ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on the many facets of spectacularity within a media-saturated arena. A key aspect of the pop performance centres around spectacularity, and pop dandyism is framed by the changing attributes of representation and poise. Spectacularly, pop artists aestheticize themselves through an acute awareness of their personal assets. One of the most irresistible aspects of pop is its idealization of subjectivity. Pop artists are fitting examples of this, as they preserve structures and features that are historically grounded in notions of belonging. Filming pop performances, such as 'Ashes to Ashes', has undoubtedly played a critical role in paving the way forward for marketing British identity. The spectacle of Bowie's ornate Pierrot costume, a central marker for his Scary Monsters period, is made memorable by the appearance of British pop icon Steve Strange, lead singer of Visage, and other members of the London Blitz scene, all forerunners of the New Romantics movement in Britain.
