Now, I'm not a massive Madonna fan but this is a brilliant image in terms of representation. Take apart each part of this image and you will understand why, in the 80s, she was a controversial artist.
White T-Shirt connotes purity, but it is a men's T-Shirt which implies that she is either stepping over the accepted boundaries for her gender or that the T-Shirt belongs to her boyfriend. If she is wearing her boyfriend's T-Shirt this suggests that she needed a change of clothes because she didn't go home...
The lollipop also connotes child-like innocence and purity, but the open lips, crossed arms and confident gaze make the lollipop into a performance of sexuality for a male audience. However, the prominent crucifix earring implies that she is a Catholic, and therefore should remain virginal and pure until she is married.
The hair, strong make up and black bracelets also imply that she is a good girl "gone bad".
(NOTE: a woman does not have to be scantily clad to communicate sexuality. Beyonce, I'm looking at you...)
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