Women avoiding paparazzi gif9/11/2023 Essentially, if a concept such as true empowerment can exist as unanimously valid, where does it lie? And more interestingly, how sneakily forceful is the normalization of beauty as commodity, for it to blur the lines between unrealistic media portrayals and conscious individual choices (Brook)? Lady Gaga: Sexuality & AuthenticityĪccording to Levande (2008), the inclusion of cameras and videos within music videos illustrates the fusion of public and private life, and therefore glorifies wilful adherence to surveillance. On the other hand, when hypersexualization is so blatantly ingrained in those subversive practices, one might wonder if the alleged progress is not indeed overshadowed by the objectification of women (Brook, 2008). This specific way in which Lady Gaga and Beyoncé are able to reclaim authority as public figures, and most importantly as female pop stars, suggests the performativity of their chosen personas, and opens the door to endless creative possibilities (Kumari). Subsequently, while the unavoidable process of naming involves the attribution of a specific gender role, the act of renaming is synonymous with agency in regards to social identity (Kumari, 2016). The prolific choice of integrating both conventionally feminine and masculine aspects in the same picture denounces public expectations and creates a terrain where not-so-serious gender identity is not only permitted, but also celebrated (Kumari). Admittedly, given the tremendous platforms these pop stars benefit from, their omnipresent force on the minds of consumers is undeniable.Ĭonsequently, what we can analyze in similar ways in Lady Gaga and Beyoncé’s work is the challenge they spawn to traditional notions of femininity: using alter egos and other modern techniques of performance, they shed a light on feminist concepts and give birth to delightful aesthetics in a sea of gender disruption (Kumari, 2016). Accordingly, a powerful sense of identity is developed in that process, and the impact of such a pop star should be taken into consideration.įollowing this idea, one can only imagine the immensity of the intersection between the general public and public figures like Lady Gaga and Beyoncé, regardless of the depth of such a connection. As a matter of fact, the self-empowerment and creativity travelling through the body formed by the followers is an authentic phenomenon that is not to be messed with (Dilling-Hansen, 2015). Pop Music: A Potential Landscape For Gender Subversionīeing part of a dedicated fan base involves a feeling of strong attachment between the fans and the artist having been a massive Lady Gaga fan for years, I can testify of the genuine emotions that are felt within that structure. All in all, I am allowing my newfound feminist-self to join hands with my former pop-enthusiast-self, in order to give birth to a contemporary feminist media inquiry. However, as I eagerly started consuming academic feminist theories, I was introduced to perspective where these pop stars’ feminisms are stuck in very clear confines. As I grew up looking up to popular feminist icons – and I use that word very loosely – I genuinely believed in their potential for pushing the boundaries of love and acceptance. On a more personal level, this paper is a way for me to link my passion for popular culture with my recent awakening in feminist circles. Within this framework, my analysis will be delivered through an identitarianist and post-structuralist lens. That being said, what happens when we take a deeper look into their feminisms, and compare and contrast academics’ reviews of their aestheticized representations? As we delve into such questioning, let us begin with a feminist analysis merging both idols, followed by a divided inquiry of their respective artistic content, only to return to a joined examination of their material on the basis of neoliberalism. ![]() Lady Gaga and Beyoncé have been the face of mainstream feminism for many years now, and the attention their work has gotten both from scholars and media outlets is astonishing.
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