Madonna

As the Material Girl, Eva Perón in Evita, and most recently, queen of the disco floor, Madonna's transformations and assumed identities keep her fans wanting more. She has inspired university professors and cultural critics to enshrine her as a postmodern icon. Known for her persona as much as for her music, Madonna has stirred controversy through her use of religious and sexual depictions in her songs, music videos, concerts, and in one notorious publication. This biography traces Madonna's ambitious journey from a Midwest upbringing as part of a large family to achieving fame on a global scale. It also brings readers up to date on her latest incarnation as a wife and mother, living on a country estate in England. Students researching cultural studies topics will accurate information on the musician's life and body of work, as well as critical commentary on her impact and lasting significance as one of the most influential female entertainers of our time. She has been the subject of countless magazines and newspaper stories around the world, whether for her sold-out concerts or as an advocate for Kabbalah, the spiritual movement rooted in Jewish mysticism. This book shares her story and provides a way to consider the influence Madonna has had through her ever-evolving career in shaping our popular culture. A timeline of significant events and a bibliography of print and electronic sources for additional research round out this volume.

Mary Cross is the author of A Century of American Icons: 100 Products and Slogans from the 20th-Century Consumer Culture (Oryx, 2002). She is also the editor of Advertising and Culture: Theoretical Perspectives (Praeger, 1996). She has taught at the University of Delaware, the City University of New York, and Fairleigh Dickinson University, where she was chair of the English Department. She is a former advertising copywriter.