Bowie: after 40 years have we moved on from Ziggy?
On the year of his 65th birthday, Celebrity Studies takes a look at Bowie’s relationship with the media, his alter- egos, public perceptions and who he is now. But Bowie has entered media silence about his many selves – to what end?
When Bowie created Ziggy Stardust he turned the usual media/celebrity relationship upside down. Instead of using media to showcase his real self, he deployed an alter-ego: Ziggy, the glam-rock star. Then came Aladdin Sane, when Ziggy ‘went’ to America.
But in subsequent musical decades, Bowie resumed his own self in performances and media interviews. During his 90’s Tin Machine period, he claimed he was “finding his authentic sense of self”. Despite this, media persistently harked back, judging him and his works against Ziggy and his 70’s material. Did they prefer not to see the real Bowie?
After releasing The Next Day, Bowie remained silent. Bowie previously said “I am only the person the greatest number of people believe I am. So little of it has anything to do with me…” Maybe less is more? Or perhaps he simply doesn’t wish to waste words.
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