The document discusses Rihanna as a postmodern artist. It notes that with her large social media presence and willingness to reference controversies in her music videos, she blurs lines between music and celebrity. The document also analyzes her controversial music video for "S&M" which was banned in some countries for its references to BDSM and sexuality. It argues that Rihanna fits the definition of postmodernism by distorting views of what is acceptable and challenging expectations of artists and celebrities.

1. ISRag‟e Ali
RIHANNA POSTMODERN?
By

2. How did music become so
postmodern?
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With a growing connection to media outlets –
particularly social networks – most celebrities
feel that they can use these new platforms to
draw awareness to something at the forefront
of they‟re attention, for example in the S&M
video Rihanna directly references the theme of
articles written about her (inter texuality). In
summary it could be said that celebrities are
blurring the hyper texual lines of music and
celebrity.

3. Rihanna: the controversial
queen
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Rihanna is arguably one of the most controversial
artists in pop culture at the moment. With her being
the first artist to have a billion views on video sharing
site, VEVO – it‟s clear that she is at the forefront of
pop culture
Her video video banned in 11 countries may not have
been the Barbadian pop star‟s goal, Rihanna
seemingly welcomed the fanfare and controversy
surrounding the video.”
“The controversies surrounding these highly visible
stars and the images they put forth in their videos
have led to countless discussions amongst fans and
journalists about just what counts as indecent in a
culture that has seemingly grown numb to the shock

4. Lyrics of the song
Rihanna straight away gives a glint of her rebellious attitude with the opening line. I think that the inter textual reference to
her being „bad‟ is effective because Rihanna was making a real attempt to stay away from being a role model and many
critics say said that she should‟ve kept it clean due to a considerable proportion of her fanbase being young and
impressionable, but Rihanna pushes the boundaries again
Na na na
Come on
Na na na
Come on
Na na na na
na
Come on
Na na na
Come on
Come on
Come on
Na na na na
Come on
Na na na
Come on
Na na na na
na
Come on
Na na na
Come on
Come on
Come on
Na na na na
Feels so good being
bad
There's no way I'm
turning back
Now the pain is my
pleasure
Cause nothing could
measure
Love is great, love is
fine
Out the box, out of line
The affliction of the
feeling
Leaves me wanting
more
[Chorus x2:]
Love is great, love is fine
Cause I may be bad
Out the box, out of line
But I'm perfectly good at it
The affliction of the feeling
Sex in the air
Leaves me wanting more
I don't care
I love the smell of it
[Chorus:]
Sticks and stones
Cause I may be bad
May break my bones
But I'm perfectly good at it
But chains and whips
Sex in the air
Excite me
I don't care
*GOES BACK TO NA NA NA*
I love the smell of it
Sticks and stones
May break my bones
But chains and whips
Excite me
*GOES BACK TO NA NA NA*
She directly references sexual
acts, once again emphasising her
status as a controversial artist

5. Lyrics continued….
S...S...S
Cause I may be bad
S...S...S
But I'm perfectly good atAnd
it
And M...M...M
Sex in the air
M...M...M
S...S...S
I don't care
S...S...S
And M...M...M
I love the smell of it
And
Oh
Sticks and stones
M...M...M
S...S...S
I love the feeling May break my bones
But chains and whips And
You bring to me
Excite me
M...M...M
Oh, you turn me on *GOES BACK TO INTRO*
S...S...S
It's exactly what
And
M...M...M
I've been yearning for
Give it to me strong
And meet me in my
Boudoir
Make my body say
ah, ah,
Ah
I like it
Like it
Rihanna could be said
to be postmodernism
because there‟s no
clear image with
her, distorting our view
of acceptable and non
acceptable

7. Goodwin‟s view of a music video
(applied to S&M)
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Andrew Goodwin identifies 5 key aspects of
music videos that we as an audience should
look out for:
Thought beats – seeing the sound
Narrative and performance
The star image
Relations of video to song
Technical aspects of music video

8. Strengths

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Everything is face value
She fits into

9. Conclusion: she is post modern!

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She fits into Andrew Goodwin
She fits into the basic convention
How would you describe Rihanna?
The meeting point of high
culture with pop culture