--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think of myself as a performance…" description: "\"I think of myself as a performance artist. I hate being called a pop star. I hate that.\" — Madonna Ciccone" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/385/madonna-ciccone-401_art_i-think-of-myself-as-a-performance-artis_267283.png" --- # I think of myself as a performance artist. I hate being… ![“I think of myself as a performance artist. I hate being called a pop star. I hate that.” quote by Madonna Ciccone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/385/madonna-ciccone-401_art_i-think-of-myself-as-a-performance-artis_267283.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/385/madonna-ciccone-401_art_i-think-of-myself-as-a-performance-artis_267283.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/385/madonna-ciccone-401_art_i-think-of-myself-as-a-performance-artis_267283.png) > “I think of myself as a performance artist. I hate being called a pop star. I hate that.” [Madonna Ciccone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madonna-ciccone/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Self‑definition resists imposed labels, emphasizing authentic artistic identity. **In simple terms:** Reject unwanted labels. Key Takeaway Define yourself. Themes identity art authenticity Mood defiant reflective Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - career branding - public perception - creative expression - media interviews Key Concepts self‑concept performance art Questions to Reflect On - How do you maintain authenticity under pressure? - What labels have you rejected? A Different Perspective Labels can still influence public perception. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Artist Hate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist-hate-1114447/) [Being](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being/) [Called Pop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/called-pop-455622/) [Hate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hate/) [I think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-think/) [Myself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/myself/) [Performance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/performance/) [Performance Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/performance-artist-409419/) [Pop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pop/) [Pop star](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pop-star/) [Star](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/star/) [Star Hate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/star-hate-2452833/) [Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think/) ## Related quotes > [I hate being called a pop star. I hate that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madonna-ciccone/i-hate-being-called-a-pop-star-i-hate-that/) [Madonna Ciccone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madonna-ciccone/) > [Theater is something that as a performance artist you have to hate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marina-abramovic/theater-is-something-that-as-a-performance-artist-you-have-to-hate/) [Marina Abramovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marina-abramovic/) > [I have come to terms with the fact that it's called pop music - that's what I play, and that is what I write.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-hilton/i-have-come-to-terms-with-the-fact-that-it-s-called-pop-music-that-s/) [Tyler Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-hilton/) > [Everybody has called Pop Art 'American' painting, but it's actually industrial painting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-lichtenstein/everybody-has-called-pop-art-american-painting-but-it-s-actually/) [Roy Lichtenstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-lichtenstein/) > [I don't think I'm supposed to boss other people around just because I'm a so-called celebrity or star. I hate that when people act…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolly-parton/i-don-t-think-i-m-supposed-to-boss-other-people-around-just-because-i/) [Dolly Parton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolly-parton/) > [“A recent study shows that one hundred per cent of youngsters on hard drugs had at some time in their lives listened to so-called…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-donaldson/a-recent-study-shows-that-one-hundred-per-cent-of-youngsters-on-hard/) [William Donaldson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-donaldson/) > [There were a lot of things I listened to, but so-called pop music never killed me, you know, the type of stuff that always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-verlaine/there-were-a-lot-of-things-i-listened-to-but-so-called-pop-music/) [Tom Verlaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-verlaine/) > [I've always gone back and forth between acting and music, but for music I'm not trying to be a pop star - I just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-greenberg/i-ve-always-gone-back-and-forth-between-acting-and-music-but-for/) [Bryan Greenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-greenberg/) > [For three weeks in the 1960s I was nearly a pop star.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-cribbins/for-three-weeks-in-the-1960s-i-was-nearly-a-pop-star/) [Bernard Cribbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-cribbins/) > [I don't see myself as a pop star, just a singer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ella-henderson/i-don-t-see-myself-as-a-pop-star-just-a-singer/) [Ella Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ella-henderson/) > [I've read every Madonna biography. I've also looked up every pop star to see how they first made it. The biggest thing I learnt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marina-and-the-diamonds/i-ve-read-every-madonna-biography-i-ve-also-looked-up-every-pop-star/) [Marina and the Diamonds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marina-and-the-diamonds/) > ['The X Factor' seems to be more about building up personalities and people in tears. And it's not a new idea. The pre-Beatles pop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jools-holland/the-x-factor-seems-to-be-more-about-building-up-personalities-and/) [Jools Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jools-holland/) > [I'm a rock/blues guitar player. I'm not wanting to be a pop star or anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orianthi/i-m-a-rock-blues-guitar-player-i-m-not-wanting-to-be-a-pop-star-or/) [Orianthi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orianthi/) > [In that sense, I became politicized because the people in the coal mining villages who were involved in the struggle knew why they were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-bragg/in-that-sense-i-became-politicized-because-the-people-in-the-coal/) [Billy Bragg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-bragg/) > [I just worried about my weight. Worried about my appearance and thought I wan't pretty enough to be a pop star. It was very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-durham/i-just-worried-about-my-weight-worried-about-my-appearance-and/) [Judith Durham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-durham/) ## More by Madonna Ciccone > [I would like to see the Pope wearing my T-shirt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madonna-ciccone/i-would-like-to-see-the-pope-wearing-my-t-shirt/) [Madonna Ciccone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madonna-ciccone/) > [In some respects I will never die. Because art is immortal. What we leave behind and what we create - the energy that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madonna-ciccone/in-some-respects-i-will-never-die-because-art-is-immortal-what-we/) [Madonna Ciccone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madonna-ciccone/) > [I had decided that if I was going to be a singer, I had to earn it. I had to learn how to play…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madonna-ciccone/i-had-decided-that-if-i-was-going-to-be-a-singer-i-had-to-earn-it-i/) [Madonna Ciccone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madonna-ciccone/) > [The thing I love most about being famous is people listening to me when I have something important to say.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madonna-ciccone/the-thing-i-love-most-about-being-famous-is-people-listening-to-me/) [Madonna Ciccone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madonna-ciccone/) > [People have no morals, I swear to God. The things that people do for ratings! It's unforgivable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madonna-ciccone/people-have-no-morals-i-swear-to-god-the-things-that-people-do-for/) [Madonna Ciccone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madonna-ciccone/) > [There's no greater power than the power of good-bye.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madonna-ciccone/there-s-no-greater-power-than-the-power-of-good-bye/) [Madonna Ciccone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madonna-ciccone/) > [Stevie Wonder and Diana Ross and the Jackson 5, that's what I grew up on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madonna-ciccone/stevie-wonder-and-diana-ross-and-the-jackson-5-that-s-what-i-grew-up/) [Madonna Ciccone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madonna-ciccone/) > [I'm very grateful that I had work to do. I may have thrown myself off a building.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madonna-ciccone/i-m-very-grateful-that-i-had-work-to-do-i-may-have-thrown-myself-off/) [Madonna Ciccone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madonna-ciccone/) > [The beast is the modern world that we live in! The material world. The physical world. The world of illusion that we think is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madonna-ciccone/the-beast-is-the-modern-world-that-we-live-in-the-material-world-the/) [Madonna Ciccone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madonna-ciccone/) > [With all the chaos, pain and suffering in the world, the fact that my adoption of a child from who was living in an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madonna-ciccone/with-all-the-chaos-pain-and-suffering-in-the-world-the-fact-that-my/) [Madonna Ciccone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madonna-ciccone/) > [Being blond is definitely a different state of mind. I can't really put my finger on it, but the artifice of being blond has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madonna-ciccone/being-blond-is-definitely-a-different-state-of-mind-i-can-t-really/) [Madonna Ciccone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madonna-ciccone/) > [Because I was a dancer, I started going to auditions for musical theater, which forced me to sing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madonna-ciccone/because-i-was-a-dancer-i-started-going-to-auditions-for-musical/) [Madonna Ciccone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madonna-ciccone/) > [Some girls they like candy and others they like to grind. I'll settle for the back of your hand somewhere on my behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madonna-ciccone/some-girls-they-like-candy-and-others-they-like-to-grind-i-ll-settle/) [Madonna Ciccone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madonna-ciccone/) > [You took a poison arrow and you aimed it at my heart. It's heavy and it's bitter, and it's tearing me apart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madonna-ciccone/you-took-a-poison-arrow-and-you-aimed-it-at-my-heart-it-s-heavy-and/) [Madonna Ciccone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madonna-ciccone/) > [Gay men are perfect men for girls who are tough. They're not threatened by strong women, and they're usually very in touch with their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madonna-ciccone/gay-men-are-perfect-men-for-girls-who-are-tough-they-re-not/) [Madonna Ciccone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madonna-ciccone/) [Explore all 593 Madonna Ciccone quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madonna-ciccone/) ## More Art quotes > [True works of art contain their own theory and give us the measurement according to which we should judge them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/true-works-of-art-contain-their-own-theory-and-give-us-the/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Before Noah, men having only water to drink, could not find the truth. Accordingly...they became abominably wicked, and they were justly exterminated by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/before-noah-men-having-only-water-to-drink-could-not-find-the-truth/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [“Hear the sum of the whole matter in the compass of one brief word — every art possessed by man comes from Prometheus.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aeschylus/hear-the-sum-of-the-whole-matter-in-the-compass-of-one-brief-word/) [Aeschylus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aeschylus/) > [I think most artists feel like they're outside society - no matter how many accolades they receive, or how much money is in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-rose/i-think-most-artists-feel-like-they-re-outside-society-no-matter-how/) [Aaron Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-rose/) > [The capacity to be puzzled is the premise of all creation, be it in art or in science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erich-fromm/the-capacity-to-be-puzzled-is-the-premise-of-all-creation-be-it-in/) [Erich Fromm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erich-fromm/) > [That's the great secret of creativity. You treat ideas like cats: you make them follow you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-bradbury/that-s-the-great-secret-of-creativity-you-treat-ideas-like-cats-you/) [Ray Bradbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-bradbury/) > [“So, really," continued Jacob as if this were perfectly normal to expound on art in these circumstances, "when you think about it, the artists…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justina-chen-headley/so-really-continued-jacob-as-if-this-were-perfectly-normal-to-expound/) [Justina Chen Headley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justina-chen-headley/) > [“There are two options in art; either to adopt philosophical life by dissecting art, or to write your own philosophical life and claim it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taf-teh/there-are-two-options-in-art-either-to-adopt-philosophical-life-by/) [Taf Teh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taf-teh/) > [The house has to serve comfort. The work of art is revolutionary; the house is conservative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adolf-loos/the-house-has-to-serve-comfort-the-work-of-art-is-revolutionary-the/) [Adolf Loos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adolf-loos/) > [During human progress, every science is evolved out of its corresponding art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/during-human-progress-every-science-is-evolved-out-of-its/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [In literature and art memory is a synonym for invention. It is the life-blood of imagination, which faints and dies when the veins are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-aris-willmott/in-literature-and-art-memory-is-a-synonym-for-invention-it-is-the/) [Robert Aris Willmott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-aris-willmott/) > [I think a business guy is different from an artist. They walk different paths. Artists create the best outputs when they're having fun. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-dragon/i-think-a-business-guy-is-different-from-an-artist-they-walk/) [G-Dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-dragon/) > [“The only thing--I tell you this straight from the heart--that disgusts me in Salzburg is that one can't have any proper social intercourse with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/the-only-thing-i-tell-you-this-straight-from-the-heart-that-disgusts/) [Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wolfgang-amadeus-mozart/) > [The sublime in art is the attempt to express the infinite without finding in the realm of phenomena any object which proves itself fitting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/the-sublime-in-art-is-the-attempt-to-express-the-infinite-without/) [Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georg-wilhelm-friedrich-hegel/) > [Art isn't done to decorate apartments, but to wage war against the enemy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pablo-picasso/art-isn-t-done-to-decorate-apartments-but-to-wage-war-against-the/) [Pablo Picasso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pablo-picasso/) [Browse all 48,643 Art quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I think of myself as a performance artist. 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