Below Patricia and Kirsten call me out for insulting Madonna's literary abilities. I think they're right. I have no evidence that Ms. Ciccone is not a brilliant writer of prose. Hell, she was admitted to the University of Michigan for her undergraduate degree (albeit in dance and one she didn't finish) which is more than I can say for my 17 year-old brain.
However, I just get really annoyed with public figures who decide that their fame should allow them to enter into whatever market they want. I like a lot of Madonna's music. I saw her in concert when I was 15 years-old fer crying out loud. I don't, however, like any of Madonna's films. Okay, even that's not true. I love "Desperately Seeking Susan" but for an unusual reason. I saw that movie in the theatre with my friend Mark Mortenson. Mark later took his own life. That movie is the only momento of our friendship that I was able to keep. But I digress...
I'm all for being able to do what makes you happy. However, just because you're successful in one field shouldn't mean you get an immediate pass into another field just because of your name. Madonna can sing. Madonna can dance. Madonna can't act but she'll continue to get roles because she's Madonna. I'm shocked and dismayed to discover, in fact, that she's in the upcoming Peter Greenaway film. One of my favorite directors and Madonna. Great.
If Madonna was really serious about writing children's books then she should have written one and shopped it around to the various publishing houses. Instead she's being given carte blache for five books with the Madonna name attached.
Posted by mikewolf at March 04, 2003 10:58 AMI agree with you Mike. I'm pretty open minded. I am of the opinion "live and let live". But just because you are who you are doesn't make you an expert on something. I guess we'll just have to wait and see how good the books are when they finally come out in the book stores.
Have you seen some of the books out there for kids lately...why just the other day I almost picked up a copy of "Edgar the Amazing Farting Dog" for my friends little girl...but then decided against it.
Lovin' you Mike.
Posted by: Cassie on March 4, 2003 11:33 AMMaybe Madonna should blog for a little while....
"Edgar TAFD" sounds like a keeper. I'd file that next to the other reading matter we keep by the throne: "Everyone Poops" & "The Gas We Pass - The Story of Farts."
Posted by: deano on March 4, 2003 12:07 PMit's all about what sells i suppose. we can rage against that but things aren't likely to change. bottom line though is that if the books are crap even her name won't save them. her latest movie is proof enough of that. so we can take heart in the fact that the general public can at least be a little more discerning than the people coming up with these deals. (sometimes anyway. i'm still trying to figure out why people were so fascinated by joe millionaire.)
Posted by: patricia on March 4, 2003 12:32 PMMadonna in a Peter Greenaway film. Noooo! I wish she would stick to her music career.
Posted by: ssg on March 4, 2003 01:07 PMI'm torn on this subject. I believe I have the abilities in me to succeed in several different arenas and I would love to try my hand at each. But the reality is that, being a nobody, I wouldn't get very far. If I had a name to cash in on, I can't say that I wouldn't do so.
I guess I'm thinking of something I saw one of your other favorite actresses do... Julia Roberts went to Mongolia, lived among nomadic herders for a short while (maybe just a week or so) and narrated a film about them. I thought it was facinating, not because it was Julia, but because of the subject matter. That's exactly the kind of thing I'd love to do, but nobody would let me do it.
Posted by: Meredith on March 4, 2003 02:35 PMi agree with you, mark. some people never even get ONE CHANCE at anything while others get millions. and they can even suck at some of them and get another chance. and another. and another.
i was pissed when i heard the news too. and BELIEVE ME, i will read them and they BETTER NOT SUCK. or i will piss and moan about it for weeks.
the rich get richer and the poor. well, you know my thoughts on that...
xoxo, jared
Posted by: the evil queen on March 4, 2003 02:56 PMhi. i am a dumbass. you know i meant MIKE, but i was doing an expense report at the same time i'm catching up on my reading and i obviously shouldn't do 2 things at once. i mispelled "mark" too. it should be "marc". my old boss. the asshole. he still haunts me.
i'm sorry for the typo. please forgive me.
xoxo, whatshername
Posted by: the evil queen on March 4, 2003 03:31 PMI stumble across things like this in my line of work *all* the time. If I see one more former beauty queen or playboy playmate get an anchoring job, I'll barf.
I can deal with the former athletes getting sports anchoring jobs... because, though I can say I know more about broadcasting than they do, I can't say I know more about sports than they do.
As for Madonna, I have to say, I'd rather she was writing kids' books than, say, Michael Jackson....
well said, mike.
Posted by: nikki g. on March 5, 2003 10:13 AM