Being Britney: Pieces of a Modern Icon

by Jennifer Otter Bickerdike

Overview

“Bickerdike is on a mission to free Britney by restoring her reputation as a cultural icon.... [An] astute reckoning with modern celebrity.” —The Times

“A wild read.” —The Guardian

Part biography, part social history, Being Britney pieces together a collage of stories, interviews, legends, and fan experiences to construct a definitive portrait of one of the biggest stars in recent history.

In her unique narrative, acclaimed music author Jennifer Otter Bickerdike provides a sympathetic yet objective reexamination of Britney’s trajectory from girl next door to woman trapped by fame. Being Britney is the compelling account of a talented, troubled, and much-discussed modern icon whose life, work, and individual significance will be recognized for many decades to come.

“Britney is blessed to have such a talented writer and perceptive mind broaching the complexities of her story thus far.” —Shirley Manson, Garbage

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781637584804
Publisher:	Permuted Press
Publication date:	07/19/2022
Pages:	256
Sales rank:	1,052,477
Product dimensions:	9.00(w) x 6.10(h) x 1.20(d)

About the Author

Dr. Jennifer Otter Bickerdike is a familiar name in the world of pop culture. An academic, writer, presenter, and historian, Jennifer has spent her life dedicated to the mistress that is rock ’n roll. With more than thirty years of experience in the culture industries, ranging from her time as a former music industry executive in the US to surviving three waves of dot-com bubble bursting in the Silicon Valley, Jennifer brings a unique perspective to the discussion of contemporary music and media. A recovering Anglophile herself, she has authored several books on the topics of music, fandom, and celebrity cultism, including 2017’s #1 bestseller, Why Vinyl Matters; Joy Devotion: The Importance of Ian Curtis and Fan Culture; The Secular Religion of Fandom; and Fandom, Image and Authenticity: Joy, Devotion and the Second Lives of Kurt Cobain and Ian Curtis. Jennifer is the Global Music Ambassador for the British and Irish Modern Music Institute, co-founder of The Songs That Saved Your Life podcast and Moving the Needle, a nonprofit organization founded to support women in the UK music industry through their entire career. Originally from Santa Cruz, California, Jennifer now lives in London with her husband James and rescue dog Alfie. Connect with Jen on Instagram @JenniferOtterBickerdike or on her website www.jenniferotterbickerdike.com for more information, newest events, and appearances.

Table of Contents

Introduction: American Shame 1

1 Wish Upon a Star 8

2 Mouseketears 14

3 The Max Factor 20

4 The Magic of "… Baby One More Time" 27

5 Breastgate 39

6 Double-Denim Fantasy 46

7 What a Girl Wants 50

8 Slave 4 Peta 60

9 Not Quite John Hughes 66

10 Britney v. Christina 71

11 A Word from Our Sponsor 81

12 Like a Prayer 87

13 Don't You Noel That You're "Toxic" 96

14 The Sweet Smell of Britney 99

15 A Chaotic Future 107

16 The Body Britney 113

17 No "Fixin" for Britney 122

18 Extra, Extra, This Just In 128

19 Hair Trade 135

20 Britney Goes Guerrilla 137

21 Ready to Break 142

22 Leave Britney Alone! 149

23 Britney Births a Banger 153

24 Love for Sale 163

25 If U Seek Britney 173

26 The Battle for Britney 177

27 Jagged Little Thrill 185

28 The People's Pop Princess 188

29 Haunted Britney 195

30 The Museum of Britney 199

31 X-Posed 205

32 Viva La Britney 209

33 A Mansion Full of Trophies 216

34 Over the Rainbow 218

35 Let the Show Begin 227

36 How #FreeBritney Started 237

37 Secret Coded Britney 244

38 The Business of Britney 252

39 Overprotected 257

40 Third Time A Charm 263

41 Freed Britney? 265

42 The Handmaid 274

43 Britney by Numbers 280

Conclusion: Born to Make You Happy? 288

Acknowledgments 292

Notes 295

Credits 339

About the Author 341

Editorial Reviews

This shocking biography details the misogyny and exploitation that have scarred the singer’s life.... Bickerdike is on a mission to free Britney by restoring her reputation as a cultural icon.... [An] astute reckoning with modern celebrity.

The Times

Being Britney gathers up fragments of news stories, fan gossip, documentaries, chat forums, opinion pieces, and more.... This fragmented style is fitting for the digital age in which we live. The book sets up the star as a blank canvas on to which audiences can project whatever they like...its broad brushstrokes make for a wild read.

The Guardian

Jennifer is smart and insightful. Being Britney offers a thorough look at Britney’s life, including the fraudulent conservatorship that stripped her of her human rights and her fight for freedom.

Megan Radford

A great, thorough piece of work from a Britneyologist.

Pandora Sykes

Jennifer Otter Bickerdike’s book on Britney Spears is a masterclass in analysis and an insight into one of the most intriguing and fascinating cultural icons of our time. Essential reading.

Stuart Brathwaite

Yassss! At last, a book that truly celebrates the queen that is Britney Spears. Bickerdike goes deep in Being Britney: Pieces of a Modern Icon to reveal a unique, heartbreaking, and funny perspective on Spears.

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