MadonnaNation.com - Articles and Essays

An In-Depth Analysis of
the "Deeper and Deeper" Video

written by F*ck Buddy

"Our idols and demons will pursue us until we learn to let them go."

Madonna comments on her own substance as an idol and her personal perception of what an idol really means to her. Through the imagery of this video -- which i personally regard as one of her most intimate and artistically challenged works to date -- Madonna states her perception of her idolized self in connection to the only person she has ever idolized: her mother. For that cause, she uses the artistic and visual vocabulary that Andy Warhol has articulated through his own artistic conception.

In many ways, Madonna and Warhol have a lot in common. Beinng raised in a strictly Catholic environment, children of families whose roots derived from other countries (Italy for Madonna, Chechoslovakia for Warhol), they both experienced the difficulties of someone feeling as if he or she does not belong to the country he or she was being raised to. They both have built strong bondage with their mothers, which is quite natural: Christian religion is based on the relation of children with their mothers.

They both moved to new york and experienced hard life in the big city. And then they both bacame famous.

Fame is the curse that inspired their artistic integrity. The "Deeper and Deeper" video storyline underlines their parallel lives.

Balloons: Warhol filled an entire space with balloons and created one of his most celebrated installation works. Madonna uses balloons in order to keep in touch with her past and her religious/family values. Balloons in "Deeper and Deeper" are Madonna's only connection to the purity of her childhood, which is signified through her mother's substance.

In this video, Madonna impersonates Edie Sedgwick, Warhol's muse. Edie was supposed to be Warhol's alter ego. Madonna becomes Edie thus adopting Warhol's persona herself. By becoming edie, Madonna tranforms herself to Warhol.

Drag queens such as Ingrid Superstar and Ultra Violet were regulars to the factory environment. Madonna uses transvestites to signify her own relation to drag culture and her substance as a woman that acts as if she was a drag queen herself.

Men and women eat bananas, thus signifying Warhol's artwork for the Velvet Underground album cover.

Joe Dallesandro was Warhol's male muse in regards of sexual allure. Madonna kisses a Joe Dallesandro lookalike at some point throughout the video. Madonna thus becomes Warhol's alter ego and signifies Warhol's desire to have a sexual connection with the object of his artistry. Through Madonna/Edie, the artist and his muse finally express their mutual sexual desire.

Madonna's images appear in a repetitive manner. Film negatives of Madonna appear the one after the other. Warhol used repetition as a mode to underline the essence of fame. The repetition of madonna shots signifies the repetition of any person that has displayed its personal integrity for the sake of popular demand. Madonna's repetitive images belong to the people that view them, and not to herself. A celebrity's image is an image foreign to the person that carries it.

The priest signifies her mother. Having lost her mother, Madonna sticked to her mother's religion in order to keep in touch with the person that represented her love to people. Warhol loved his mother in such a way that he kept her close to him until the day she died. For both artists, mother's death is a pivotal point in their lives and their artistry.

For both Madonna and Warhol, their mothers are an idol and a demon. By letting the ballon fly into the sky, Madonna states that she has to let go of the past (the priest) and go on with her life.

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	An In-Depth Analysis of the "Deeper and Deeper" Video written by *Fck Buddy** "Our idols and demons will pursue us until we learn to let them go." Madonna comments on her own substance as an idol and her personal perception of what an idol really means to her. Through the imagery of this video -- which i personally regard as one of her most intimate and artistically challenged works to date -- Madonna states her perception of her idolized self in connection to the only person she has ever idolized: her mother. For that cause, she uses the artistic and visual vocabulary that Andy Warhol has articulated through his own artistic conception. In many ways, Madonna and Warhol have a lot in common. Beinng raised in a strictly Catholic environment, children of families whose roots derived from other countries (Italy for Madonna, Chechoslovakia for Warhol), they both experienced the difficulties of someone feeling as if he or she does not belong to the country he or she was being raised to. They both have built strong bondage with their mothers, which is quite natural: Christian religion is based on the relation of children with their mothers. They both moved to new york and experienced hard life in the big city. And then they both bacame famous. Fame is the curse that inspired their artistic integrity. The "Deeper and Deeper" video storyline underlines their parallel lives. Balloons: Warhol filled an entire space with balloons and created one of his most celebrated installation works. Madonna uses balloons in order to keep in touch with her past and her religious/family values. Balloons in "Deeper and Deeper" are Madonna's only connection to the purity of her childhood, which is signified through her mother's substance. In this video, Madonna impersonates Edie Sedgwick, Warhol's muse. Edie was supposed to be Warhol's alter ego. Madonna becomes Edie thus adopting Warhol's persona herself. By becoming edie, Madonna tranforms herself to Warhol. Drag queens such as Ingrid Superstar and Ultra Violet were regulars to the factory environment. Madonna uses transvestites to signify her own relation to drag culture and her substance as a woman that acts as if she was a drag queen herself. Men and women eat bananas, thus signifying Warhol's artwork for the Velvet Underground album cover. Joe Dallesandro was Warhol's male muse in regards of sexual allure. Madonna kisses a Joe Dallesandro lookalike at some point throughout the video. Madonna thus becomes Warhol's alter ego and signifies Warhol's desire to have a sexual connection with the object of his artistry. Through Madonna/Edie, the artist and his muse finally express their mutual sexual desire. Madonna's images appear in a repetitive manner. Film negatives of Madonna appear the one after the other. Warhol used repetition as a mode to underline the essence of fame. The repetition of madonna shots signifies the repetition of any person that has displayed its personal integrity for the sake of popular demand. Madonna's repetitive images belong to the people that view them, and not to herself. A celebrity's image is an image foreign to the person that carries it. The priest signifies her mother. Having lost her mother, Madonna sticked to her mother's religion in order to keep in touch with the person that represented her love to people. Warhol loved his mother in such a way that he kept her close to him until the day she died. For both artists, mother's death is a pivotal point in their lives and their artistry. For both Madonna and Warhol, their mothers are an idol and a demon. By letting the ballon fly into the sky, Madonna states that she has to let go of the past (the priest) and go on with her life. Back to Articles & Essays