Page - 92 - in JRFM - Journal Religion Film Media, Volume 06/02

92 | Natalie Fritz and Anna-Katharina Höpflinger www.jrfm.eu 2020, 6/2, 91–102 intermedia relation of music, lyrics and videoclips to raise for example questions about world-views, religious doctrines and formulate normative guidelines. Holy or blasphemous? Madonna is one of the most famous artists of the 20th century. She grew up in a Roman Catholic setting, which undoubtedly has influenced her art. “Like a Prayer” was released in 1989 and became one of her bestselling – but also one of her most controversial – songs. The discussion it stirred stemmed mainly from the accompanying video clip. The story of the video is that of a white girl (Madonna) who witnesses the assault of a white woman by white men. A black man attempts to save the victim and is arrested by the police who arrive on the scene. Madonna, who had been seen by one of the perpetrators, seeks shelter in a church. There she prays in front of a black saint, Martin de Porres, who looks like the arrested man. The statue comes to life, and they kiss. At the end, Madonna is in court and is able to ensure the black man is cleared of the crime. The story is not told chronologically, but jumps forwards Fig. 1: Music video still from Like a Prayer, Madonna, 00:00:10.