Diva — Mediated Wiki

[[File:Mariah Carey - Beautiful (Live @ GMA, May 24, 2013).JPG|thumb|American singer Mariah Carey is often described as an "ultimate diva" by the media for her musical ability as well as her demanding persona.<ref name="time123">{{Cite magazine|url=https://time.com/5622047/mariah-carey-bottle-cap-challenge/|title=Mariah Carey Proves She's a Diva With Bottle Cap Challenge|magazine=Time|date=8 July 2019 |access-date=February 19, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/hotel-rolls-out-the-red-carpet-for-carey-the-ultimate-demanding-diva-529458.html|title=Hotel rolls out the red carpet for Carey, the ultimate demanding diva|date=October 20, 2011|work=The Independent|access-date=February 19, 2020}}</ref><ref name="papermag1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.papermag.com/the-ultimate-diva-mariah-carey-1427528523.html|title=The Ultimate Diva: Mariah Carey|date=March 27, 2015|work=Paper|access-date=February 19, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161103145513/https://www.papermag.com/the-ultimate-diva-mariah-carey-1427528523.html|archive-date=November 3, 2016}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Rambarran |first=Shara |url=https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/diva-9781501368257/ |title='Proceed with Caution': Mariah Carey - The Ultimate Diva in Popular Music and Culture? in Diva: Feminism and Fierceness from Pop to Hip-Hop. |publisher=Bloomsbury |others=ed. by Fairclough, K., Halligan, B., Hodges Persley, N., Rambarran., S. |year=2023 |isbn=9781501368257 |location=New York |publication-date=2023}}</ref>]] '''Diva''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|d|iː|v|ə}}, {{IPA|it|ˈdiːva|lang}}), the Latin word for a goddess, has often been used as an honorific to refer to a celebrated woman of outstanding talent in the world of opera, theatre, cinema, fashion and popular music. If referring to an actress, the meaning of ''diva'' is closely related to that of ''prima donna''. Diva can also refer to a person, especially one in show business, with a reputation for being temperamental or demanding. The application of the term has broadened beyond the performing arts to also include celebrated political and business figures.

==Derivation and terminology== Diva is a name from Roman mythology, and is associated with the nouns divus, diva, which means god, goddess, and the adjective divinius, which means divine or heavenly.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kratka imena koja nisu u top 50, a imaju posebno značenje |url=https://www.index.hr/mame/clanak/kratka-imena-koja-nisu-u-top-50-a-imaju-posebno-znacenje/2586811.aspx |access-date=2024-09-22 |website=www.index.hr |language=hr}}</ref> The word entered the English language in the late 19th century. It is derived from the Italian noun ''diva'', a female deity. The plural of the word in English is "divas"; in Italian, ''dive'' {{IPA|it|ˈdiːve|}}. The basic sense of the term is ''goddess'',<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.etymonline.com/word/diva|title=diva | Origin and meaning of diva by Online Etymology Dictionary|website=www.etymonline.com}}</ref><ref>''Time'' magazine observed in its October 21, 2002, issue: "By definition, a diva was originally used for great female opera singers, almost always sopranos."</ref> the feminine of the Latin word ''divus'' (Italian ''divo''), someone deified after death, or Latin ''deus'', a god.<ref>Warrack, John and West, Ewan (1992), ''The Oxford Dictionary of Opera''</ref>

The male form ''divo'' exists in Italian and is usually reserved for the most prominent leading tenors, like Enrico Caruso and Beniamino Gigli. The Italian term ''divismo'' describes the star-making system in the film industry. In contemporary Italian, ''diva'' and ''divo'' simply denote much-admired celebrities, especially film actresses and actors, and can be translated as "(film) star". The Italian actress Lyda Borelli is considered the first cinematic diva, following her breakthrough role in ''Love Everlasting'' (1913).<ref>Doane p.125</ref>

An extravagant admiration for divas is a common element of camp culture.<ref>[http://www.arts.usyd.edu.au/publications/wordisout/archive/04milnes.htm "Vamps, camps and archetypes: gay men, the diva phenomenon and the inner feminine"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090904230040/http://www.arts.usyd.edu.au/publications/wordisout/archive/04milnes.htm |date=September 4, 2009 }} by Andrew Milnes (2002)</ref>

==Modern usage== Women are often referred to as divas if they are "difficult, temperamental and demanding".<ref name="divainmedia">{{Cite web|url=https://wno.org.uk/news/diva-criticism-or-compliment|title=Diva: criticism or compliment?|accessdate=January 5, 2022|website=Welsh National Opera (WNO)}}</ref> Welsh National Opera note that the title emerged in the early 19th century after an increase of female leading sopranos who "almost became goddess-like in the eyes of their adoring public".<ref name="divainmedia"/> They also note that the word has been used by the media to name many female politicians and entertainers rather than "just ambitious and assertive like their male counterparts".<ref name="divainmedia"/>

Many pop stars have been labelled as divas in the media, including Aretha Franklin,<ref>{{cite web |url = https://hellobeautiful.com/2948669/aretha-franklin-reveals-stunning-weight-loss |title = The Diva Has Returned: Aretha Franklin Reveals Stunning Weight Loss |website = Hello Beautiful |first = Sonya |last = Eskridge |date = July 31, 2017 |access-date = August 4, 2017 }}</ref> Ariana Grande,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.elle.com/culture/celebrities/a32462858/ariana-grande-diva-label-sexism-interview/|title=Ariana Grande Opens Up About How Being Labeled A Diva F*Cked Her 'Up A Little Bit'|accessdate=January 5, 2022|website=ELLE|date=13 May 2020 }}</ref> Beyoncé,<ref name="divainmedia"/> Cher,<ref>{{cite web|ref=none|last=Bogursky|first=Sasha|url= https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/the-voice-recap-chers-diva-antics-exposed-as-contestants-deliver-intense-performances/|title='The Voice' recap: Cher's diva antics exposed as contestants deliver intense performances|publisher=Fox News Channel|date=October 16, 2013|access-date=January 18, 2016}}</ref> Christina Aguilera,<ref name="BustleAguilera1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.bustle.com/articles/84356-7-times-christina-aguilera-was-a-diva-in-the-best-way-possible|title=Christina Aguilera's 7 Best Diva Moments|accessdate=July 28, 2021|website=Bustle|date=19 May 2015 }}</ref> Diana Ross,<ref name="divas123"/> Tina Turner,<ref name="divas123"/> and Whitney Houston.<ref name="divas123">{{Cite web|url=https://live365.com/blog/top-10-best-pop-divas/|title=Best Pop Divas of All Time|accessdate=January 5, 2021|website=Live 365|date=August 2018 }}</ref> Additionally, Madonna and Mariah Carey<ref name=":0" /> have been called an "ultimate diva" in the press and have often embraced the title as their media persona.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna3080045|title=Madonna: An American life|publisher=NBC News|date=April 29, 2003|access-date=February 27, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/glee-stars-pick-their-favorite-songs-for-all-madonna-episode-50799/|title="Glee" Stars Pick Their Favorite Songs for All-Madonna Episode|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=November 12, 2009|access-date=February 27, 2022}}</ref><ref name="time123"/><ref name="papermag1"/> Carey herself noted on a podcast with Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex that today's media "mean you're a successful woman" but also a "bitch" and that "it's not okay for you to be a boss".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://graziamagazine.com/us/articles/meghan-markle-mariah-carey-achetypes-podcast-diva/|title=Meghan Markle and Mariah Carey Want To Reclaim The Positivity Behind The Word 'Diva'|accessdate=January 2, 2023|website=Grazia|date=31 August 2022 }}</ref> Musicologist Lily E. Hirsch argues that the phrase may be used in a sexist and racist manner when discussing a woman of color.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Hirsch|first=Lily E.|title=Can't Stop the Grrrls: Confronting Sexist Labels in Pop Music from Ariana Grande to Yoko Ono|publisher=Rowman & Littlefield|location=Lanham|year=2023|isbn=9781538169063|pages=146–148}}</ref>

Multiple female artists and bands have also released albums and songs either titled or containing the word "diva". These include Annie Lennox,<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Zacharek|first=Stephanie|author-link=Stephanie Zacharek|url=https://ew.com/article/1992/05/15/diva-2/|title=''Diva''|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|date=15 May 1992|access-date=18 July 2021}}</ref> En Vogue,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/funky-divas-mw0000082287|title=Funky Divas – En Vogue|website=AllMusic|access-date=May 26, 2017|last=Promis|first=Jose F.}}</ref> Beyoncé<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rap-up.com/2010/07/12/rap-up-tv-bangladesh-reinvents-kelly-rowland-and-r-kelly/ |title=Rap-Up TV: Bangladesh Reinvents Kelly Rowland And R. Kelly |date=2010-07-12 |access-date=2010-12-10 |work=Rap-Up |archive-date=2012-10-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121016125403/http://www.rap-up.com/2010/07/12/rap-up-tv-bangladesh-reinvents-kelly-rowland-and-r-kelly/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> and Sarah Brightman.{{citation needed|date=August 2024}} English media personality and businesswoman Gemma Collins is well known for her "diva persona".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2019/aug/17/diva-forever-can-a-new-reality-show-reveal-the-real-gemma-collins|title=Diva Forever: can a new reality show reveal the real Gemma Collins?|last=Golby|first=Joel|date=17 August 2019|website=The Guardian|language=en|access-date=25 September 2021|archive-date=17 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190817114723/https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2019/aug/17/diva-forever-can-a-new-reality-show-reveal-the-real-gemma-collins|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2018, she released a book titled ''The GC: How to Be a Diva'' and began starring in her own reality television series ''Gemma Collins: Diva''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.radiotimes.com/tv-programme/e/gw289q/gemma-collins-diva-espana--series-1-episode-1/|title=Gemma Collins: Diva Espana - what time is it on TV?|work=Radio Times|access-date=8 March 2020|archive-date=24 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210424203850/https://www.radiotimes.com/tv-programme/e/gw289q/gemma-collins-diva-espana--series-1-episode-1/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.irishnews.com/arts/2018/07/05/news/towie-s-gemma-collins-i-always-knew-i-wanted-to-be-famous--1372394/|title=A fun read? Towie's Gemma Collins discusses her new guide to being a diva|website=The Irish News|language=en|access-date=2018-10-30|date=5 July 2018|archive-date=30 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181030170414/https://www.irishnews.com/arts/2018/07/05/news/towie-s-gemma-collins-i-always-knew-i-wanted-to-be-famous--1372394/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 1998, VH1 debuted its first annual ''VH1 Divas'' concert with Carey, Franklin, Celine Dion, Gloria Estefan and Shania Twain.<ref name="eeee">{{Cite web|url=https://www.eonline.com/news/927843/vh1-divas-live-at-20-a-look-back-at-the-major-music-moment-that-almost-never-happened|title=VH1 Divas Live at 20: A Look Back at the Major Music Moment That Almost Never Happened|accessdate=January 5, 2022|website=E!|date=16 August 2018 }}</ref> Some other artists who performed at later concerts were Whitney Houston, Cher, Tina Turner, Diana Ross and Destiny's Child.<ref name="eeee"/> From April 1999, WWE used the term "diva" to refer to their female performers.<ref name="Women's Title WrestleMania 32"/> In 2016, they discontinued this term, becoming Women in WWE.<ref name="Women's Title WrestleMania 32">{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/shows/wrestlemania/32/article/wwe-womens-championship-revealed|title=All-new WWE Women's Championship introduced at WrestleMania|date=April 3, 2016|last=WWE.com|first=Staff|access-date=April 4, 2016|publisher=WWE.com}}</ref>

==See also== * Queen bee (sociology)

==References== {{Reflist}}

==Bibliography== * Doane, Mary Anne (1991). ''Femmes Fatales: Feminism, Film Theory, Psychoanalysis'', Routledge, New York. {{ISBN|978-0-415-90320-2}}.

== External links == {{Wiktionary|diva|prima donna}} *{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/money/2006/feb/04/careers.work|title=Who'd be an Opera diva?|first=John|last=Crace|newspaper=The Guardian|date=4 February 2006|access-date=17 August 2008}}

Category:Italian opera terminology Category:Terms for women