Apples388 Posted December 2, 2014 Share Posted December 2, 2014 (Sorry but this piece by QUEEN Claire Cohen needs its own thread. ) http://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/womens-life/11267514/Madonna-topless-photos-are-a-triumph-for-women.html Madonna's topless photos are a triumph for all women - whatever their age Madonna, the 'Queen of Pop', has posed topless for a fashion magazine at - shock, horror - the age of 56. Claire Cohen applauds her decision and explains why it's a truly powerful statement for all women. By Claire Cohen 11:12AM GMT 02 Dec 2014 327 Comments First came Keira Knightley’s breasts. Then Kim Kardashian’s bottom. And now? Madonna’s nipples. There’s no denying it. The last few weeks have seen the cup of celebrity naked flesh runneth over. And I’m not even talking about that jungle reality show. Today, it emerged that the ‘Queen of Pop’ has posed, topless, for a spread in the December issue of Interview magazine. Wearing a bustier and leather glove, she reclines on a satin cushion, her hand to her forehead, her boobs bared. It’s styled as a romantic image – very different to the black and white Knightley shot (which appeared in the same publication back in September), where she stared confidently down the camera, hands on hips. At the time, I wrote a piece defending Knightley’s right to be photographed topless. It was, I said, a feminist statement from a woman who’d been roundly criticised for having her modest cleavage digitally enhanced on film posters. Here she was, in all her natural glory. Hur-rah. Related Articles Madonna poses topless at 56 01 Dec 2014 Keira’s topless shoot: 'powerful and feminist' 29 Aug 2014 Woman bares bum. Internet eats itself 12 Nov 2014 What painting naked women has taught me 22 Oct 2014 Her detractors didn’t agree. Who, they cried, wanted to see the actresses ‘fried eggs’? Some, unkind, commentators referred to her appearance in the Pirates of the Caribbean film ‘Dead Man’s Chest’. Now, just weeks later, Madonna is under fire for committing the same offence. How dare she? At 56, no less. I’d wager you won’t see a report today that doesn’t mention her age alongside her cup size. ‘Still got it!’ a few have already trilled. Groan. They’ve utterly missed the point. Madonna’s decision to pose topless has nothing to do with showing-off her wrinkle-free cleavage – nor male titillation. That she’s an older woman is powerful, yes. But, to me, it seems pretty clear that this is far from a pop star trying to prove that she’s ‘still hot’ in her fifties. Keira in Interview magazine. Photo: Patrick Demarchelier/Interview Madonna’s age is just a convenient stick to beat her with. It’s an easy reason for critics to cry ‘put ‘em away’ without, on the surface, seeming sexist. Because there’s always something, isn’t there? Always a reason that a woman’s body isn’t deemed ‘suitable’. Breasts too small a la Knightley? No thanks. A middle-aged pop star? What the hell was she thinking? Of course, Madonna is no stranger to nudity. Frankly, she’s been taking her clothes off for decades. Her decision to pose for Interview is, then, perhaps less surprising than Knightley’s. But it’s no less powerful a statement. Here is a woman still at the top of her industry, after almost 40 years. She’s weathered numerous musical trends and managed to stay relevant. Why shouldn’t she pose with her breasts exposed? After all, she pretty much started it. Indeed, just a couple of weeks ago, Madonna posted a censored topless picture of herself from the Nineties, in response to the images of Kim Kardashian’s oiled, nude backside in Paper magazine. ‘It’s confusing,’ she wrote. ‘Nipples are considered forbidden and provocative but exposing your ass is not. #flummoxed’ (sic). Here is a clear indication that Madonna knew her latest photo shoot would shock. Let’s face it, she’s saying, topless pictures of famous women always have. We might be used to seeing pictures of seeing flat chested models in fashion magazines (think Kate Moss on the beach, or backstage at a catwalk show). Photo: Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott/www.interviewmagazine.com But a model’s body is a commodity – it's the vehicle she’s using to sell products. For stars such as Madonna and Knightly, it’s different. They are selling their own image, not someone elses. Choosing to bear their breasts is a feminist statement, not a requirement. They are saying: ‘Here I am. Take me, or leave me’. Of course, Madonna and Knightley both have exceptional body types compared to us mere mortals. But, the fact remains. When it all gets too ‘real', we simply can’t handle it. There’s undeniably an element of desire wrapped-up in all this. Knightley was criticised for being ‘unfeminine’. Small boobs aren’t traditionally seen as covetable. Neither are those of an older woman. So, isn’t it a blessing that we have these strong, famous women brave enough to turn unrealistic thinking on its head and show us that the female body comes in many forms? Madonna is flying in the face of what the naked woman ‘should’ look like. She’s controlling her own image, just as she’s always done. Her attitude? Just because she’s in her fifties, why should she hide away? The sugary pink cardigan that exposes her breasts in the Interviewpicture, says it all. ‘I’m not ready to button-up like a little old lady. Thanks all the same’. We all should applaud her (preferably while wearing cut-off PVC gloves) for it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
le smoking Posted December 2, 2014 Share Posted December 2, 2014 Excellent article - and for once there was no shade about declining record sales or whatever Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flip The Switch Posted December 2, 2014 Share Posted December 2, 2014 A pleasent read. I'm shocked at how the media took it with this photoshoot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madonnasuperfan01 Posted December 2, 2014 Share Posted December 2, 2014 Excellent article - and for once there was no shade about declining record sales or whatever THIS! Great to see an positive article without some passive agressive remark. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GregVsMatt Posted December 2, 2014 Share Posted December 2, 2014 Very good read - except the topless photo M posted on instagram was from 2012 not the 90s lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Humberto77rj Posted December 2, 2014 Share Posted December 2, 2014 Are those boring ladies from the view and the talk laready bashing her for the photos??!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TRVC Posted December 2, 2014 Share Posted December 2, 2014 waiting for that drag queen wendy williams to bash her and start crying Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cosmic_system Posted December 3, 2014 Share Posted December 3, 2014 waiting for that drag queen wendy williams to bash her and start crying She actually was very positive about it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IsaacHarris Posted December 3, 2014 Share Posted December 3, 2014 Madonna IS every woman. It's all in her. Anything you want done baby, she does it naturally. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VeronicaElectronica Posted December 3, 2014 Share Posted December 3, 2014 Are those boring ladies from the view and the talk laready bashing her for the photos??!!!! Sharon was saying stuff about how she is doing because she feels insecure in this current POP climate and showed a picture of Donatella claiming it was Madonna's before photoshop pictures. But Sara was like "no, it's not about being insecure because she's always expressed herself like this" and the other ladies were positive about it with Aisha saying that she looks better than most 36 year olds. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Butter9 Posted December 3, 2014 Share Posted December 3, 2014 I love the positivity of this article. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lightsight Posted December 3, 2014 Share Posted December 3, 2014 The Cunt Sharon Osbourne views on Madonna going topless https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SS-ShY_MPqo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FreeMySoul Posted December 3, 2014 Share Posted December 3, 2014 Sharon is reductive Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrokenButterfly Posted December 3, 2014 Share Posted December 3, 2014 The Queen stirring up positive controversy. Screw off, ageists. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt Posted December 3, 2014 Share Posted December 3, 2014 I think even at The Talk the reaction was not negative. I read some newspaper here in Germany and the reaction was positive mostly. All the signs for the next era are good. Maybe people will be more into Madonna this time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moniquearis Posted December 3, 2014 Share Posted December 3, 2014 Starts at 16:25 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UNETA1PkQiw Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
qans1990 Posted December 3, 2014 Share Posted December 3, 2014 Great article, thanks for posting!! Disappointed in Annie Lennox's comments, but she's entitled to her opinion I suppose... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elijah Posted December 3, 2014 Share Posted December 3, 2014 Hope there are preROL vibrations in the air!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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