This document analyzes motifs and controversial aspects in Madonna's "Like a Prayer" music video. It identifies three key motifs: the use of fire when Madonna stands by burning crucifixes, the depiction of a mythical place through forest scenery, and scenes of ritual celebration and dancing. Two controversial aspects are highlighted: Madonna appearing to receive stigmata cuts on her palms and dancing in front of burning crucifixes. The document also explains how lyrics from the song inform the narrative of the music video, such as Madonna literally falling into heaven and being on her knees praying.

1. Planning- Analysis of Madonna
By Danny Watts

2. Motifs in the Music Video:
• One of the first Motifs that can be seen in Madonna’s “Like a
Prayer” music video is the use of fire.
• This can be seen when Madonna stands in front of three
burning crucifixes.
• The us of fire, as a motif, can be seen in many music videos.
• Below is an image of Madonna in
the “Like a Prayer” music video,
demonstrating this motif.

3. Motifs in the Music Video:
• Another Motif that can be seen in Madonna’s “Like a prayer”
music video is the use of a mythical place, although it is
disputed as to whether Heaven is a mythical place or not.
• The use of forestry scene's in music videos or use special
effects can be utilized to create a mythical or mysterious place
within a music video.
• Once again this is another common
motif within Music Videos and this
is an image of this motif in Madonna’s
“Like a prayer” music video.

4. Motifs in the Music Video:
• One final Motif that can be seen in Madonna’s “Like a prayer”
music videos is the use of ritual celebration.
• Ritual celebration is usually when members of the music video
can be seen dancing, or celebrating together. This motif is
commonly used in music videos today, particularly as people
today, more so, are going out to parties and clubs.
• This is an image of ritual
celebration within the “Like a Prayer”
Music Video.

5. Aspects of Controversy:
• One aspect of controversy within Madonna’s Like a Prayer can
be seen when she picks up a knife and it leaves a cut on both
of her palms. In religious terms it is clear that this was done to
represent Stigmata, meaning touched by God. This would
have been seen as controversial to Christian viewers as it
would have been viewed as blasphemy and therefore highly
offensive.

6. Aspects of Controversy:
• Another controversial aspect of Madonna’s Like A Prayer
music video can be seen when she dances in front of burning
crucifixes. This would have been highly offensive, especially to
Christians who would have seen this as distrustful to their
religion as she was burning a symbol of their faith.

7. How the lyrics inform the narrative:
• The first example of how the lyrics inform the narrative of the
Music Video can be seen when Madonna sings:
I hear your voice, it's like an angel sighing
I have no choice, I hear your voice
Feels like flying
I close my eyes, Oh God I think I'm falling
Out of the sky, I close my eyes
Heaven help me
• These lyrics are clearly informing the narrative as in the music
video Madonna is literally “falling” into “heaven” as shown
through the use of CGI to project the image of clouds,
representing Heaen.

8. How the lyrics inform the narrative:
• Secondly another example of how the lyrics inform the
narrative of the Music Video can be seen when Madonna
sings:
I'm down on my knees,
I wanna take you there
In the midnight hour I can feel your power
• These lyrics are clearly informing the
narrative as in the music video Madonna is literally on her
knees and praying to a religious statue.