Susan Bordo's Madonna

Susan Bordo’s “Material Girl’: The Effacements of Postmodern Culture had
to be one of my favorite readings so far.  Bordo references Madonna (the
singer) as a woman who has constantly changed the norms of “normal”
society beliefs (or idealistically the beliefs the government has tried
to instill in our minds). Many find her to be a postmodern heroine.
Madonna claims her work is to escape definition. Many people consider
her to be subversive because she is constantly overthrowing societal
norms.  Madonna once said, “Everything I do is meant to have several
meanings to be ambiguous.”  Her music videos, live performances, etc has
entranced many different types of academic critics.  Bordo says that
many of the academic critics Madonna has lured in have accolades that
are reproduced in highly theoretical notions emphasized by the popular
press.
 Madonna’s music video “Like a Prayer” was considered to be
controversial to many conservative audiences.  Once again she was
overthrowing the societal norms through the works of this video.  There
are images of sexuality in church, provocative clothing worn inside the
church, burning crosses, knifes and blood.  Madonna is independent of
patriarchal control and symbolizes rebelliousness.