Madonna, is that all? – A retrospective on life and career
João Sousa
“Madonna, is that all? – A retrospective on life and career” is a project developed in the Project curricular unit, taught by Cristina Ferreira, in the curriculum of the Master in Graphic Design and Editorial Projects at the Faculty of Fine Arts, University of Porto.
How can one of the most influential and successful artists in history still be the target of so much criticism and disdain? That question stayed with me for a long time. The motivation for this retrospective project came from a growing desire to get to know and study in detail Madonna’s career and personal life, seeking above all to understand what led a young woman from Michigan to set out to conquer the world of pop culture and, over time, to become one of the most important voices in defense of the rights of the LGBTQI+ community, of women and of peace.
The project is structured as a collection of six volumes that explore in depth not only Madonna’s artistic work but also the cultural and social impact she has had, revealing the symbols and narratives that shaped her path. The first volume, titled “DNA”, is biographical: it explores the life of the pre-Madonna and culminates with the release of her debut single, “Everybody” (1982). Long before becoming a global icon, Madonna was just a young woman from Michigan, marked by a strict upbringing, a deep sense of loss and an unshakable ambition to conquer the life she believed she was destined to live.
Imprint / Technical Rider:
Year: 2025
Dimensions: 240 × 300 × 25 mm; 322 pages
Materials: Printed on Munken Pure 115 g/m², four-color.
Production and finishing: Hand binding with French sewing; stencil.
Resources and credits: Typefaces: Pitch (Kris Sowerby, Klim Type Foundry, 2012), Abril (José Scaglione and Veronika Burian, TypeTogether, 2006) and Droulers Clarendon (Bureau Brut, 2024); photography: Getty Images, A.P. Images, Keystone Images, AFP. Photography, Michael Och, Norman Seef, Francesco Scavullo, Gijsbert Hanekroot, Rollie McKenna, Jim Jagdfeld, Beth Gwinn, Ann Arbor News, Cecile I. Taylor, Bolivar Arellano, Jack Mitchell, Linda Alaniz, Mark Dolenwoski, Hernan Kulkens, Peter Kentes, Terry from Sydney on Flickr, Shilpot on Flickr, Martha Swope, Barbara Morgan, Yousuf Karsh, Virgil Apger, Norris Burroughs, Dan Gilroy, Ed Gilroy, Michael McDonnell, Chicago History Museum, Robert Mapplethorpe, Andy Warhol, Hulton Archives, Michael Putland, Godlis, Roberta Bayley, Chris Gabin, Tony Mottram, David Corio, Martin Schieber, Bill Stone, Lee Friedlander, Stephen Lewicki, Jeff Cerar, Madonna, Curtis Zale, N.Y.C. Department of Finance, Gary Burke, Bob Gruen, Antonn Perich, Ebet Roberts, Tom Hill, Michael McKenzie, Fred Seidman, Douglas Kirkland, Bonnie Schiffman, George DuBose, Pat Bates, Michael Vernaglia, Tina Paul, Kazuo Washimi, Bill Bernstein, Michelle Saunders, Rohanda Paster-Corte, Lina Bertucci, Tom Morillo, Robert Carrithers, John Argento, Emily Amstrong, Butch Jones, Peter Cunningham, Patrick McMullan, Josh Cheuse; texts by the author; software: Adobe InDesign, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator.
Curricular Unit:
Project (1st year)
Supervising Professor:
Cristina Ferreira
Keywords: Retrospective, Tribute, Music Icons, Pop Culture