Being Britney: Pieces of a Modern Icon

Description

With her canon of best-selling singles, electrifying stage performances and iconic music videos, Britney Spears is undoubtedly a modern pop superstar. But her story has long been clouded by society's dark obsession with beauty, youth and fame - a relentless glare that has threatened to eclipse her musical success. A mother, an entrepreneur; a victim, a fighter; an entertainer, an enigma - Britney's life is as multi-faceted as the very contradictions, pressures and expectations that helped create her. Yet, beyond the eye-catching headlines and front-page fodder, an almost indecipherable question remains: who is the real Britney? Part biography, part social history, Being Britney pieces together a collage of vignettes, stories, interviews, legends and fan experiences to construct a definitive portrait of the artist and her complex, far-reaching orbit. Written by acclaimed music author Jennifer Otter Bickerdike, this unique narrative is the first to provide a sympathetic yet objective re-examination of Britney's cultural impact in the wake of major collective shifts surrounding feminism, celebrity and mental health. Despite her career spanning five presidents, multiple creative reinventions and over 100 million album sales, Britney's ability to come back again and again from highly publicised personal adversity has rarely been acknowledged. However, her successes keep stacking up and her relevance seems to grow with each passing year, culminating in a game-changing Las Vegas residency, a shocking conservatorship battle and a powerful #FreeBritney support campaign. Being Britney is the compelling account of a talented, troubled and talked-about icon, whose life, work and individual significance w ill be recognised for many years to come.

Dr Jennifer Otter Bickerdike is a familiar name in the world of pop culture. With more than thirty years' experience, including time spent as a music industry executive in the US, Jennifer brings a unique perspective to the discussion of contemporary music and media. An academic, writer, presenter and historian, she has authored several books on the topics of pop, rock, fandom and celebrity, most recently 2021's You Are Beautiful and You Are Alone: The Biography of Nico and 2017's number-one bestseller Why Vinyl Matters: A Manifesto from Musicians and Fans. Jennifer is the global music ambassador for the British and Irish Modern Music Institute, co-creator of the Songs That Saved Your Life podcast and co-founder of Moving the Needle - a non-profit organisation that supports women in the UK music industry through their careers. Originally from Santa Cruz, California, she now lives in London with her husband and rescue dog.

'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 'A well-researched, measured account about one of the world's most recognisable singers.' -- The Sun 'A great, thorough piece of work from a Britneyologist.' -- Pandora Sykes 'Britney is blessed to have such a talented writer and perceptive mind broaching the complexities of her story thus far.' -- Shirley Manson, Garbage '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.' -- Big Freedia '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, Mogwai '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, #FreeBritney campaigner