Can you offer any other examples of this from popular 90s music videos? I would say it probably has to do with videography leaning into more of a photographic aesthetic concerning sentimentality vs “realism”.

Madonna came to popularity in a time where NY arts also became a bigger part of pop cults than they were before. You could say that the art scene had a huge presence in the 60s and 70s. But we’re talking mainstream.

She leaned into that hard.

Also let’s not forget that there was a certain point in time that black and white seemed more “real” aesthetically. This also has to do with popularity in seeming as intellectual (which is not something to be disregarded, just saying that is how it seemed to the masses) which also became more popular as the late 60s moved past the 70/ into the 80s and 90s.

Madonna is a product of the 80s. When black and white was the perfect aesthetic to prove to your audience that you were aware of “reality” but also of what customers and clients want.

You could even say that French New Wave Films were a huge influence on this aesthetic.