Lady Gaga - Debates

Debates for Lady Gaga:
Is she a fashion icon or a shock-value style setter? The Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) the elite group that represents the very best in American fashion, has chosen to award the grammy-winning singer Lady Gaga as this year's Fashion Icon. Her style is very unique and different from normal clothing. Lady Gaga's fashion however, has a required taste you either love it or hate it. Many vegetarians will be put off her meat dress, a lot of people will not want to wear raw meat or be as exposed as she can be (nipple tassels and knickers) it is too sexualised with shock-value. Many audiences will not want to be the centre of attention or wear over the top big clothes. She is a shock-value style setter predominantly, as her style is not quiet accepted in society, even though the CFDA are accepting her unusual dress sense. Merriem-Webster defines an icon as a "object of extreme devotion". Lady Gaga fits this description, however, Gaga recently called fashion maven an editor-in-chief extraordinaire Anna Wintour a 'bitch'. Representing her as a start-off (rookie) fashion icon, which some audience believe she is not worthy of that title. 

A music industry revolutionary or a Madonnabe? Lady Gaga's career has thus far depended heavily on controversy, speculation, and public perception: Is she bisexual? Is she a hermaphrodite? Is she subverting sexual norms? Is she the next Madonna? Many audiences believe Lady Gaga is only copying previous artists' work, she is not introducing anything new to the older audiences especially, as they have seen the boob cones, crotch showing, sexual videos and shock lyrics before with 'Prince', 'Madonna' and 'Dennis Rodman', they believe she is just reacting these performances to get noticed in the public eye. Here is a quote from a male perspective "There is a part of me that believes Lady Gaga isn’t sincere with her eccentric antics, she copies older famous pop stars music, clothing and antics (Prince, Madonna), she is not revolutionary as none of her work/clothing ideas are new or her own and she is just doing it because she needs a gimmick to separate herself from the rest of the group." Positively, here is another review from a younger Gaga fan: "I think that Lady Gaga is good, because she's so different. She's not afraid to stand out in today's society. She's very talented and classically trained which seems to be a rarity these days. She's got millions of followers, or "little monsters". and truly cares about her fans and their perception of her. She's completed dedicated to her craft and it's admirable." Younger audiences will percieve Lady Gaga as revolutionary as many of this target audience hasn't seen older artists who Lady Gaga has used ideas from, they see her as new and entertaining.

Gaga is also a Madonnabe in some peoples opinion: Some of her musical lyrics are up-to-date and improved since the 70's-80's, relating to modern day music such as Katy Perry (the music beat is better and better technology for her video's). Gaga's song lyrics are inspired by the pop stars of the 70's-80's, for example "Madonna - Erotica" and "Bad Girl". Lady Gaga's singing tone is also very similar to Madonna's, Gaga's sexual positions in her video's are influenced by Madonna's. Gaga's music is a crossover with Madonna's, especially Madonna - "Express yourself" and Gaga's "Born this way". A quote from a males perspective: "Gaga said "BTW" was going to be the biggest song of the decade, that it would influence and save lives. She also bragged about writing the song in 10 minutes. Then she released this mediocre track that any decent songwriter would be embarrassed of, especially if it took any more than 10 minutes to write. It's way too late for her to try and hide behind the excuse of this being a tribute to Madonna." Gaga admits Madonna is her idol and main inspiration.

Music Vs Fashion: Lady Gaga spent two hours answering questions live online. "I need fashion for my music, and I need music for my fashion," she said. Lady Gaga does not see music as her primary focus, many audiences would not watch Gaga without her big costumes, flamboyantness and sexualised video's, this is her selling point and entertainment. Lady Gaga however does not see fashion as her main focus point, she can play piano and sing very well, she's a talented song writer, she also sells her music through these excellent skills that the audiences find attractive and inspirational not really her raunchy, promiscuous, "crotch-showing" performances or shock-value costumes.