Madonna: Intelligent Artist for All Time

Way back in the 1980's, when the woman and phenomenon known simply as "Madonna" first came on the scene, she was dismissed as nothing more than fluff, a "bimbo" who's provocative antics were considered racy in the Reagan era. She was accused by critics of using her sexuality as a cover up, a selling tool for supposed lack of talent.

In true Madonna style, she ignored the criticism, and went to work on developing not only her image, but artistic craft, setting out on a fateful journey that influenced millions and changed the world of pop culture forever. Madonna's Like a Prayer album, along with the Blonde Ambition World Tour, was the turning point for Madge, crossing the queen of pop over the threshold to legit artisan.

Madonna, in comparison to today's headlining acts, was and still is ahead of her time. This is not just from her innate ability to connect with the right people that helped to make her a success, or her steel will, not to mention devoted fans buying two hundred million of her albums and attended her concerts, but from her intelligence, ability and individually unique artistic style.

Madonna has influenced today's pop-stars, with the skill to market herself as a product while maintaining an edge, yet it is her experiences and sense of the world, art, fashion, drama and most importantly her intellect that make Madonna not just a superstar, but an artist provocateur. Madonna is a classically trained dancer, and lived in the art capitol of the world, soaking up New York culture back at a formidable age when she was intelligent enough to absorb everything around her.