Comment on Jessica’s The Cult of Gaga

Pop Culture and celebrity figures such as Gaga and Madonna have all had their share of pack rats and followers mimicking the way they dress and act as if these pop singers are some sort of deities or goddesses. However, this is not entirely a negative concept. As consumer culture works, things become popular over time and when one thing is “in”, there is always someone who wants to be different. That person will take the lead and cause a new fad to erupt, eventually magnetizing many to follow. This cycle is repetitious, which can be negative but also positive in the sense that it allows different eras in our pop culture society to erupt (disco, hippie, greaser, punk, Goth, rocker, etc.). With Gaga being one center of attention in this era, she portrays quite a few examples of Gordon Lynch’s four approaches of pop culture in relation to religion. In relation to how pc serves religious functions in society, I think Gaga falls under all three subheadings. As you said, as a social function she has created a community in which many follow and that you could almost call a Gaga Nation. 

On the existential level, for many, Gaga can provide a meaning for life (extreme Gaga fans). They worship every word from her and relate what she says to situations in their lives.

Finally, on the transcendent level, I believe that when fans of Gaga listen to her music, they are taken to this next level of reality that is almost tranquil and at peace, as would happen with any artist’s music that someone lives by.

You finished off with asking if Gaga is a good or bad role model, which can relate to Lynch’s third approach on suspicion and appropriation. I think that there is a mix and that Gaga can be seen as a threat to religious beliefs, but she can also be viewed as a means to reach the Christian community on large.            Word count: 328 words

Rule #1: You Do Not Talk About Fight Club! Let’s Talk About Fight Club

This week’s media incorporated into lecture was a clip from Fight Club, which has been seen as a strong medium relating to religious beliefs. Fight Club can be seen to take on a more negative or reversal symbolic depiction of what it is like to be a Christian. As the clip showed in class, Tyler Durden (Brad Pitt) explains to Edward Norton’s character how we must learn to give up all our material possessions of the consumer culture. In one respect, Durden’s ideas do highlight Christian beliefs on how one must give up their material worldly possessions if they choose receive God’s salvation. In a sense Durden could be seen as the Saviour or Christ figure at this time. However as the movie unravels, and Durden recruits men for his plans of terrorism, his character immediately changes to a more cynical anti-Christ perspective. Now one could argue that the movie depicts a corrupt version of Christianity with Durden leading his recruits down a path of evil. However, in my opinion, there is something more to this movie. Edward Norton, even though he is the same character as Durden, should be seen as the true Christ image in the film. Yes, Durden carries Norton throughout the film, but Norton nevertheless ends up triumphing over Durden in the end. His triumph depicts one of good over evil where he no longer abides by Durden’s philosophy because he sees that it is evil. Norton depicts Christ in my opinion, because he triumphs over this evil that many people (the recruits) do not, which shows a small sign of his goodness and wanting to escape the evils of the world. In relation to Lynch’s four approaches, I think that this PC example can be used to relate to biblical texts. In a almost hidden sense, Edward Norton’s character shows that even though one might fall into the hands of evil at times, they can still triumph over it in the end.                        Word count: 327 words

Interesting fact: the scene in the movie where Durden is getting recruits and they are outside his house for four days at a time is a display of how in the past, if monks wanted to be accepted into a monastery, they were tested by showing their humility and standing outside the doors for days. Henry IV waited outside the monastery for four days until Gregory VII forgave him over papal authority and royal authority disputes. Hmm… Interesting. Picture of scene above.

Welcome All

This semester should be very interesting and there will definitely be a lot of interesting topics to talk about. I hope that many can be involved in reading and sharing ideas on my posts and I hope we leave this course with newly learned information. Can't wait to get started. Jesus Rocks