Was macht der Tod aus dem Mädchen? Eine Diva – so Madonnas Videoclip Oh Father

The essay explores Oh Father, a music video by pop star Madonna (1989, dir. David Fincher), which presents a special version of the ‘Death and the Maiden’ theme: the passing away of a mother and its lasting impact on her little girl. Three possible readings of the clip are proposed – one biographical, one drawing on film history and one calling for thematic analysis. The latter reveals the suffering associated with the loss of her mother to be the wellspring for Madonna’s subsequent diva status.