to Britney Spears, Madonna is an independent woman who does not take into consideration of other’s perception. For Britney, this characteristic is very â€Å"empowering for teenagers and women in general.† Madonna also gained fans outside the music industry such as Jean-Paul Gaultier who was a â€Å"French fashion designer.† For him, Madonna’s ability to agilely dance and her attractive face and physique were the key factors that caught his fascination. Gaultier said that â€Å"she was beautiful and very well dressed† (BBC).   This only shows that music and fashion go hand in hand. Clearly, Madonna managed to seize the interest and support of the public as well as the A-listers of different industries. Madonna’s career has been flourishing for over 20 years since it all began. Because of this she was able to make an extensive impact to popular culture and the society. â€Å"For almost each major fashion, cultural, and social trend that has developed over the years since her debut,† Madonna never failed to make a contribution in popularizing or even outdoing an existing trend which were displayed in her choice of wardrobes and the style of her music videos. She was able to utilize her standing as an influential personality to â€Å"to build presence and visibility† with the use of her body and voice to affect and at the same time culture of the Americans. According to Michel Focault, a philosopher, â€Å"bodies have the potential for exerting power and can be propelled to demonstrate this power through the institutions that are perceived by the public to be knowledgeable.† This statement suggests that people usually give institutions like the entertainment industry the right to set the standards for what is beautiful and fashionable. In relation with Madonna’s role in influencing pop culture and society, she continues to â€Å"reinvent her image† as a pop star and as a result she constantly â€Å"sets the trends and reflects various ideals of beauty† (Masuda). Moreover, the link between â€Å"cultural and social trends and Madonna† demonstrated that the human body is â€Å"a cultural product that has the potential to represent and reflect social trends.† Through this, Madonna gained a sense power of the public wherein she can dictate the benchmark for what is trendy and beautiful. She has the ability to use her clothes, body, music and movements to influence the public to imitate her. In her own way, she was able to alter the status quo and at the same time to manipulate the way of thinking of many individuals regarding the standards of popular culture and the dynamics of society (Masuda). Works Cited Masuda, Anne. â€Å"Madonna: The Revolutionary Icon.† 10 August 2005. Associated Content. 15 April 2009 http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/6611/madonnas_impact_on_society.html?cat=33 â€Å"Stars pay tribute to Madonna.† 4 July 2001. BBC. 15 April 2009 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/music/1421976.stm