For the 1980s, there certainly was no shortage of megastars. I would like to focus on Madonna though, as I think that she has a very unique image for the time period. In class we focused on her music video Like a Prayer and when it came out, it was quite controversial. I think it was a very bold move for her to make the comparisons to religion and sex, and obviously, many more people had similar thoughts. Madonna challenged, in my opinion, many social norms and was successful in her endeavor. Yes, many people did not like it, but it was popular and talked about. I honestly think that is one of the biggest strengths of Madonna, to take on issues that might otherwise tank someone’s career and turn it into something to help her. The strong feminist influences are another large part of Madonna in general. Yes, she sings about sex and other subjects that might otherwise paint women in a negative light, but I think it is more about what she wants and the way that she portrays it. I think that Madonna’s image of a strong modern woman in pop culture has made huge influences. I can see aspects of someone like Madonna in many newer artists, a leading example in my opinion is Lady Gaga. Specifically, with things like clothing/fashion choices, personality traits, and of course, music. Really, the impact that Madonna had in pop culture makes her one of the most known artists in the world, and it can be seen everywhere.