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Madonna fans - "Sex" book... Hello Madonna fans... I'm writing a paper for a university class about Madonna's book "Sex" (actually, a comparative of her personae Dita and Prince's Camille), but I'm in France and only have a French copy...
Does anyone in here have it in English? Could we exchange a few minor translations? Who has read it, and what did you think of it? Do you believe it reflects a utopian, feminist world? Interesting that spirituality is mentioned on page one, for that matter... The double standard she expressed by the end of the book cracked me up. Overall, I find it full of humor. Your thoughts? | |
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Well, in the early 90's, Madonna was getting far too notorious to the point she just went wild. If you ever saw the Truth Or Dare film, you'll see that her attitude changed, her look changed, and most importantly; her sexuality was different. I mean in the 1980's she was one of the biggest female pop performers in the entertainment industry, and by the time her 1989 acclaimed record, Like A Prayer was released, we saw a new Madonna. When the Blonde Ambition-era was over, the book, SEX appeared. With this book, she was able to push the boundaries of sexuality, from bisexuality to rape and be sexually provocative, to get attention. Through the course of the book, it's just controversial. The book kind of acts like a movie, in a way. But the most suprising thing about this book was that it sold millions of copies worldwide. I couldn't believe that the accompanied album, Erotica sold poorly because of this book. I think that the book just made some people mad because of the pictures of these sexual acts with other celebrities like Big Daddy Kane and those people didn't buy the book, didn't buy her albums, and didn't really respect her as an artist. Those people thought that she was crazy. At that point of her career, she was a little more raw and edgy and she really needed some help. I consider the SEX/Erotica-era as the darkest period of her career because she wanted to express herself. Madonna said it best in her song "Human Nature" which was recorded two years later, "Express yourself, don't impress yourself".
[Edited 4/9/05 2:40am] [Edited 4/9/05 2:44am] Check me out and add me on:
www.last.fm/user/brandosoul "Truth is, everybody is going to hurt you; you just gotta find the ones worth suffering for." -Bob Marley | |
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silverchild said: Well, in the early 90's, Madonna was getting far too notorious to the point she just went wild. If you ever saw the Truth Or Dare film, you'll see that her attitude changed, her look changed, and most importantly; her sexuality was different. I mean in the 1980's she was one of the biggest female pop performers in the entertainment industry, and by the time her 1989 acclaimed record, Like A Prayer was released, we saw a new Madonna. When the Blonde Ambition-era was over, the book, SEX appeared. With this book, she was able to push the boundaries of sexuality, from bisexuality to rape and be sexually provocative, to get attention. Through the course of the book, it's just controversial. The book kind of acts like a movie, in a way. But the most suprising thing about this book was that it sold millions of copies worldwide. I couldn't believe that the accompanied album, Erotica sold poorly because of this book. I think that the book just made some people mad because of the pictures of these sexual acts with other celebrities like Big Daddy Kane and those people didn't buy the book, didn't buy her albums, and didn't really respect her as an artist. Those people thought that she was crazy. At that point of her career, she was a little more raw and edgy and she really needed some help. I consider the SEX/Erotica-era is the darkest period of her career because she wanted to express herself. Madonna said it best in her song "Human Nature" which was recorded two years later, "Express yourself, don't impress yourself".
[Edited 4/9/05 2:40am] Yes, this is Madonna at the heighth (or depths?) of her decadent period, isn't it? Speaking of Big Daddy Kane, he looks bored beyond words in those pix. He doesn't really have anything to do. It's all about Madonna. What do you think of the book itself, objectively speaking? I mean, outside of the context you just mentioned? (Thank you for mentioning it, by the way.) | |
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Heiress said: Hello Madonna fans... I'm writing a paper for a university class about Madonna's book "Sex" (actually, a comparative of her personae Dita and Prince's Camille), but I'm in France and only have a French copy...
Does anyone in here have it in English? Could we exchange a few minor translations? Who has read it, and what did you think of it? Do you believe it reflects a utopian, feminist world? Interesting that spirituality is mentioned on page one, for that matter... The double standard she expressed by the end of the book cracked me up. Overall, I find it full of humor. Your thoughts? if you look hard enough, there are a couple of places on the net that have the whole thing scanned. don't have any specific URL's at hand for you though. as for what i thought of it.... i actually didn't see it until 10 years after it came out. and i was turned off. i didn't like it really. and i loved that about it. bravo. takes a lot to turn me off, and that did it. which was really sort of the point of the whole thing. i love that about it. 1990-1993 is my favorite Madonna era. she had the biggest set of brass balls on the planet. i kind of miss that. i tire of the modern era house-frau/school-marme incarnation. "I don't need your forgiveness, cos I've been saved by Jesus, so fuck you." | |
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Yes, this is Madonna at the heighth (or depths?) of her decadent period, isn't it?
Speaking of Big Daddy Kane, he looks bored beyond words in those pix. He doesn't really have anything to do. It's all about Madonna. What do you think of the book itself, objectively speaking? I mean, outside of the context you just mentioned? (Thank you for mentioning it, by the way.)[/quote] I really didn't get in that book, but it was strange and sexy at the same time because I couldn't believe a woman could actually do that. I'm glad with her 1997 album, Ray Of Light, she was able to get some spiritual guidance again and make a big comeback. [Edited 4/9/05 2:51am] Check me out and add me on:
www.last.fm/user/brandosoul "Truth is, everybody is going to hurt you; you just gotta find the ones worth suffering for." -Bob Marley | |
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Tessa said: as for what i thought of it.... i actually didn't see it until 10 years after it came out. and i was turned off. i didn't like it really. and i loved that about it. bravo. takes a lot to turn me off, and that did it. which was really sort of the point of the whole thing. i love that about it. 1990-1993 is my favorite Madonna era. she had the biggest set of brass balls on the planet. i kind of miss that. i tire of the modern era house-frau/school-marme incarnation.
Well she is pushing 50.  | |
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Tessa said: if you look hard enough, there are a couple of places on the net that have the whole thing scanned. don't have any specific URL's at hand for you though. as for what i thought of it.... i actually didn't see it until 10 years after it came out. and i was turned off. i didn't like it really. and i loved that about it. bravo. takes a lot to turn me off, and that did it. which was really sort of the point of the whole thing. i love that about it. 1990-1993 is my favorite Madonna era. she had the biggest set of brass balls on the planet. i kind of miss that. i tire of the modern era house-frau/school-marme incarnation. Thanks for the tip, I'll dig around... Madonna can be so dern CRUDE; it's true. Prince has had his phases as well, but somehow has remained more subtle. Must be the influences of Romanticism. | |
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silverchild said: I really didn't get in that book, but it was strange and sexy at the same time because I couldn't believe a woman could actually do that. I'm glad with her 1997 album, Ray Of Light, she was able to get some spiritual guidance again and make a big comeback. I guess a person can only go so far with envelope-pushing... I have a book somewhere here that says she has a raw, red physical aura, and that she took on violet (the spiritual color) around the time she became a mother, thus "Ray of Light." I'd say with Prince it would be the opposite - probably a "violet" type all along, who shed himself of acquired red, physical crudeness... Does that make sense? Yes, very metaphysical, but I'm looking at this from all angles. | |
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Heiress said: Tessa said: if you look hard enough, there are a couple of places on the net that have the whole thing scanned. don't have any specific URL's at hand for you though. as for what i thought of it.... i actually didn't see it until 10 years after it came out. and i was turned off. i didn't like it really. and i loved that about it. bravo. takes a lot to turn me off, and that did it. which was really sort of the point of the whole thing. i love that about it. 1990-1993 is my favorite Madonna era. she had the biggest set of brass balls on the planet. i kind of miss that. i tire of the modern era house-frau/school-marme incarnation. Thanks for the tip, I'll dig around... Madonna can be so dern CRUDE; it's true. Prince has had his phases as well, but somehow has remained more subtle. Must be the influences of Romanticism. To many the book was the end of Madonna's career. However, the Erotica album which was overshadowed by the book remains in my top 3 Madonna albums. Anyway, before the book everyone in the media called her names like slut, whore etc. So instead of covering up, she went for the kill and thus the sex book was born. It was a risky move, but she survived [Edited 4/9/05 8:03am] | |
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silverchild said: Well, in the early 90's, Madonna was getting far too notorious to the point she just went wild. If you ever saw the Truth Or Dare film, you'll see that her attitude changed, her look changed, and most importantly; her sexuality was different. I mean in the 1980's she was one of the biggest female pop performers in the entertainment industry, and by the time her 1989 acclaimed record, Like A Prayer was released, we saw a new Madonna. When the Blonde Ambition-era was over, the book, SEX appeared. With this book, she was able to push the boundaries of sexuality, from bisexuality to rape and be sexually provocative, to get attention. Through the course of the book, it's just controversial. The book kind of acts like a movie, in a way. But the most suprising thing about this book was that it sold millions of copies worldwide. I couldn't believe that the accompanied album, Erotica sold poorly because of this book. I think that the book just made some people mad because of the pictures of these sexual acts with other celebrities like Big Daddy Kane and those people didn't buy the book, didn't buy her albums, and didn't really respect her as an artist. Those people thought that she was crazy. At that point of her career, she was a little more raw and edgy and she really needed some help. I consider the SEX/Erotica-era as the darkest period of her career because she wanted to express herself. Madonna said it best in her song "Human Nature" which was recorded two years later, "Express yourself, don't impress yourself".
[Edited 4/9/05 2:40am] [Edited 4/9/05 2:44am] i think erotica was a fun time in madonna's history...and i always thought the lyric to "human nature" were "express yourself, don't repress yourself." i think the difference in lyrics would have a very different suggestion on how madonna feels about her erotica era. | |
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SassyBritches said: silverchild said: Well, in the early 90's, Madonna was getting far too notorious to the point she just went wild. If you ever saw the Truth Or Dare film, you'll see that her attitude changed, her look changed, and most importantly; her sexuality was different. I mean in the 1980's she was one of the biggest female pop performers in the entertainment industry, and by the time her 1989 acclaimed record, Like A Prayer was released, we saw a new Madonna. When the Blonde Ambition-era was over, the book, SEX appeared. With this book, she was able to push the boundaries of sexuality, from bisexuality to rape and be sexually provocative, to get attention. Through the course of the book, it's just controversial. The book kind of acts like a movie, in a way. But the most suprising thing about this book was that it sold millions of copies worldwide. I couldn't believe that the accompanied album, Erotica sold poorly because of this book. I think that the book just made some people mad because of the pictures of these sexual acts with other celebrities like Big Daddy Kane and those people didn't buy the book, didn't buy her albums, and didn't really respect her as an artist. Those people thought that she was crazy. At that point of her career, she was a little more raw and edgy and she really needed some help. I consider the SEX/Erotica-era as the darkest period of her career because she wanted to express herself. Madonna said it best in her song "Human Nature" which was recorded two years later, "Express yourself, don't impress yourself".
[Edited 4/9/05 2:40am] [Edited 4/9/05 2:44am] i think erotica was a fun time in madonna's history...and i always thought the lyric to "human nature" were "express yourself, don't repress yourself." i think the difference in lyrics would have a very different suggestion on how madonna feels about her erotica era. You're right about the lyrics..... Express yourseld don't repress yourself | |
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Heiress said: Thanks for the tip, I'll dig around...
Madonna can be so dern CRUDE; it's true. Prince has had his phases as well, but somehow has remained more subtle. Must be the influences of Romanticism. In terms of visuals, maybe. But musically, Prince is/was far more risque. Most of the sexuality in Madonna's music comes down to innuendo, suggestion and seduction. She's got nothing like "Sister" or "Scarlet Pussy". Subtle!  | |
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GangstaFam said: Heiress said: Thanks for the tip, I'll dig around...
Madonna can be so dern CRUDE; it's true. Prince has had his phases as well, but somehow has remained more subtle. Must be the influences of Romanticism. In terms of visuals, maybe. But musically, Prince is/was far more risque. Most of the sexuality in Madonna's music comes down to innuendo, suggestion and seduction. She's got nothing like "Sister" or "Scarlet Pussy". Subtle! I find "Sister" remarkably in the same genre as the Romantic poets, actually. The subtlety is in the artistry, not the subject matter. | |
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jayaredee said: Heiress said: Thanks for the tip, I'll dig around... Madonna can be so dern CRUDE; it's true. Prince has had his phases as well, but somehow has remained more subtle. Must be the influences of Romanticism. To many the book was the end of Madonna's career. However, the Erotica album which was overshadowed by the book remains in my top 3 Madonna albums. Anyway, before the book everyone in the media called her names like slut, whore etc. So instead of covering up, she went for the kill and thus the sex book was born. It was a risky move, but she survived [Edited 4/9/05 8:03am] Madonna has a knack for more than mere survival - she always comes back out on top! | |
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Heiress said: jayaredee said: To many the book was the end of Madonna's career. However, the Erotica album which was overshadowed by the book remains in my top 3 Madonna albums. Anyway, before the book everyone in the media called her names like slut, whore etc. So instead of covering up, she went for the kill and thus the sex book was born. It was a risky move, but she survived [Edited 4/9/05 8:03am] Madonna has a knack for more than mere survival - she always comes back out on top! If anything can be said about Madonna, she's a very intelligent business woman. She has her ups and downs like all businesses, but she knows how to come out on top. Her ear is always to the floor. As a college business student, it's just amazing watching her and looking back in her career to see what she did and how she did it. Madonna knows her market, and knows how to strike it rich. I met a guy who met Madonna and always sees her when she comes around on tour in Toronto. He takes photos of her and sells them to her cause he's a professional. He has her number and talks with her. During the Sex Book era, she called him up and asked him if he liked her sex book. And he said he was fascinated with it and actually bout 10 of them knowing it would be a collector's item. She was shocked he did it, but it happens to be a big seller on ebay. Something which was once 50-60 dollars can now go for 300.... Im a big fan and i don't even have the book. | |
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I don't have the book either. I was 14 when it came out, so with the inability to buy it, and the fact that it sold out so quickly, I saw it 5 years later in a library. I don't think it gets credit for how funny it is. It's just as much an exploration of nudity as it is sex, but since they've become synonymous in our society, the oohs and aahs get going. After all these years, it's interesting how people can pretend to be horrified by this or Janet's breast, with all the sexual innuendo that we live with in America. When someone refelects the things we consume right back at us, how can there be a backlash? | |
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a very bold move on Madonna's part. one that i think didn't pay off at first but it does now. She exploring things that others were not. The sound on the album she went for a very gritty underground sound, away from the polish of previous albums.
Sex itself i think is great. THe photography is great. The writing is the way i like my Madge... tougne in Cheek. Most people i don't think even read it they just got stuck on the pictures. It was one of the last photoshoots for the late great Gay Porn Star Joey Steffano. I love the inclusion of the BDSM scene. the picture of her and the cross and candles is my favorite in the book. The Girlie SHow was just as phenomonal as the Sex book and no one thought she'd be able to sell out a tour after that book. guess she proved them wrong. great period in her life... i think she realizes she did it for the wrong reasons now, but she has stated that she does not regert it. You CANNOT use the name of God, or religion, to justify acts of violence, to hurt, to hate, to discriminate- Madonna
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jayaredee said: Heiress said: Madonna has a knack for more than mere survival - she always comes back out on top! If anything can be said about Madonna, she's a very intelligent business woman. She has her ups and downs like all businesses, but she knows how to come out on top. Her ear is always to the floor. As a college business student, it's just amazing watching her and looking back in her career to see what she did and how she did it. Madonna knows her market, and knows how to strike it rich. I met a guy who met Madonna and always sees her when she comes around on tour in Toronto. He takes photos of her and sells them to her cause he's a professional. He has her number and talks with her. During the Sex Book era, she called him up and asked him if he liked her sex book. And he said he was fascinated with it and actually bout 10 of them knowing it would be a collector's item. She was shocked he did it, but it happens to be a big seller on ebay. Something which was once 50-60 dollars can now go for 300.... Im a big fan and i don't even have the book. I'm feeling incredibly lucky now that I managed to see a copy of it at all! Especially overseas. Your friend must have some tales to tell... | |
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WhamBamGlamSlam said: I don't have the book either. I was 14 when it came out, so with the inability to buy it, and the fact that it sold out so quickly, I saw it 5 years later in a library. I don't think it gets credit for how funny it is. It's just as much an exploration of nudity as it is sex, but since they've become synonymous in our society, the oohs and aahs get going. After all these years, it's interesting how people can pretend to be horrified by this or Janet's breast, with all the sexual innuendo that we live with in America. When someone refelects the things we consume right back at us, how can there be a backlash?
I found the Janet scandal beyond ludicrous. Nudity is so commonplace in Europe. | |
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ehuffnsd said: a very bold move on Madonna's part. one that i think didn't pay off at first but it does now. She exploring things that others were not. The sound on the album she went for a very gritty underground sound, away from the polish of previous albums.
Sex itself i think is great. THe photography is great. The writing is the way i like my Madge... tougne in Cheek. Most people i don't think even read it they just got stuck on the pictures. It was one of the last photoshoots for the late great Gay Porn Star Joey Steffano. I love the inclusion of the BDSM scene. the picture of her and the cross and candles is my favorite in the book. The Girlie SHow was just as phenomonal as the Sex book and no one thought she'd be able to sell out a tour after that book. guess she proved them wrong. great period in her life... i think she realizes she did it for the wrong reasons now, but she has stated that she does not regert it. Have you read much Camille Paglia? She's of Italian origin, lesbian and raised Catholic like Madonna, and gets really enthusiastic about Madonna's use of Catholic symbolisms (which she qualifies as belonging to a deeper timeless & pagan tradition). | |
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I'm not sure what all the fuss was over the book -- other than it seemed to be expensive at the time. It really got a bad rap and, in my opinion didn't deserve it. Not that it was a great literary classic, but why "shoot the messenger"... right?
My roommate, at the time, got one and I remember them flying-off the shelves! I think it was exciting to see what the book would have in it, after all the hype it had garnered even before it was released. (A coffee table book?!?!) I think people did exactly what Madonna had expected with the book. They bought it to SEE the kinky, human nature side she was expressing. After all, people were curious to see celebrities (Madoona, Naomi Campbell, Vanilla Ice, and Daddy Kane) without clothes!!! The thing Madonna didn't expect was the backlash that came afterwards. Why? I am not sure... but keep in mind the political ebb & flow of conservatism at the time and what else was going on in the world at the time. Had she released it later (after Clinton was in office awhile) or it was successfully accepted, I wonder if Madonna would have had the same public regrets. Or where she'd be now in terms of spirituality and her career. Maybe things would have turned-out completely different. It just seems like people like to build celebrities up and watch as they get torn-down. This was a failed attempt, luckily for Madonna fans. [Edited 4/10/05 5:10am] | |
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