Madonna and the Mastery of Image: Supplemental Post for Jonathan Stoller-Schoff

I didn't know much about Madonna at the beginning of last week. I just knew that she was an icon. But at the beginning of Truth or Dare, I was struck with how much of a diva Madonna was. I have a strong picture of her standing on the stage in Japan, waiting for someone who knows about sound to explain why it sounded bad. And I have another image of her wagging her finger and saying, "Now you boys better do what I say!"

These behaviors seem juvenile; like a temper tantrum or a bossy older sister who is a bit too precocious for her own good. But then, as I watched the rest of the documentary, my opinions began to change.

It's not that the image of her as young or playful went away. Rather, I began to see her determination, her star power, and her complete mastery of her craft; particularly when it comes to managing her image. She cast herself in whatever light she needed to be seen in. She is the cool mom to her dancers, the dedicated artist to the police, the adoring daughter to her parents, and the caring long lost friend who remains in touch with her friends and roots. And in this way, she achieves fame from a variety of sources. 

From her performances, it's clear that she's a talented performer: her icon status is well-deserved. Maybe her diva-status is well-deserved as well. But she is also a queen of managing how she is perceived, and by whom. Earlier today, I listened to a bit of her MDNA world tour (I've become a fan in the last week...) and she went on a long verbal about how luck she is to have had the same job for thirty years, and how lucky she is to be employed. This tour was right after the financial collapse -- when a lot of people were unemployed, and when a lot of people were struggling to keep their jobs. She knows what's up, and she knows how to make herself relatable. 

I can't wait to see what the next thirty years hold for Madonna's future.