Originating from the Latin for deity or goddess, our concept of what a 'diva' might be - or should be - has evolved in richness and complexity. Delving into the personas of performers from Sarah Bernhardt to Rihanna, this book looks at what it has meant to be a diva, and what unites and defines these unique artists. Opening with 19th-century opera stars and 20th-century silent-screen sirens, it then focuses on different aspects of divadom: from Hollywood icons such as Elizabeth Taylor and Bette Davis cultivating their image to the activism of artists such as Billie Holiday and Miriam Makeba; from the acumen shown by Dolly Parton and Beyonce to the development of radical new musical identities by Madonna, Missy Elliot and Lady Gaga; from new ways of performing gender and sexuality by Tina Turner, Freddie Mercury and Grace Jones to the tensions between public and private experience by the likes of Amy Winehouse and Liza Minnelli.

About the Author
Kate Bailey is Senior Curator of Design and Scenography in the Theatre and Performance Department at the V&A.

Reviews
'...a glorification of female power, and, ultimately, an exquisite reminder of the many shapes of fame and their effects on society.' Cindy Marcolina, Broadway World, 4th August 2023



Book Information
ISBN 9781838510350
Author Kate Bailey
Format Hardback
Page Count 224
Imprint V & A Publications
Publisher V & A Publishing