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