Author: Bell Hooks
Hooks argues that instead of breaking the cultural norms most people accredit Madonna, she actually endorses racist, sexist, classist, and white supremacist norms and ideas. Hooks mostly focuses on Madonna's fascination and exploitation of black culture and uses various examples to demonstrate her point. While Madonna tries to strip men of their power or empower women, she herself is obsessed with the dominance that she thinks men possess.
"Like a Prayer" music video the author talks about.
Madonna and other various woman artists grabbing their crotches like Michael Jackson.
katy perry
Lady Gaga
and finally...
Madonna
and finally...
Madonna
Discussion Questions:
1. Why do you think the press did not discuss issues of race when reporting on Madonna and her videos?
2. In the article, Hooks says that white women can only be seen as pure and innocent because of the backdrop that black women are fallen, sexual creatures. Do you think this has lessened or increased since Madonna's era? Do you think that the presence of more black female artists in pop culture has began to deconstruct this?
I think that a possible answer for your first question could be that they simply just did not want to get into the topic. Many people are afraid to discuss touchy topics that could offend people so they just leave them alone, which in my opinion is not the right way to deal with things.
ReplyDeleteI like how you put the different female artists grabbing their crotches. I think it shows how things that Madonna did had a big impact on popular culture. And since this is true, topics like race should not be ignored because the ideas Madonna had about race could also impact popular culture and according to Hooks, this would be a negative impact.