Going GaGa over Madonna

This week we delved into the topic of image reproduction. But what happens if what is being replicated isn’t just a photograph but living, breathing human being? And what if, unlike the Mona Lisa imitations on mugs and t-shirts, these replications reach the same height, perhaps greater heights, than the original?

Of course, when thinking of a person becoming a brand (an icon, a capital “I” Image) the mind, at least for me, instantly shoots to Marilyn Monroe. Sturken and Cartwright’s book shows a photograph of Madonna performing in her “Blonde Ambition” tour. But Monroe had passed some 60 years before Madonna’s tour. Madonna gained her inspiration from past
photos, films, and physical recreations of Monroe, never actually interacting with the human she chose to replicate.

            

    And then we move to a new millennium. In a matter of a decade, we go from Britney to Lady Gaga, both claimed to be the “Madonna” of our generation, both drawing elements from the Blonde Ambitionist herself. Clearly, Monroe’s iconic status still reigns as Hollywood’s celebrity-formula of how to make a Superstar.

    But wait, back up. Gaga and Britney are both replicas of Madonna’s Blonde Ambition, but Madonna is still very much prominent in today’s pop-culture (her song 4 Minutes toped the Billboard charts for over a month). How can we have a new Madonna, let alone two, when the original is still kicking? Do they, as Benjamin may suggest, diminish the value of Madonna? Do they enhance her status? Does replication imply replacement, especially in a day where technology allows us to replicate almost anything?

          

    There are certainly arguments to both sides. No, Madonna is no longer the ultimate “Super Star.” Yes, both Britney and Lady Gaga’s tribute has reminded our generation of the Blonde we seemed to have forgotten. However, the thing I find most interesting is Madonna’s reaction. She seems to be using these stars to reestablish her fame (remember when we all talked about her and Britney’s performance at the MTV VMA’s?) recently staring in a comedic routine with Lady Gaga in an SNL “cat-fight.”

    Perhaps it is the new digital age that makes the celebrity lifespan equitable to a housefly, but with the digital age comes digital retaliation. Madonna has been able to go viral a handful of times since she’s been replaced byBritney’s Baby One More time. I’m curious to see, in the future, if we’ll have stars dukeing it out each week, trying to replace each other as the “New _____.” Will all our celebrities converge into one giant Marilyn? Or will they all take a leaf from Madonna’s book and work together to benefit both their fame. I’m excited to see.