[lbo-talk] Paglia on Gaga

[B.]

Without having read the Paglia piece, I've felt reflexively that Gaga's shtick 
seems like a well-worn modern pop star formula, to me: Decadence, "spectacle," 
manufactured scandal (a dress made of meat at the VMAs, a glittering bikini 
outfit at a baseball game), and an open call for queer rights, which is probably 
the safest "political" route one can go in the pop music/showbiz industry these 
days, thanks to folks who've tread this ground before: especially Madonna, who 
seems to have provided the template to which Ms. Gaga strictly  adheres.

Even the songs all sound like Madonna, to me. 

I guess I'm getting old, 'cuz I don't get it. History repeats itself, the first 
time as tragedy, the second time as farce? I just feel like I've seen this show 
before. The thing is, younger people haven't, except on VH1, so maybe they want 
it while its current and contemporaneous horribly derivative though it might be. 

The songs are crap.

-B.

======================

Camille Paglia doesn't like Lady Gaga and says so in a silly opinion piece.  How 
is being on tour and in the public eye all the time escaping serious scrutiny?

I've missed the Gaga train so far and don't know enough to form an opinion.  I 
know she has fans here.  What do you like about her?

http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/public/magazine/article389697.ece

"Lady Gaga is the first major star of the digital age. Since her rise, she has 
remained almost continually on tour. Hence, she is a moving target who has 
escaped serious scrutiny."