1990 Omnibus Madonna Special

One of the greatest specials on Madonna - her importance in culture, music, art, fashion. Her legacy and body of work is so immense that we're still living in its aftermath.

The year of this special was 1990. Madonna had just finished her third tour, the aptly and perfectly titled Blond Ambition - the tour that is still influencing concerts today - 21 years after the fact. Madonna is here commenting on her cultural impact over the last 7 years.

We have great commentaries with fantastic Greil Marcus, cultural historian from Artforum Magazine, on so much from her reaction to the nudes to her Like a Prayer which he describes as "blasphemy on ten levels at once - which is as strong and as upsetting a piece of public work that you're going to see". Kristine McKenna from the Los Angeles Times on her "mythical status". Andre Leon Tally from Vogue Magazine on her being "a goddess of style for fashion, especially for high fashion in Paris - the force of her fantasy is accessible to everyone from eighteen to eighty". Glenn O'Brien from Interview magazine on her having "a medium like ability to read the minds of the audience" and "being a religious figure herself". Her high school teacher, Marilyn Fellows, about her "quality of charisma." The Harvard University course that was taught on Madonna. Her jaded brother, Christopher Ciccone. Carl Arrington from People magazine stating how she "seized back the crucifix." Luc Sante from New Republic Magazine on Madonna's "Post Modernism". Of course, we have the wonderful and fabulous Christopher Flynn - her dance teacher and mentor, wondering "where's my little Madonna?" Stephen Bray on "her having written 14 songs" before he had written even one and the honesty of her songwriting. And so many and so much more!!! Here are all 4 parts for your educational and viewing pleasure. Enjoy!

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Madonna Driven

They made these programs and really there was only one reason to do it: Madonna. She has talent, the myth, the story, the life, the rise - all of it. The Jackpot.

The Wonderful Mrs. Fellows

Innocent Intelligent Beauty

I feel compelled to re-post this video, simply because Madonna brings up Mrs. Fellows and Christopher Flynn again in the new Interview Magazine. Since the very beginning, these are two people she has constantly payed homage to. She will never let us forget Flynn and Fellows for they should never be forgotten.



VAN SANT: It's amazing that you had a person like that in your life who was such an influence.

MADONNA: Thank god! Otherwise, I don't know if I would've gotten out of Michigan. I think it was Christopher and my Russian history teacher, Marilyn Fellows. The two of them, I think they were a conspiracy that god sent to me. The conspiracy of angels that gave me the confidence and helped me turn my lemons into lemonade, if you know what I'm saying. Because when you grow up in a really conservative place and you don't fit in, it's kind of hard. . . . You can go one way or the other.


Click HERE for the original post with more early school photos.

Camille Paglia's current Madonna Musing

And now Madonna is trying to resuscitate herself, body and mind, by taking transfusions from Brazil! The poverty-ridden favelas of Rio de Janeiro are her latest charity -- presumably because dusty, distant Malawi is too bare of the hordes of paparazzi required to record the latest feats of Our Lady Bountiful. How convenient that the best hotels of Ipanema are only minutes away from the Rio slums! Oh, that girl -- always thinking, ain't she?

Is it true, according to press rumors, that Madonna is vacationing with her boy toy Jesus Luz in a house in Bahia in the far northeast of Brazil? And that she is contemplating buying a house there? Is she planning to take tutorials from the queen of axe, Salvador da Bahia's very own superstar, Daniela Mercury? Well, it's kind of what I had in mind in my epic Salon column last year negatively comparing Madonna to Daniela. As a teacher, I will certainly take credit for this leap forward, if it occurs, in Madonna's much-delayed self-education.

Daniela herself has had a hectic few months, touring Brazil, Portugal and Argentina for her new album, "Canibalia." Last week she was the finale of the Latin Grammys in Las Vegas, which were broadcast by Univision and pulled the largest TV audience in the history of that event. Here are some sexy visuals: Daniela in a fabulous, textured, bronze suit with see-through netting before an industry dinner; in her black lace and black leather gauntlets stage costume in the press room; and (in a truncated video) energetically performing with her red-clad troupe of Bahian dancers onstage. Vive Brazil!


Full Article: http://salon.com/news/opinion/camille_paglia/2009/11/10/pelosi/index.html#story_full_fcc0b7a73e46e5f56a11428c300a643e

School Years. Mrs. Fellows