Critical Approaches to Gender and 21st Century Pop Music

This artical discusses how Lady Gaga carefull creats her image through social media and youtube, this has enabled her to be so successfull. Lady Gaga is a brand and herself and her team work hard at promoting the brand.

Camille Paglia argues that the problem with Cyrus's performance wasn't that it was "disgusting," but rather that it was unsexy ("atrocious"), and that subversion and sexual liberation need limits and can't rely just on shock.

I might add that I think Paglia is largely right, but then again, wrong: Isn't she mis-identifying Cyrus? Cyrus was out for shock, not sexual liberation (in my reading). She's not trying to be the next Madonna. (If you read other Paglia arguments, a recurring theme is: "This new artist isn't Madonna.")

Camille Pagila is at it again! Although our class discussion is currently focused on Lady Gaga, I found this article Pagila wrote about Miley Cyrus interesting. Pagila does mention the focus on sex in the music industry and credits Madonna as the executive of such an image, in the most positive way possible. Pagila described Gaga as the striking end of sex and gender. Here, Pagila claims that pop music/culture itself is on the exponential decline. Don't forget to read the comments, they're quite amusing, actually!

The Guardian asked in 2010 if Lady Gaga is "a feminist icon." Kira Cochrane's column answers in the affirmative, noting how Gaga reveals the "sham" of performed femininity, while Hadley Freeman responds briefly that Gaga is nothing more than a copycat.

A 2009 interview and cover shoot with Elle, which reflects on Gaga's art, her sexuality, and her relationship with her father.

Joining Leeds University and Edinburgh University, Derby and West Scotland University have both decided to ban Robin Thicke's "Blurred Lines" because they perceive the lyrics to promote rape 

6 days before the release of her new album 'Bangerz', MTV are running a 60 minute documentary on Miley Cyrus. As well as documenting her life off-stage, MTV is also hoping to discover the reason behind MIley's sudden image transformation and her thoughts behind her more recent series of controversial actions. (Trailer included in link)

Taylor Swift is renowned for her numerous short term relationships that lead to chart topping songs. Though in this interview she insists that she doesn't want be (isn't) the stereotypical girl who had a long chain of never ending boyfriends. In reality she of course contradicts herself by continuing to live up to this reputation of numerous boyfriends that she has made for herself.

Lady Gaga on the cover of V Magazine and featured images

Ann Powers responds to Paglia's critique of Lady Gaga

Alex Needham responds to Paglia's critique of Lady Gaga

Rolling Stone's page for Lady Gaga, which includes all their stories about Gaga over the last few years.

Fendrich argues that Lady Gaga isn't that pretty, which offers a hopeful image to those who are less attractive.

A 2009 interview with Lady Gaga about feminism, sexuality, fame, etc.

Ann Powers reviews the "Born This Way" video when it comes out.

Ann Powers provides her "snap judgment" after the release of "Born This Way," speculating that it's harmful for sexual identity because it works on a model of inherent identity and inclusion in conventional social order instead of larger structural or social change

I found this article interesting not only because we have been discussing Lady Gaga as a class but this article was literally posted yesterday stating how Lady Gaga's new song isn't something to brag about and as a culture we will move on once the next shiny object appears... (Perhaps Miley???)

This video discusses an interesting metaphor about gender and sex, from the movie "Hedwig and the Angry Inch."

This is Steve, by the way.

Amanda Palmer performing and speaking about Lady Gaga. Ends short, but I found it interesting hearing Amanda Palmer speaking about someone we are studying so heavily right now. 

This an interview with one of the members of Ylvis who did the Fox song. This interview was used to ask Ylvis why they thought their video of the Fox was so popular

"Nothing else than being amused and laughing and having a good time." I really liked Vegard Ylvisaker's view on The Fox song. Since they started as a comedy group and have been doing this for years, he didn't set out for this to be superstardom but just wanted to make people laugh.

This post shares images from Project Unbreakable, an exhibit of photos that feature people holding signs with words their rapists said. The signs show a lot of similarity to Thicke's lyrics.