Farrah Fawcett and Madonna: Shear Forces in Directing Change

TWO OF THE BIGGEST INFLUENCERS FROM THE '70S AND '80S Written by Alison Stecker, Culture Staff Writer Graphic by Emma Gray, Arts Curator TW: Discussion of media depictions of sexual assault.

From Lady Gaga’s “Born This Way” to the all-female reboots of “Charlie’s Angels,” Madonna and Farrah Fawcett have been pivotal forces in paving the way for future artists. Everything from music to fashion to social movements is recycled from past decades, and there’s no doubt that these stars’ work continues to resonate today. Let’s dive into two of the biggest influencers of the ‘70s and ‘80s and explore their current relevance.

The 1970s: Farrah Fawcett’s feathered hair and all-American charm

You may know her from “Charlie’s Angels” or “The Return of Daisy Miller,” but Fawcett is more than a pretty face on a screen. A five-time-Golden Globe nominee, she’s a role model for women who’ve been typecast or outcasted by society.1 Unlike most ‘70s pop stars who were notoriously interested in sex, drugs and politics, Fawcett embodied the values of an “all-American girl.”2 She single-handedly boosted the hairdressing industry with her infamous long, feathered cut.3 This flirtatious, face-framing trend is reemerging today with a curtain bang twist.

Fawcett may seem like an unlikely addition to the feminist movement, but she pushed gender barriers in the movie “Extremities,” where she played a rape victim who attacks her rapist.4 Her role embodied victim empowerment and made it more socially ac-

¹ “Awards - Farrah Fawcett,” IMDB, accessed Oct. 2021. ² Gregory Curtis, “How Farrah Fawcett Changed the World,” Texas Monthly, April 1982. ³ Mary McNamara, “Fawcett Leaves a Legacy Larger than Her Roles,” Los Angeles Times, Sept. 16, 2014. ⁴ Ibid. ceptable for survivors to unite against their oppressors.5 Fawcett embraced shifts in how women were portrayed by the media and perceived in society, inspiring young women to pursue roles outside of stereotypical jobs.

Fawcett’s legacy lives on in the all-female “Charlie’s Angels” reboots as well. The modern remakes star famous actresses like Drew Barrymore, Cameron Diaz, Kristen Stewart and Naomi Scott,6 offering a more diverse array of women who encourage viewers to embrace their own strength and power. Fawcett’s influence will live on through her iconic looks and contributions to the way women’s issues were represented in the media.

The 1980s: Madonna’s high notes and change-making activism

Madonna has always used music to expose political issues and promote female sexuality and womanhood, culminating in her win of two Golden Globes, five Grammys and seven VMA awards.7 She was a strong supporter of women’s rights and various social movements.8

However, Madonna has served as both a cultural provocateur and a cultural appropriator.9 In her “Like a Prayer” music video, she runs into a church after witnessing white men assaulting a white woman. She orgasms in the church before testifying on behalf of a Black male who was wrongful-

⁵ Ibid. ⁶ Johanna Schneller, “Charlie’s Angels Then and Now,” Everything Zoomer, Nov. 15, 2019. ⁷ “Awards - Madonna,” IMDB, accessed Oct. 2021. ⁸ Gabriela Jimenez, “Madonna: Much more than just the Queen of Pop,” NO MAJESTY, Oct. 6, 2020. ⁹ “60 Times Madonna Changed Our Culture,” The New York Times, Aug. 16, 2018. ly convicted for the crime.10 Although her message about systemic racism had good intentions, the scene was not properly executed and led to the cancellation of her 1989 Pepsi ad.11 In this way, Madonna spoke both to the important activism efforts made in the music industry and to the lengths that white artists, like herself, still had to go to actually aid in intersectional activism. In fact, today we note that activists outside of an experience or identity should uplift voices and create a space for others’ authentic experiences rather than appropriating or acting as a savior.

Asserting sex in society and normalizing nudity was one of Madonna’s most famous missions. In her MTV “Like A Virgin” performance, she rolled around in a wedding dress to unapologetically juxtapose female sexuality and purity culture.12 The star also worked to change the way society perceives female nudity in her photoshoot for “Sex,” where she focused the camera on her character to center around personal confidence instead of just sexual lure.13

Fawcett and Madonna are associated primarily with their impacts on the music and modeling worlds, but their influence on America’s culture should not go unrecognized. Within their careers, these icons experienced a lot of sexism—something that still impacts their industry successors today. By recognizing them as cultural icons in a variety of ways, we can appreciate how the molds they broke have allowed for the continued liberation of women today. ■

10 Ibid 11 Ibid. 12 Ibid. 13 “Pepsi Cancels Madonna Ad,” The New York Times, April 5, 1989.