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Al Barger and MoreThings - getting people's goats since 1998.
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March 28, 2004
Madonna the "auteur" aka Jill of all trades
Some people come up with a lot of silly arguments to puff up the artistic significance of Madonna. The most common one is invocation of the word "auteur." For example, Eric Olsen says "Whatever her status as a "musician," she is an auteur and has always been in charge of her own music and career."
Obviously, being an "auteur" is really impressive, since it's a French word (as is "bidet"), but I'm not particularly impressed. What it really means here is basically that she does a whole bunch of things.
That is exactly her biggest artistic problem. She's diluted her energies and talents into a whole bunch of half-assed directions rather than concentrating on MUSIC.
I don't care about her wardrobe, all those expensive videos, the Sex book, every kind of cheap feminist posing, public statements, sexual provocations- nor will anyone else 50 years from now- much less her "acting." She's been in charge of her own career? Good for her, but that doesn't make her a great artist.
I put more stock artistically in the Monkees. Like Madonna, they're a manufactured pop construct. However, they had a better concentration on actual music. The members of the group may have been making their silly television show, and other people were working full time on pimping out their name and image every direction.
The songwriters, however, were sitting in the Brill Building writing songs. They weren't spending their days trying on new outfits, shooting cheesy videos, or conjuring up cheap PR stunts. The principle musicians concentrated on MAKING MUSIC.
Now, Madonna has (or had) some talents as a songwriter, or perhaps it was Patrick Leonard, who used to be her songwriting collaborator. Either way, somebody was writing real songs for awhile there. They were never up to best Tin Pan Alley standards- particularly in the critical area of MELODY- but they did some outstanding work. However, I haven't heard anything that sounds like a real song since the underappreciated Dick Tracy album.
When does she have time to make music? She's got to whip up a kiddie book, make out with Britney, and plant some stories about her deep, profound spiritual interest in the Kabala.
In short, she's the Jack of all trades, and master of none. She was never as talented as the Brill Building masters to start with, but she has long since abdicated any status she may have had as a significant musical act. She's just too busy being.
Olsen also says, "I like the Monkees just fine, but Madonna is in another universe of significance altogether. The fact that most of her music is derived from dance music styles in no way reduces her importance. Madonna will be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as soon as she is eligible - the Monkees aren't and never will be (for what that's worth)."
Madonna will certainly be in the Hall of Fame and the Monkees might never be, but that's reflective of the prejudices of the voters rather than any statement about their actual recorded art.
My objection isn't that Madonna's worked in dance rhythms. Hey, so have James Brown and Prince and Sly Stone- all totally worthy Hall of Fame members. They're just a lot better than Madonna on every artistic level. Prince in particular has been something of an auteur as well, making movies and working out fancy dance steps- but he's never spread himself nearly as thin as Madonna, nor let those other things detract from his MUSIC.
By the way, I'm not on any crusade for the Monkees particularly- they just make a good counter example for argument's sake. I will, however, say that on the basis of the actual recorded music, they deserve entry well ahead of many who are there now. The Dells, for example, from the current class- I wouldn't trade every song I've ever heard from them for "Last Train to Clarksville." You may wish to emphasize the contributions of Neil Diamond and Goffin/King over the nominal group members, but then likewise with, say, the Motown groups. SOMEBODY there did exceptional work.
In short, judge the artist by the actual art, not some ephemeral personnae. The songs, records, books- those are the things to judge.
Putting aside all the irrelevant crapola, Madonna's actual records, movies and books collectively aren't that big a deal artistically. Some of the early records were pretty good, but song for song she's barely competitive with the Monkees. She's nowhere even in a league with serious artists like Prince or the Beatles.
posted by Al at 3/28/2004 11:09:00 PM
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