Madonna - Material Girl (Official Music Video)

This is a clear example of intertextuality being used within the music video industry. This technique of bridging outer material with an artists work creates a cleverly amusing and playful addition for the market audience, allowing them to feel a stronger connection to the music and have a greater appreciation for the themes of the song, or style and genre. Here the intertextual reference is to the film 'Gentlemen prefer blond's' where Marilyn Monroe sings the famous song 'Diamonds are a girls best friend' song which of course is a perfect match for the lyrical messages being displayed in this song - which is based around femininity, materialism & desirable wealth in the modern age. Madonna (under the instruction Sire Records and producer Nile Rodgers) attempts to copy the mis en scene of the film & presents this generic hollywood stereotype - this wealth absorbed, materialistic, blonde, sexy, ditzy actress. The mimicked performance copying the 1953 song intercuts with the director attempting to win the girls heart, this idea that the penniless man can win this famous actress (who Madonna plays) creates a sense of the star image that Madonna is trying to put across. Madonna as an artists is seen to be autonomous and diverse in her productions and ideals, and holds a powerful place within her industry as quite a controversial, independent women - something clearly displayed by the irony produced by this intertextual link.