A PROFESSIONAL
DISTANCES HERSELF
FROM HER INSTRUMENTT
he pro stands at one remove from her instrument—
meaning her person, her body, her voice, her talent;
the physical, mental, emotional, and psychological being she
uses in her work. She does not identify with this instrument.
It is simply what God gave her, what she has to work with.
She assesses it coolly, impersonally, objectively.
The professional identifies with her consciousness and her
will, not with the matter that her consciousness and will
manipulate to serve her art. Does Madonna walk around the
house in cone bras and come-fuck-me bustiers? She's too
busy planning D-Day. Madonna does not identify with
"Madonna." Madonna employs "Madonna."86 THE WAR OF ART