Research Essay #1

Shelby Rhodes
Professor Brown
ENG 1B
20 February 2013

The Cynicism in Becoming Your Own Superstar

            In recent years, the American public has seen a new pattern in pop music: singers and songwriters have begun heavily marketing the mentality that beauty is relative and that each person should embrace their individualities. However, is this ploy merely a means of boosting artist record sales, or is it a shift in the overall standpoint of the American public and an increase in our ability to love one another as we are? In an academic article by Camille Paglia, she argues that Lady Gaga and other pop sensations of the present day are merely empty shells of what music used to encompass: they recycle old melodies and churn out nonsensical sounds used to garner a wide audience and further their careers. Paglia scoffs that Gaga “constantly touts her symbiotic bond with her fans, the ‘little monsters,’ who she inspires to ‘love themselves’ as if they are damaged goods in need of her therapeutic repair. ‘You’re a superstar, no matter who you are!’ she earnestly tells them from the stage, while their cash ends up in her pockets” (Paglia, 1). But it’s not just Gaga; artists such as Katy Perry and Ne-Yo have hit the jackpot with songs such as “Firework” and “Let Me Love You,” respectively, each of which promote the idea of self-love. Rihanna, Bruno Mars, Macklemore, and multitudes of other artists have songs with similar ideals which pop up regularly on radio stations touting “top-40 hits.” Is every artist on the radio trying to scam their fans, or do these songs hold a deeper underlying meaning? Although the music industry has definitely capitalized on the insecurities of the American public, the healthy implications behind the idea of loving oneself negate any hesitation one may feel about having to shell out a bit of extra cash.
            Seeing as music is one of the most primary forms of transmitting ideas to a large audience, it is definitely beneficial to ensure that the tunes we listen to on a daily basis carry a positive message. In recent years, many popular songs on the radio were recorded by artists such as Eminem and Lil Wayne, whose ideals bring out the worst sides of society. In 2010, a collaboration between Eminem and Rihanna entitled “Love the Way You Lie” topped the music charts, which was chock full of allusions to domestic abuse. At one point, Eminem growls, “If she ever tries to f—king leave again / I’ma tie her to the bed and set this house on fire.” In comparison, Macklemore garnered support in late 2012 for his single “Same Love,” in which he details the need for reform in regards to marriage equality. As I am heavily involved in the music scene, I have noted these changes over recent years and ashamed by the critical response this shift has met. Many skeptics, including Paglia, believe that these artists are exploiting the idea of loving oneself as a marketing scheme. It is important to remember that although Gaga and Eminem portray messages which lay on opposite sides of the ethics spectrum, they are both artists. Music production is their job and main source of income. However, while each of them gained fame and notoriety in questionable ways, it is the messages they continue to convey to the public that truly expose their character. A fan at one of Gaga’s shows admits, “Lady Gaga seems so sincere, but it’s also how sincere she seems that makes [me] fearful she’s not. It’s a generational thing, the irony of living in a post-postironic age” (Callahan, 7). This leads back to the root of the problem, in that our society has grown so skeptical of positivity that we choose to ignore it at all costs, rather than to believe something now and be disappointed later.
            We are subconsciously drawn to the idea of self-love due to a decrease in personal confidence. A large chunk of our present day culture revolves around loud rap music with brass, obscene language. These underlying thematic elements are affecting us more than we can comprehend with surface level observations. “The variations in the patterns of self-concepts and values… are all explanations [that] could account for differences in self-esteem equally among females and males” (Johnson, 19). In a sense, it can be said that the media can be blamed for the desecration of one’s personal image, just as they have been responsible for attempting to rebuild that same image. The media heavily influences the way American citizens interact with one another, something that the vast majority of people have still yet to recognize. Perhaps if we spent a few moments away from the media, we would be able to truly become the people we were meant to be, rather than what the media has shaped us to become. But I digress, as that is another point entirely. 
            As a society, we need to stop being so skeptical about the positive images that are projected in the media. As a culture, we have grown accustomed to bad news, and are confused when there is no bad news. In fact, we are so used to negativity that when there is none actively present, we create it for ourselves. America is a nation that has become desensitized to stories of crime and hate, yet we shy away from positive messages promulgated through our televisions or sound systems. It is time that we accept and emulate the notion of positivity that is begging to inundate our lives. Why keep fighting it? “Love yourself and love the ones around you.” I don’t think that’s such a bad message to pass along.

Works Cited

Callahan, Maureen. Poker Face. New York: Hyperion, 2010. Print.

Halberstam, Jack. Gaga Feminism. [S.l.]: Beacon, 2013. Print.

Johnson, Norine G., ed. "Beyond Appearance: A New Look at Adolescent Girls." American Psychological Association (2001): n. pag. Print.

Paglia, Camille. "Lady Gaga and the Death of Sex." n.d.: n. pag. Lady Gaga and the Death of Sex | The Sunday Times. Sept. 2010. Web.

"Believe Me, It's Torture" Response

1. What other methods of torture is the U.S. using that we don't know about?

2. Is it realistic to believe that there may come a point in the future where we stop using water boarding?

3. Why do we continue to use water boarding if it doesn't even always give us reliable information?

This article was definitely an intriguing read. One man’s quest to experiment with water boarding under safe conditions was an interesting thought, and had me glued from the start. The entire way he described the process was vivid: I felt as though I was there, being water boarded myself. The scariest part of it all was thinking about how often that process has been used to torture people, and if I dare say it, it’s lack of efficiency. People will tell you anything you want to hear if you’re torturing them. There has to be a more reliable way of getting information out of people. I know it’s unrealistic, but the optimist in me believes that there has to be a more positive way of getting people to talk. Why continue violence and hatred? All of it just really makes me sick. 

What freaked me out even more about this whole idea is that the United States is most likely hiding a plethora of other torture techniques from the general public, because they know we won’t approve of them. We are all human beings: how can we inflict this kind of damage on one another?

Something I found poignant in the article is when the author states that waterboarding isn’t a simulation of drowning; it actually is drowning, but in a controlled environment. That was such a frightening image to me: the fact that someone could so easily play around with the air that you are able to breathe. Air is something that we take for granted since day one; how can someone take that away from us? Drowning has always been a fear of mine, and if I had to choose a way to die, drowning would definitely be the last possible option. Overall, it was an eye-opening read that made me think further about what our nation’s government does to its prisoners. 

Lady Gaga and the Death of Sex (2/8/13)

Questions:

1. Why does the author feel the need to put Gaga down through comparisons to other artists?
2. Why does the author put down Gaga's attempts to spread love?
3. Does the author believe that technological advancements have something to do with the increase in Gaga's popularity?

From the moment I began reading this article, I was already against the author. Paglia’s immediate use of words such as “unreal,” “cartoonish,” and “outlandish” immediately threw me off. To disagree with someone’s style or demeanor is one thing, but to outwardly criticize them to such an extent is another. I felt like the entire article was just saturated with bashing and cruel commentary about Lady Gaga’s life. I was also annoyed by the constant comparisons Paglia makes between Gaga and other artists. Just because Gaga draws inspiration from her predecessors and produces similar sounds does not mean she’s just some washed-up loser who mindlessly remixes old works and calls them her own. I believe Gaga’s music consistently delivers a message to her fans, most of which are positive. Call it cliché all you want, but I can find nothing wrong with an artist telling her fans that they should love themselves no matter who they are or what faults they find in themselves. She compares Gaga to Nicole Richie and Paris Hilton, saying that they all came from the same school and insinuating that they come from similar backgrounds. It’s a cheap shot at undermining Gaga’s intelligence; Richie and Hilton have made mindless television shows about partying and other useless endeavors. Gaga strives to boost self-confidence among her fans and to spread as much love as possible. Concerning her constant use of blood and death as imagery in her videos and performances, I believe it is merely a means of self-expression and although shocking, it’s a great marketing technique and a unique way to grab people’s attention. And deny it all you want, but the human race has a definite strange obsession with death and gore; although it may seem repulsive, most people are drawn into Gaga’s videos and performances, shocked by something they have never seen before. Overall, I think Gaga is a fresh new spin on the music scene and I always look forward to the new music she produces.