Following the September cover of Japanese Men’s Vogue on which she wore a romper made entirely of beef, Lady Gaga as one of her three ensembles two nights ago at the MTV Video Music Awards sported this raw meat gown.
An interesting choice after Camille Paglia so recently called her out for, of all things, being artificial and UNSEXY. (While I’m not too into GaGa myself, I do respect the spectacle. She is all of the things that Paglia accuses her of being. But, isn’t that the whole point? She is artificial. She is overtly sexual to the point of asexuality–have you ever seen ANY porno? That’s not sex either. Her music is empty just like her face. Everything she produces is merely the re-manufacturing of what came before her. All of these things are perfectly fitting for “the first major star of the digital age.” It’s all we know. All right over the author’s head.)
Oh, and wouldn’t you know it? PETA THOUGHT IT WAS OFFENSIVE. Well, you know what we think of them. (Hey, PETA! You’re still irrelevant!)
What are pop stars, what are women in the public eye but pieces of meat? What is mainstream music but filthy consumption? Brilliant commentary through fashion, in my humble opinion.
And, shit. Those wedges are badass.
While I agree with the sentiments posted above right down to those about PETA- don’t hate on us vegans! Some of us do it because it makes sense to us ethically and ecologically and because we don’t want to filter money into the worst and most corrupt corporations around. I appreciate the commentary here and anyone bold enough to wear a dress made of beef in order to make a statement about music, media and celebrity. Just ’cause I’m a vegan doesn’t mean I’m a narrow minded, blind PETA follower with no sense of humor!
Maggie, I couldn’t resist–it rhymed! No hate to our vegan comrades out there! Just being a little silly.
I wonder if Lady Gaga is aware of the relationship between what she’s doing and the spectacle. When I saw this I immediately thought of the visual artist, Jana Sterbak and her meat dress. I found this article on Lady Gaga and many forms of the meat/women comparison (the meat dress is on p.2): http://flavorwire.com/118353/women-and-meat-in-art-and-fashion-a-history
Ooh, I’ve Jana Sterbeck… I’ll have to check her out.
I think that’s the most captivating aspect of Lady GaGa’s art. IS she in on the joke? I have to say, it’s so intricate, she must be. It’s a perfect storm of hideous pop-culture carnage. It can’t all be coincidence. That fact that people like us are left to ponder her meaning and intentions and implications only proves how truly evocative her performance is. All in the subtlety, yo.
Damn, we’re just so consumable! Fashion just can’t resist constantly reminding us of that reality. Interesting article. Thanks for posting.
And apparently, THE DRESS DIDN’T EVEN STINK!
Paglia’s article is sooooo predictable. Lady Gaga’s on top of the world and she’s, if not liked, at least paid attention to by intelligent and cosmopolitan people. So of course a “cultural critic” from some fancy shmancy publication is going to have to eviscerate her. Obviously it just shows how much power and importance Gaga wields even in the world outside of pop entertainment. Paglia would never bother/stoop writing about Spears, Aguilera, or Kesha with the same fervor.
Anyway, being an “asexual copycat” is something unique! And at least she copies interesting people, like Madonna & Quentin Tarantino.