Last Saturday, Raul and I went to see Madonna in Paris. We had a great time and Madonna put on an energetic show (as always). Unfortunately she had to go and ruin the superficial fun of it by tossing in an anti-consumerism/environmental/political video towards the end of the show. Being an anti-consumerist/enviro-lefty boy, the video said all the right things but Madonna’s hypocritical actions pissed me off.
First the video shows people being mindless shoppers and yet she has countless unnecessary versions of the new CD (and singles) and tour-related merchandise for sale. Then she shows clips of climate-change damage and shows images of Al Gore. All good, right? After all, the woman participated in Live Earth last year and committed to making changes within her life.
Well, she seems to have forgotten what she said last year. The tour uses two jets, hundreds of lights, electronic gadgets, sound and video systems, and moving stage pieces (not to mention all the energy needed to support her 250 person entourage). Surely the tour consumes more energy in its short run than a whole small village in central Spain uses during a full year! There is no mention of her carbon offsetting efforts, and as one article pointed out, she could have used an enviro-friendly tour production group, but chose not to.
In the blogosphere, everyone talks about authenticity and lining your actions and words up with your values. In fact, I’ve been one of those who spout this type of thing all the time. But now I look at the Madonna concert and I wonder – does hypocrisy pay better?
For Madonna it does. She pays lip service to all the “right” things and she’s seen as a leader and a rebel without ever having to make her actions match her words.
Taking a page from her book, I could set myself up as an organizing guru, tell everyone what they are doing wrong and how to make it right and never show anything personal or admit to any mistakes. Who knows, it might make me famous – people seem to like the obnoxious voice in the crowd.
But that’s not me. I might never reach Madonna’s height of fame, but however far I go, it will be as me, authentic in everything I do, including showing instead of telling, suggesting instead of commanding, and helping others cure themselves of Someday Syndrome by exposing my own struggles on the journey.
Someday Lessons:
23 Responses to “Madonna and the Success of Hypocrisy”
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This reminds me of a quote by Emerson:
“What you do speaks so loud, that I cannot hear what you say.”
I hope that the actions I do match the words that I say. But I do wonder if that is what other see about me. Do I indeed walk the talk? I try to, but sometimes I do slip up.
This Madonna example is a perfect example of NOT backing up your words with the actions that exemplify them. And a good reminder that what people will notice more is - what we do, as opposed to what we say. And that’s important to remember. Thanks.
Lance´s last blog post..Spread Your Wings and Fly
@Lance
You’re welcome! The unfortunate thing is that we’re so marketed at that we believe the words/rumours/lies more than the actions - just look at any election campaign (there’s one in the US and another in Canada right now) to see how much the words do not match the actions - on all sides of the political spectrum.
Hmm, hypocrisy is a strong word, and I wonder whether we’re so swift to judge Madonna because a critical part of her success has been her ability to mutate her image/persona to catch the spirit of the moment, which it makes it less easy to believe that the presented image we see of her is genuine?
On the other side of the coin is the idea that she should be applauded for using her position to spread what is a critical message . . . and not criticise too much the underlying wastefulness of the exercise - if we look at it in those terms, do we really need Madonna/pop music at all? But life would perhaps be a less rich experience without it? After all, how many people will have looked at the environmental costs before deciding to buy tickets for the gig in the first place?
I’m not really coming down on one side of that argument or the other. I’ll just observe that one key message of all this ‘green agenda’ is being glossed over in so many presentations: consume less, consume only what you need. And until the message of the 80’s (Greed is Good) is turned on its head and all us closet Geckos really get that, every step in the right direction is a positive one. It’s like being in recovery. We have a consumption habit to get over.
So, although I guess there are a huge number of us out there trying to “be the change they want to see in the world” (Gandhi), so that small actions x lots of people = big change, we all fall off the wagon some time or another. Maybe we should try to help each other back on again, instead of delivering a swift kick to the ribs to the person who fell whilst they’re down.
But yes, actions speak louder than words, and values are much more clearly transmitted via what you do. It’s a good lesson, and one I need to apply more diligently (she says ruefully, thinking of this morning’s school run).
And I loved that Emerson quote. I think it’s going to go into my next sampler.
(and sorry this is so long. should’ve blogged it!)
Ellsea´s last blog post..Minor dramas and major performances
I can live with my choices. All in all, I have been very fortunate with the choices I have made in my life.
The reality is that our words and actions demonstrate, to some degree, what our true values are. When they don’t match what we say our values are, that’s hypocrisy. My words, actions and values match, as they should.
Mike Goad´s last blog post..Race Matters!
Alex,
(oh my, I almost typed in Mike)
I agree with you and at LLI I am writing - I hope- from the same position. And I have had friend readers who have commented that I don’t write from a position of authority and that it will hurt me if I want to get into coaching and teaching. That people aren’t going to want to learn from someone who is going through some of the same everyday challenges they are facing, they want someone they can look up to, someone who is up on the pedestal as having *life figured out*
And I think I have a lot of Life Lessons in my life bag, just as you do, but that doesn’t mean we have stopped being human or aren’t going to struggle and to act like we don’t or to say that every day is sunny rings false.
It’s not. Humans can’t live up to perfection.
About Madonna. Her green message is good. I don’t want her to stop spreading it. She has done a lot of good. But you are also right. And it would be interesting, I wonder if it was respectfully pointed out to her- she is an evolver-she grows and learns. I wonder if she would change?
Wendi Kelly´s last blog post..Remembering Pen Pals…
Didn’t she once sing:
’cause we are
Living in a material world
And I am a material girl
You know that we are living in a material world
And I am a material girl
Jacki Hollywood Brown´s last blog post..Learning a New Language
Hi,
Madonna’s not alone. Look at Al Gore - making money off carbon offsets, showing up for speaking engagements with a retinue of gas-guzzling Chevy Suburbans, sucking up more electricity than just about anyone in Tennessee, and on and on.
It’s just silly. A powerful message might very well be: “Yes, I’m concerned about the planet and here is where I am challenged. My thing is putting on all these big shows for all of you and I’m contributing to the environmental mess in a big way when I do it. I’ve got some ideas about that, and would love yours.”
I wonder if there’s an equally long, or longer, list of things she has done to improve her ‘green status’. Perhaps these are things she hasn’t got to yet, or are harder to make lasting change on. I have no idea either way, I’m just playing devil’s advocate here.
Either way, I’m pretty sure that like attracts like, and integrity attracts those who prefer it. So fear not, we’re with you, Alex.
James | Dancing Geek´s last blog post..The Lazy People series
I think the do-as-I-say-not-as-I-do model applies to most people, not just famous ones. Sure, we see the famous ones a little more, because they get to be in the tabloids.
Those of us who are really real are the rare ones. Not the ones who practice fake transparency to sell a product or an image, but those of us who are willing to be really human in front of our audience — whether it’s our blog readers or our families. Glad you’re among the really real, Alex, rather than the fake real.
Amy Derby´s last blog post..Punk Up Your Marketing
[...] 26, 2008 I was reading Someday Syndrome this morning, and read the Madonna article over there. I was thinking about the apparent hypocrisy of Madonna’s stage tour vs [...]
I read somewhere that since having her twins Julia Roberts has gone completely green: Prius, solar powered home, and so on. I think I would believe a message of “go green” a lot more from Julia Roberts than from Madonna. I see Madonna as equated with excess, which doesn’t sound very green to me. I guess she’s “green” when it’s convenient for her, and when it suits her image-of-the-moment, which to me is hypocrisy.
Marelisa´s last blog post..Three Awesome Productivity Tips
Alex,
Totally be you - be true to yourself. I’ve seen lots of bands (and you know I listen to some pretty weird stuff) - the ones that shoot straight are the ones that stand the test of time, in my book.
So it is with everyone.
Brett Legree´s last blog post..the thing that should not be.
Pffft. It’s pretty hard to swallow an anti-consumer message from someone who lives a life of luxury on an English estate or whatever and probably has a walk-in wardrobe bigger than my apartment full of shoes that probably each cost more than I earn in a month.
I’m an anti-consumerist/lefty enviro girl…or I try to be. Recently I realised that I’m a bit of a hypocrite myself because I rejoiced when Starbucks went close enough to belly-up in Australia and I refuse to shop at the 7Eleven…but I was buying my books at Borders! I recently joined a library, however. I love Borders and I love buying books, but gotta stand by my convictions (especially when I’ve aired them in public).
Good on you for being true to yourself, Alex.
Glee Girl from Gleeful´s last blog post..Friday Favourites - smells
Alex,
Nice post. I’m a longtime fan of the lady’s but I have to wonder at her mixed message there. Everybody’s made great points in the comments (is there just as long a list that doesn’t show is a thought that struck me, too).
It comes down to Madonna’s “brand” image. As was said, it’s tough to buy this coming from her, because she spent decades building up a very different message. Even when she got over the Material Girl stage she only moved on to the Luxe Mama stage. It doesn’t sound terribly authentic.
She’s got a very loud bullhorn, but she’d have to make radical, public shifts over quite a long time to keep folks from calling bulls**t.
Regards,
Kelly
Kelly´s last blog post..I’ll Never Fall in Love Again
Hi Alex - We use a saying, “walk your talk”. To me that builds credibility and in our business, has also built a great reputation. Talk is cheap, and most people can see through the phoniness.
Barbara Swafford´s last blog post..Updates - Time Tracking - Open Mic
How does she live with herself?
Everyone always says how she keeps reinventing her image to remain successful. I think that is part of her problem. She can’t change her image and “stay fresh” without contradicting what she stood for before. Raises the question of how authentic she is.
anti-consumerism, save the environment, down Republicans, go Obama, kaballah and adultery - whatever works for her [and it is working, damn she's rich]
sean
Alex:
“But that’s not me. I might never reach Madonna’s height of fame, but however far I go, it will be as me, authentic in everything I do, including showing instead of telling, suggesting instead of commanding, and helping others cure themselves of Someday Syndrome by exposing my own struggles on the journey.”
That’s precisely why I read and like you.
steph´s last blog post..Magic in the Air
Hi Alex - I like Madonna’s work and I admire her for what she’s achieved. But it really does bug me when folk preach one thing and do the complete opposite.
In magazines, she always claims never to drink, but she’s been seen drinking plenty of beer and champagne in London. I think she’s full of shit and says whatever seems fashionable at the time.
Cath Lawson´s last blog post..17 Ways To Stand Out From The Crowd
I am a long time Madonna fan and I think she has definitely given women a lot over her pop queen reign, but environmental guru? That’s stretching it. I think the thing with Madonna is that, like many people, she really believes what she’s preaching, but she can’t see that her own actions don’t back up her words. And herein lies the trouble with preaching. If you feel a need to do it, then I wonder if there is still a way for you to go in turning that mirror on yourself.
Personally, I wouldn’t put Al Gore in the same boat because this man has been on the ‘green wagon’ long before it was fashionable and there will be a cost for the work that he does, but if he gets average people thinking and questioning themselves by speaking with authority, then I think it’s a small price to pay. There is always a price to pay - the question is are you doing more good than harm and are you willing to pay that price?
Kelly
@Lance
I agree - I don’t always walk my talk - I use the word “someday” and on the enviro-boy side, I definitely do less than I believe is right. But I try at least and I don’t tell the whole world what they should be doing but I’m not.
@Ellsea
Wanting to give Madonna the benefit of the doubt I did several hours of research but found nothing. Normally when celebrities preach something and they then follow it up with actions, they publicize those actions to back up the words. Since I couldn’t find anything, then yeah, I’m going to stick with hypocrisy. The funny thing is that I would have happily enjoyed her overconsumption of everything as part of the experience (and maybe felt a little bad myself for contributing to this culture of excess) but the moment she opened her (video) mouth to deliver a message she opened herself to criticism on that account (in my opinion). I’m so happy, however, that this post inspired you so much that you went off and continued the conversation on your own blog.
@Mike
It’s such a great feeling when you look at your life and figure out that yes, I’m living the life I want in a way that I believe has integrity and authenticity. Good for you!
@Wendi
I love your blog - it fills me with inspiration all the time. As for being a guru as a coach? No way - my business coach back in Toronto, always talked about what issues he was dealing with at the same time I was because we could then share perspectives and both grow - him in his coaching abilities and me towards my objectives. I believe coaching is about finding the right questions to ask at the right moment combined with the empathy to deal with the answers and to steer people toward a positive outcome, instead of negative stuckedness.
@Jacki
Yes, she in in the Material 80s. I wonder how many others who were all hyper-material in the 80s now spout green messages but still live with a material mindset?
@Betsy
Yes, there’s a site that looks at what celebrities do and what they say. It’s a good read: Oh, you hippy-crites!
@James
As I said to Ellsea, I did a few hours of research trying to find something and only came up with:
Madonna’s Crew Threatens to Walk
$10,000 a Month on Bottled Water
Zilch for the Environment
Madonna and London Traffic
If anyone could find anything green about the Material Girl, I’d love to hear about it.
@Amy
Oh no, I’m definitely on the fake real side of life. In some areas (like my blog) I’m really real but my enviro record? Not so good. I separate my recycling and I currently don’t own a car. I walk or use public transport, but I buy lots of packaged food, don’t shop locally (instead buy from a supermarket), don’t pay attention to where my clothes are made… etc… I keep saying “when my income level is higher I’ll worry about that stuff - I can’t afford it right now” which may be true in the short run, but who knows what long-term effect I’m creating. (Un)fortunately I’m human enough to be short-term selfish and so yeah, I’m not as green as I could be but I’m not telling the world to go do what I’m not doing.
@Marelisa
In a quick Google-peek at Julia Roberts I notice that while she’s not big preachy-preachy she does talk about the little things she does in her life to make a difference, the little things that most of us try to do. Good for her.
@Brett
Thanks for the support! Constant reinvention is one thing but directness and “straight from the hip”-ness provide the longevity. Madonna’s reinvention is her brand but I wonder if as she gets older it’ll help or hinder her in the end?
@Glee
I’m totally with you - as I’ve said above, I’m not nearly as green as I could be…
@Kelly
Yes, the message might be a good one, but how much are people buying it from her? Is she giving a good customer service experience with it? hehehe
@Barabara
In day-to-day business phoniness is not acceptable, but we seem almost to expect it from the super-rich. I wonder why that is.
@Sean
First off - welcome to the blog. Glad you came by and commented.
I wonder how difficult it is at that level of fame to walk the talk. There are so many pressures and accepted behaviours from celebs that even when they do try (like Pitt-Jolie) they come across as hypocrites because of typical celeb actions. Of course I can’t say, not being there. But I wills say it’s all a choice and now it’s a choice for us as consumers to decide what we’ll support or no.
@Steph
Thanks! And why I read you and so many others.
*pause for a moment of gratitude to my blog community*
@Cath
Madonna has always been a very savvy business woman - but the one thing she’s never been good at is lining up the walk and the talk. It’s one of the things that many people seem to like about her - makes her fame and her success less annoying, because we all know she’s not really as perfect as her success would imply.
@Kelly of SHE-POWER
I agree - I believe that Madonna believes her message, but isn’t really aware of her own actions (or doesn’t seem to care - see the crew threatening to quit link above).