Earlier this week, Mashable published an admittedly brief social media analysis piece I wrote on Lady Gaga relating online conversation to her music’s consumption. The question I keep asking myself, and the question I continue to be asked, is why Lady Gaga?
One reason is that I’m fascinated how this ordinary looking, but otherwise talented female from New York, became the most popular star on the planet simply by being outrageous. Sure, she (possibly) writes her own music and has the talent to sing, but that’s not a differentiator.
What I concluded is that above all, Lady Gaga is really good at being famous. As a culture, we are attracted to fame, and there is something about her that is especially enlightening for many people. What is it?
My original article sliced apart fame from this cultural perspective. However, my regular writing style is not in line with Mashable’s content or audience. Having said that, below is the original, pre-Mashable1 edit fame analysis on this creature called Gaga.
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Fame’s appeal lies within its mystique: what it is and why it occurs remain relatively unanswered questions, besides the necessity of rapid, surrounding conversation. Ten years ago, even the most shocking entertainer’s rise to stardom was missing the accelerating momentum of social media, a crucial factor in today’s fame equation.
Lady Gaga has played a hand in manipulating fame to her advantage, recently emerging as arguably the most famous pop star on the planet. She wove her way through the charts by treating her desire to be famous as an art. She’s developed an image of shock artistry, wearing futuristic attire, sculpted hair styles and glittery makeup, completing a socially disruptive persona.
Few stars’ early footage has shocked the public as much as Gaga’s, then known as Stefani Germanotta, performing in plain clothes in a Lower East Side club in New York City, circa 2007. While her current shtick is that of a fame monster, more than a musician, her vocal skills are humbling. Local students attend these clubs with the intention of seeing unique, often independent talent, secretly hoping they are receiving a glimpse of the next big thing. Viewers of Gaga slamming on the keys, singing to the tune of the piano, certainly did.
Fame, at its core, is fueled by the artist’s demand for attention. Take one of Gaga’s earliest stunts: fed up with her ignorant audience as she played in a crowded, NYU bar, she decided to strip to her underwear. Hardly high brow, but a magnetic step in attracting attention toward her character, rather than the music. The next day, you can bet the almost naked, talented female pianist was a popular conversation among the influential New York music crowd.
We live in a culture where the fame-less public are attracted to the idea of fame. And, this fame-seeking desire is what makes Gaga appealing. It’s less her provocative, often outrageous performance, but more her implicit advocacy for individualism driven by everyday conversation.
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