Going Gaga

Over the past year my perspective on all things has changed ever so slightly. I can't tell exactly when it all changed (or maybe the word is intensified). Some would say this intensification of my perspective of all things is a bad thing. But not me. Some would say that this intensification of my perspective is unhealthy. But not me. I, for one love this change, and am determined to embrace it fully, as everyone should.

Of course I'm talking about my ability to view almost anything through my feminist lens.

When you start thinking about things in terms of women, power, control and our socialization you begin to see some amazing things. Some of them make me crazy. But more often now, I'm smiling (trust me, big change!).

One of these observations of late is the very interesting figure of Lady Gaga. I'll admit when I first heard Lady Gaga, I enjoyed her music, but quickly I thought "Is this a gimmick? Is the arty stuff overpowering the music?". And then there was her hanging at the MTV video music awards. I'm always concerned when art depicts violence against women for some sort of inspiration.

But then I heard her new stuff on the new album. And then I started to read more and more articles where Gaga spoke about her immense talent ("I don't see myself as being like anyone else"...uhhh, yeah me neither, Stephani Germanotta) and ability to create monster hit song after song.

But then I kept reading and she starts to explain her above quotes, along with others and her answers started making me think...

"I find that men get away with saying a lot in this business, and that women get away with saying very little," she said. "In my opinion, women need and want someone to look up to that they feel has the full sense of who she is and says, 'I'm great.' "

Hm. Something to think about. Besides that her song "Bad Romance" talks about something that was my obsession during my fourth year of university, the commodification of women.

Enjoy.