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From: seb@mtgzz.UUCP (s.e.badian)
Newsgroups: net.women,net.music
Subject: Re: Performers with sexual images seen as role models
Message-ID: <953@mtgzz.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 19-Jul-85 17:54:28 EDT
Article-I.D.: mtgzz.953
Posted: Fri Jul 19 17:54:28 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 20-Jul-85 12:05:44 EDT
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Xref: watmath net.women:6517 net.music:8407


	I think Madonna has a great deal going. She knows exactly
how to get everyone hot and spend money on her albums and concerts.
(I heard that her first tour, the Virgin tour, has totally sold out.
This is the first time this has ever happened. Obviously the woman
is doing something right.)
	I've heard Madonna give interviews and she's no gum-chewing, "boy
toy" idiot. She has a gimmick and she's playing it to the hilt.
I don't think she planned on being a role model. Her image brings
up some interesting questions though. She plays on sexuality. She
plays on the fact that sex is still taboo. She represents raw 
sexuality. She picks no bones about it. What does her appeal say 
about teenagers? Michael Jackson is as popular and is certainly 
a role model. We hear about how he's nice to his parents, doesn't 
use drugs or alcohol, doesn't use women.  Great. He's also looks 
anorexic, had his features changed so he looks more "white" and 
seems to be from all accounts asexual.  Interesting mix of 
characteristics for a role model. At least Madonna is up-front. 
You know you're dealing with someone who is throwing all-American 
society out the window. Does that mean that the teenagers are going 
to grow up to be a cross between Michael and Madonna? And why do 
they find these pop stars so interesting? Do you think it's their 
personal or political beliefs? Thinking back to my teenage 
years(it wasn't that long ago) I try to remember why I liked 
certain rock stars. It was the music that appealed to me. That 
was how I heard about the rock stars. But after that it was the 
image that appealed. Not their political beliefs, not their 
personal lives, not the way they treated their mothers. And 
there is no denying that both Jackson and Madonna have strong 
images, images specially crafted to appeal to today's teenagers 
raised on MTV. These people are in it to make money, not corrupt 
our nation's youth. It's amazing how much flak they generate.
	And besides, I don't really care a heck of a lot if 
Madonna's pictures got into Playboy and Penthouse. I don't think
she's a bad role model for young women. She's independent, she 
knows what she wants and knows how to get it. She's not the 
typical sex toy since she knows what she's doing and is controling 
her life by playing off the weakness men have for her. She's 
irrevrent, doesn't care one whit if she ticks off the establishment. 
"Material Girl" does expound a rather mercernary viewpoint, but 
the video shows just the opposite. "Like a Virgin" is of no 
philosophical importance, but it is insipid, but I won't fault 
her for that. 
 	I'm really quite sick of the stink over Madonna. I'm 
quite sick about how people can draw some pretty nasty conclusions
about a woman's soul based on a few pictures in some lousy
magazine. And what makes me most sick is the why Penthouse and
Playboy get to clean up on the whole thing.

Sharon Badian
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