"Britney Jean" - A Bitch constantly husteling - A Review

It has been a while since Britney Spears has released a new album. But now she did it again and put out her latest project "Britney Jean". She marketed the album as the most personal album of hers up to date. Well, lets see if this glimpse at the "real" Britney really is what she promises us.

The cover is very clear and kept simple... Almost too simple. Just her and a neon sign that says Britney jean in a red heart. Well, that s not what I a would call very creative but I guess it is supposed to show simplicity and honesty of Britney.(And actually I want to say that every intern could have created this picture. Give a fan a picture of her, photoshop and a little time and they will come up with a way more striking cover! Well, alegedly!) BUT: honest is what the cover definitely is not. Look at her! I mean it is pretty but actually it is the most photoshopped picture I have seen in a while! (Allegedly!) Let me give you some tips Brit. If you want to make this album to be closer to your fans, to be their friend, to be their supporter and their idol at the same time then make the whole recepie less photoshop and more of the real you. Please! You are beautiful without tons of photoshop! (And some wrinkles and other natural characteristics of beeing 30 somethig ish are normal, and if necessary can be covered with something called make-up.) Anyways, lets get back to the real buisness and focs on what an album actually is about: the music of it. ""Britney Jean" comes along with 14 songs on the delxe version, but only 11 or so in the standart one. Damn, that is a short album!

Lets get to the songs in detail and haopefully not find something to really wrip into shreds, because I already have the feeling that there might be some things And thereby I mean a shitload of stuff!) to criticize. Because Britney has been husteling along in the industry for about 15 years or so now, and I always had the feeling that she was more of a ventriloquist puppet for managers and stuff then she actually was in absolute control of her artictic output. (Nevertheless we have been seeing some amazing performances, heard somegood songs and could sing along a ton of Brit songs!)

#1 - Alien

The albums starts off with this interestingly titled mid tempo pop song. The choice to name it Alien gives certain expectations that somehowwont be easy to fullfill. Although the song has some magic to it in its charming hook and the mesmerizing qualities autonune has put out of Britneys voice. (Lets face the music here: Autotne comes in different categories. There is a bit, there is some centimeters and there is shitloads.And this is somewhere between shitloads and centimeters! #SorryBoutIt) The song, on long distance, fails a bit to deliver the goodies, but still it is a nice one. So I will be good and give it a 7/10.

#2 - Work Bitch

Oh yes, the old hustle for something game. As many others have pointed out I have to admit that the topic is old and others might have worked it out better. If you want a depth analysis of it just click here and read all about it. But just then I also have to admit that I listen tto it sometimes and in the club I have requested it once. So I will be nice again and make it a 7/10.

#3 - Perfume

Okay, right now I already get the feeling that Britney has it with generic titles that create expectations. but this one is better at delivering the goods for it. As the fist ballad of the album "Perfume" delives some good vocals from Britney. The chorus on the other hand I am split about. One half finds it repetitive and stupidly boring to make perfume about marking territory the ther hal is hopelessly singing along and liking the idea. A torn 6/10.

#4 - It Should Be Easy feat. Will.I.Am

Hold my hair please! I hate that everyone needs to work with Will.I.Am. I hate his sound, it is so damn signature like and so damn generic. The song starts off nicely, but in the end is just a rip off of Work Bitch and "Scream And Shout" mixed. The use of autotune to make it electronic might be interesting, but my ears are actually hurting after the third listen of it. So 5/10 is nice, and would have been one less if it was not for some catchy parts of the song.

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire is hot! - And I am burning for it! - A Review

After three books about Katniss Everdeen have taken the world by storm, even though there are several similarities in the general idea to "Battle Royale", Lionsgate has decided to film the books. After the first one, "The Hunger Games", fans were craving for more....

And now, finally, we got what we all were desperately waiting for: "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire". And let me tell you that the critics and the audiences have not fooled us, the movie is as good as its reputation. And they really let us have it! The promotional efforts have been rollig all over us in the last few months and the tease was constant. Here, on Icon Art Marilyn, I have dished about the fashion seen in the trailers and posters as soon as they were out and I was so pleased with wat the visuals provided. 

Making Francis Lawrence, director of Lady Gaga's epic video for "Bad Romance" and Will Smith movie "I Am Legend", seemed the perfect choice right from the beginning, as he is known for his clear edge cutting visuals that incorporate this mad dark undertone and give a feeling of contaigion, supression, pain and lifelessness. The visuals are definitely more clear and very much darker then those of the first movie. Well, that should be the result of the up high budget and the buzz the first movie has created. Diving right into it, let me reassure you that the first third of the movie is depressing and re-creates absolutely the feeling of  life in danger, a life in constant threat of beeing killed off. The second thirs shows the growing discompfort of Katniss with her situation as the third part shows the actual Quater Quell. Katniss is no longer the same girl. She is darker, broken and her expertise on life is a different one. The moment President Snow pays visit to the Victors Village of District 12 Katniss gets the idea  that she never will be out the range of fire. Death is on her feet and just waits to jump up the ladder. During the Victors Tour Katniss and Peeta grow a little closer together, allthough there is no real fire in it... well from Peetas side there is. And constantly on Katniss is her good friend and kind of lover Gale.

As soon as the cameras are on they are trying their best and sadly they half fail as the Districts are very hard on them. But I dont want to spoil the stryline for the ones that havent read the book yet. But i can give you the following: The movie is very realistic and true to the book. What really gets me going is that the fashion is overwhelming, the character play is extraordinarily good, the sets are mindblowing and the dialgues are sharp, edgy and stay close to the characters we all love. Everything in this movie shows the Capitols desire for blood, their agression and their very excellence in the art of killing, their miss-valuation of life in general, their absolute disgust over individuality and the cold agression presented gives you shivers. Jennifer Lawrence gives us her all and we feel with her, her agony and her absolute devastation. We feela long Peeta and his real undying love for Katniss. We feel along Haymitch, starting to feel again, after drinking himself to death as a result to cope with him beeing a victor as well. And, my absolute favorite, Effie Trinket. We see her develope and questioning the reality of the world she lives in. She hesitates to reap her victors names as the reaping for the 75th Hunger Games is in process. She tries to fight for them, and she even tells them that they deserve way better. I like that they show that she has a developement. 

Basically the movie has too much to talk about, and when the DVD is out I will probably give you a reading of all the things going on in this fantastic movie. But what really left the mark on me is that the movie gives us a clear understanding of what a dystopian, supressive, totalitarian and inhuman nation does to people, how violence affects peoples lives and their psychology, their longing for freedom and the perversion of life in such a system. I am very much impressed by how this was brought across the screen to us as viewers.

The only thing I regret is that we have to waint another year for the next movie, and two years to see the final movie. But, and you can believe me, I will still burn for this movie! Cause it is iconic!

My Name Is Dita - An Experiment

Hey yall! As you do know by now I am a huge fan of everything concerning the theories of gender, sex, queer, feminism and performance. And as I am very secure in the texts that surround the theories I am tempted to get the whole thing to the next level: reality.

During last Tuesdays LGBT social night we dressed up as a rainbow, and of course, I was in team red. Besides my narcicistic wish to win best dressed, yes I am a bit vain, I also made the whole eening an exciting experiment. As I dressed up, and looked more and more of a mixture of fucked up dirty drag queen and glam rock experiment, I thought about what the color red represents in the LGBT flag. Of course it represents life  but also sexuality. And, the whorry, slutty and cunty person I am, I bought a whip, with a heart shaped end, to complete my outfit for the evening. Covered in red glitter, dolled up with lip stick, eyeliner, red paint and tons of red lipstick I had a close look at my actual outfit. I wore a red shirt, burgundy red pants and my cherry red Dr. Martens boots, and yes they are the same Miley wore in the Wrecking Ball video. I actually looked like a mixture of a dominatrix and busted gender blender. AWESOME!

As you can see, Dita was everything else then shy.

And now, let me build yu a bridge to where I am commig from right now academically. My dissertation is going to be on the use of S&M i pop culture, mainly in thee different types of works. These three are "Venus in Furs" a novel by Leopold von Sacher Masoch, published in 1870, SEX by Madonna, yes I mean the 1992 published super scandalous coffe table book, and the 2012 released 5 minute short film FAME by Lady Gaga which is also a commercial for her perfume Fame. 

And to get better understanding of why Madonna put up the figure of Dita in her book sex, I thaught that for this night, my name could be Dita as well. I introduced my outfit to my friends as: "My name is Dita, I will be your mistress tonight!". Very Madonna, very erotica and due to my outfit and masquerade very much gender fuck.  Below you ca see the pictures of Ditas kisses and lipstick writings on everyone, cause "Dita is one everyone."

As a result I can say that putting on a persona and do something with it is extremely liberatig and very empowering. But at the same time I can imageine that the character in itsself is a very intimidating one.

And of course I want to give a big big big thank you to all my amazing friends who have allowed Dita to kiss, draw on and whip them. You guys seriously are amazing!

DITA IS ON EVERYONE

"I Love Art" - Kathy "Betty" Griffin

As you do know I am ahuge fan of our favorite D-List queen Kathy Griffin. And back in the days she has done an amazing photoshoot with Mike Ruiz for his transformation series.

And as she has celebrated her birthday a few days ago, I think it is time to give Kathy another run in the spotlight. Besides that, my latest article for Vada Magazine has been treating Kathy Griffin as part of the "Holy Trinity of Gay Comedy". And if you have not yet read about it then go and do so! Right here! So now take a good hard look at this drawing and tell me that Kathy was right by saying: "Now I am staning here like this and even the gays are getting hard ones. Well, to the best of their abilities!" (Cause I definitly agree!)

Bettie Paige has nothing on our Kathy! She is a cougar! (And a very sexy one!)

"I Love Art" - Disney... fucked up. Kind of.

These ladies might be directly from the teen toon happy town of the Disney world, but I have taken them and given them a bit of a makeover. Because in my perception Disney is in desperate need of a makeover. 

Away with those stereotypical roles and in with the Disney heroines of 2013.Its about time that these princesses take their high heels, get tattooed and stick their middle finger right into their prince, hunters, bad witches and stepmothers face. Feminism in a sexy-chique version of go-go, burlesque an tattoo style.

Alice aka. The Demanding Diva

I mean, havent we all wondered sometimes where our freaking rabbit is? Because we are truely majestic! (And in case not, i can assure you that you are not a bitchy and demanding diva.)

Arielle aka. The Punk Girl

This one is all about  her favorite bad ass lesbian rock band and will let you know all about it. Who says raunchy rock attitude has to be butch?

Daisy aka. The Luxurious Lady

Face! Face! Face! Serving us upper class rich power Lady in a sexy and tight dress, Daisy gives us everything! Executive bitchy realness, hunty!

Minnie aka. MinnieSKIRT

It will always be forever 21 for Minnie, but definitely not in pink. And if Mickey has fucked up once again, she is not sitting at home crying about it, rather she is out at the bar with her girlfriends and going wild!

Blonde Woman, Dead on Arrival.

Here is for you one of my older stories I wrote on Marilyn Monroe. this one tries to be a mixture of a reflective piece and a obituary. When I wrote this i was very much obsessed with the idea of an image surviving time and overshadowing its origin. 

August 5th. 1962.1.36 pm. 12305 Fifth Helena Drive, Brentwood, Los Angeles.

She dialed the number. The phone rang, but no one answered. She put down the phone. John did not answer, and nobody knows why. She picked up the phone once again. This will be the last time she ever touched a phone, and ever dialed a number.

When they look back at her life all they see is the bright, shiny and stunning creature, which Hollywood wanted her to be. It is not like Marilyn lied to the world, nor did Norma Jean,but she always wanted to be a terrific beautiful star and special. She loathed average. She was not average. But this night, the night of her spirit finally leaving the vessel, she had become what she hated most: average. But what she might have loved is that even in being average she was truly special. Death she may share with each and every creature, but with her death she entered the sphere of icons. She will always be remembered as this star she always wanted to be.

“Marilyn is gone. Would you come here? Marilyn is no longer alive.” Jack Clemmons, an officer of the Los Angeles Police Department, received this call by Marilyn’s psychiatrist Dr. Ralph Greenson. She was 36. As the doctors entered the room all they saw was a woman lying on a bed, nude, with her face and blossoms down. Only a thin blanket covered her body. A blonde woman, dead on arrival.

What we may remember most about the following days was that her death was an unbelievable thing. Her visuals, which have been captured on photographs and in movies, have constantly flashed through the papers and now they took their final flash in the center of the spotlight. Marilyn will always be alive, even if Norma is dead. The blonde, divine, fake and dead hair shined for its last time. Superficially Marilyn’s appearance and behavior has always been about the looks, the poses, the sex appeal and the desire she embodied. The world wanted to see beauty, to own the picture, to absorb it. That is what they always got, even until the very end. She never disappointed.

When they had lifted her body up, and laid it on the stretcher, she looked as if she was not Marilyn at all. Her face was swollen softly, her eyes closed and her skin looked pale. The hair, which smelled chemical, was all messed up, her lips, which had always been perfectly full, looked torn, and her lipstick was smudged.

The whole world knew her and still, more than 2600 weeks later, everyone knows her. If you type in Marilyn on google.com it will instantly add Monroe as a proposal. If you press enter approximately eighty three million seven hundred thousand results will be found in less than 0,2 seconds. They knew her for her body, her sex appeal and her being Marilyn Monroe. But what is most remarkable is Marilyn’s smile. Smiling is a happy expression. It shows joy, vitality, energy and spirit. Marilyn smiled a lot. She always tried to be happy. Not for her own sake but for Norma. Since Norma hasn’t exactly had what is supposed to be the picture-perfect childhood, Marilyn was her way to make the experiences she did not had. She, they, Norma and Marilyn, were seen as one, but in fact were 2 different people. Norma, who was a child when she first got married, had to grow up so fast that she was an adult by the time others went on their first date. Marilyn, who was an artificial creation of FOX, was not the adult she should have been.

Not even in the night of her death the paparazzi ignored her. When her corpse arrived in an ambulance at the Los Angeles County Hospital the paparazzi were already waiting for her, to catch the image. The image of a fallen star, which once was a symbol for America, as prove for the possibility that your dreams may fulfill themselves. They wanted to catch her, take her picture. Pictures made her a star, and they were to guide her till the very end.

Her zodiac sign was twins. Twins may represent a dual force, the power of two and the unity of two parts. On the other hand twins are a representation of a duality. A split personality. And this girl, woman, being, construct, dead creature and beautiful personality was two, split. Norma Jean wanted to be Marilyn. FOX created Marilyn in cooperation with Norma Jean. Marilyn grew. Norma grew along, for a while. When Marilyn grew more and more, Norma suffered. Marilyn, always reduced to the sex symbol and serving as a mask, started to get so heavy that Norma suffered under the pressure and the reductionism. When Norma could no longer take the pressure she was in danger to break down. On movie sets she was fragile, appeared late, was always on drugsand could hardly make a scene. She needed help. Psychoanalysis seemed like theanswer. But it was not. Finally Marilyn brought Norma Jean to the edge. Norma jumped the edge. It is not clear if Marilyn helped Norma. What “helped” her were her lovers.

To be photographed always seemed a way for her to be loved without risk. Her skin was her protection. Her body was notsomething she associated with shame; rather she saw it as a vessel. As something to work with and on.

But in this night her lovers were not called Joe, John or any other male name. They were called pentobarbital, chloral hydrateand other barbiturates.

Marilyn has always been more that what the world perceived her to be. Ways more. Underestimating her and making her a dumb doll was wrong. Simply because she was everything else than that. Once she wrote a poem:

Help help

Help

Ifeel live coming closer

when all I want

is to die

It seems as like she knew that she would not get very old. Just like her idol: Jean Harlow.

She was laid to rest on August 8th in a bronze coffin. The only husband of hers coming to the funeral was JoeDiMaggio. Lee Strasberg who held the funeral speech said that he couldn’t bare to say goodbye. Marilyn hated to say goodbye.

In 1955 in a letter to Claude Claude she added in the post scriptum:

“In a few day’s I am sending you a reminder – to remind you of something of me mostly.”

It seems as though Marilyn has left behind a reminder for all of us. Her life, story and being is a reminder. We should keep it in mind.

"Academia" - Lady Gaga - The Deconstruction of a Pop Star Identity

In light of Gaga's latest album beeing released, I think it is time for me to give you my latest academic turn on Gaga. In this essay I will show that Lady Gaga is a huge identity construct that shows that she is not the usual pop star we expect her to be. So I hope you can enjoy the read. 

Structure

1. From Warhol’s Theories of Perception and Grotesque, out of this World Couture to constant Gender Blur and a Fight for LGBT IQA Rights – Welcome to the Multi Layered World of Lady Gaga
2. The Theory of Plural Identities and Identity as a Construct
3. Camp – [Former] prison for an illegal minority, now […] a holiday for consenting adults (Core, 80)
4. Queer and Queer Theory – Deconstruction as an Enterprise
5. “A unicorn, [a] giant vagina, a meat couch, homoerotic dancing & screaming monsters. U won’t see that sh*t at a Bieber concert. #BornThisWayBall” (@VEVO) – Lady Gaga and the Art of Grotesque
6. A Pop Star and a Message – Why Lady Gaga is able to Spread her Agenda
7. Stripper Boots and Female Empowerment – Lady Gaga as a feminist (?)
8. Joe Calderone, Yüyi the mermaid and a sexualized body – Lady Gaga’s relation to Gender, Sex and Drag
9. Fashion Forward, Fashion Fatale, Fashion(able)? – Lady Gaga and “la mode”
10. The Beauty and the Beast – Monster Like or a Real Lady? – Beauty & Lady Gaga
11. In Shape and in Style – Lady Gaga and the Body
12. Mother Monster and her Little Monsters – Lady Gaga and her Fans
13. Lady GayGay thanks “God and the Gays” – Gaga and LGBT Activism
14. Violence, Sex and Tabloids – Lady Gaga and the Unholy Trinity of Celebrity Culture
15. Lady Gaga – A Multitude of Identity Parts
16. List of Works Cited

1. From Warhol’s Theories of Perception and Grotesque, out of this World Couture to constant Gender Blur and a Fight for LGBT IQA Rights – Welcome to the Multi Layered World of Lady Gaga

[Lady Gaga:] When you watch each image and you watch each thing come out, they might not look exactly the same. I’m not defined by the same designer or defined by the same hair cut or defined by the same icon. The statement is that I’m not one icon. I’m every icon. I’m an icon that is made out of all the colors on the palette at every time. I have no restrictions. No restrictions. (Iredale)

As Lady Gaga makes a visually stunning, theatrical and artistic complex comeback to the music scene she constantly reminds the ever scandal hungry public that she is more than what obviously meets the eye. Behind the glamorous and outrageous fashion choices, shocking and fascinating performances, disturbing and mesmerizing music videos there are many different layers at work, all the time. Lady Gaga is more than a flat character, more than a single identity, or as she puts it in the quote: “I’m every icon.” What meets the academic interest here is that this pop star gives us a view behind the curtain. Lady Gaga apparently is a well thought, multi layered, ambiguous and controversial construct nourished by the possibilities offered by a queer world reading, camp and grotesque aestheticism and an anti – heteronormative identity and gender performance.

In this essay I will give a reading of the identity construct of Lady Gaga. Theoretically I will center my analysis on Amartya Sen’s theory of identities as constructs of plural affiliations and I will prove that multi layered identity constructs are not contradictory. Ongoing, I will explain the functions and mode of operations of queer, camp and explain the importance of grotesque for this essay. As I have laid out the theoretical basics I will go on and dissect the most important and prominent features of the constructed identity that is Lady Gaga and provide this identity autopsy with examples of the oeuvre of the artist. Alongside I will show why her body of work has such an impact on popular culture and why her disturbing attempts to change the world one sequin at a time are so successful.

2. The Theory of Plural Identities and Identity as a Construct

The economic theorist and essayist Amartya Sen is widely famous for his book Die Identitätsfalle – Warum es keinen Krieg der Kulturen gibt. In this book he not only explains his ideas of multiculturalism and cultures and oppression but also his theory of identity as a construct. Sen begins his argumentation with the notion that every “realer Mensch […] vielen verschiedenen Gruppen angehört […]” (Sen, 35 ) and that being part of numerous different categories simultaneously is very important (Sen, 33). He exemplifies this argument by giving the reader a short display of some of the groups he belongs to:

Was mich betrifft, so kann ich mich zur gleichen Zeit bezeichnen als Asiaten, Bürger Indiens, Bengalen mit bangladeschischen Vorfahren, Einwohner der Vereinigten Staaten oder Englands, Ökonomen, Dilettanten auf philosophischem Gebiet, Autor, Sanskritisten, Mann, Feministen, Heterosexuellen, Verfechter der Rechte von Schwulen und Lesben, Mensch mit einem areligiösen Lebensstil und hinduistischer Vorgeschichte […] [bezeichnen]. (Sen, 33-34)

Each and every part of these groups is ranked in a hierarchical system and case by case one has to decide which one of this identity parts takes which priority (Sen, 34). As to be observed are the following two rules: Erstens die Einsicht, das[s] Identitäten entschieden plural sind und das die Wichtigkeit einer Identität nicht die Wichtigkeit einer anderen [zunichtemachen] mu[ss]. Zweitens mu[ss] man […] entscheiden, welche relative Bedeutung man in einem bestimmten Kontext den unterschiedlichen Loyalitäten und Prioritäten beimi[ss]t, die möglicherweise miteinander um Vorrang konkurrieren. (Sen, 34)

The idea that all the given identiy parts are plural and can coexist is further emphasized by Sen when he explains that „[j]eder von uns hat in seinem Leben in unterschiedlichen Kontexten an Identitäten vielfältiger Art teil, […] und jedes diese Kollektive kann einem Menschen eine potentiell bedeutsame Identität vermitteln.“ (Sen, 38). His argumentation comes to a closure by the following statement: Im normalen Leben verstehen wir uns als Mitglieder einer Vielzahl von Gruppen, denen allen wir angehören. Staatsangehörigkeit, Wohnort, geografische Herkunft, Geschlecht, Klassenzugehörigkeit, […], Musikgeschmack, soziale Engagements usw. – das alles macht uns zu Mitgliedern einer Vielzahl von Gruppen. Jedes diese Kollektive, denen ein Mensch gleichzeitig angehört, verleiht ihm eine bestimmte Identität. Keine seiner Identitäten darf als seine einzige Identität […] verstanden werden. (Sen, 20)

All the examples Sen has provided, his argumentation, that identity is a construct of smaller identity parts which are plural in their nature, but not exclusive nor contradictory in their connection and coexistence, paints the picture of identity as a multi layered concept applicable to any human being, regardless of age, gender and sex. No identity part might be understood as the individual’s single identity. The identity theory he presents is based on two primary sources: the plurality of the identity parts and their changing priority due to the change of context.

3. Camp – [Former] prison for an illegal minority, now […] a holiday for consenting adults (Core, 80) 

Since its first emerge in the Stonewall era camp has come a long way and transcended into mainstream culture making it a “disguise that fails” (Core, 80). What Core wants to express is that camp emerged in the time of the 1960’s and 70’s as a matter of “passing”. In her essay, From Interiority to Gender Performatives, Judith Butler not only explains how gender is constructed, and how the heteronormative discourse keeps its power, but also the reason why camp emerged: “[Camp emerged] as a strategy of survival within compulsory systems, [since] gender is a performance with clearly punitive consequences. […] we regularly punish those who fail to do their gender right.” (Butler, 366). What Butler expresses is that camp emerged as a disguise for homosexuals. But what makes it more special than a normal disguise is that camp is a disguise constituted to fail (Core, 80). Core explains his poetical description of camp as follows: “There are only two things essential to camp: a secret within the personality which one ironically wishes to conceal and to exploit; and a peculiar way of seeing things, […], but strong enough to impose itself on others trough acts or creations.” (Core, 82), which brings us to the understanding that “CAMP is in the eye of the beholder, especially if the beholder is camp.” (Core, 81). This means that the disguise of camp only fails if the recipient is aware of camp and its workings. Further it is understood as a parodic device characterized by irony, aestheticism, theatricality and humor (Horn, 87). Therefore camp relies on its audience’s ability to “find” it, a characteristic that it shares with irony and its discursive community.

Even though camp emerged in the homosexual community one does not necessarily need to be homosexual to be, understand or create with camp (Core, 80). But, as I said before, “It takes one to know one.” (Core, 80). A remarkable ability of camp is that, due to its nature, it is able to operate at the heart of popular culture without generally being perceived as criticizing it at the same time. “The “normal” man remains comfortable with camp because it amuses him.” (Core, 85) and to add: there might be a good possibility he might not understand what camp is about. Camp resides on people’s desire to be entertained (Core, 85). To ensure its survival and multiply its abilities and space to work within “[…] camp has taunted the media to concentrate on excess, any excess […]”, because camp works best in the realm of its four basics: theatricality, aestheticism, irony and humor. Excess and over the top aesthetics offer the best possibilities for an effective use of camp, which explains why Lady Gaga can be seen as camp, because no other pop star is as excessive in her existence as she is.

One could easily question: Why this excess? Why the aesthetic sweets buffet? With the help of camp it is possible to criticize. In his essay Warhol’s Camp Matthew Tinkom put it as follows: “[I]n camp we witness viewing practices which do insist on reading […] popular culture for [it’s] limits and contradictions” (Tinkom, 348). Hence, it is perfect for this criticism since one must know of the workings of camp or either would not perceive a campy work as such. Which brings us another glimpse of Core who named gave the most striking line about camp: “CAMP is a lie that tells the truth.” (Core, 81). If a campy work is placed in the center of the discourse it criticizes, it alleges conformity but is placed publicly for all camp insiders to see. “CAMP is gender without genitals” (Core, 83) explains camps over the top nature as exaggerating gender and ironizing it to a point where camp is gender fluid and gender mocking.

Another important characteristic of camp, and especially of Andy Warhol and therefore of Lady Gaga’s camp, is it’s appreciation of glamour (Tinkom, 349). Warhol as an artist always sought out to iconize and ironize everyday products by sheer endless repetition. When he turned to film he “[…] sought to use the materials of Hollywood in order to critique it.” (Tinkom, 348). Warhol, as Lady Gaga, used Hollywood glamour and ironized it to a point where it reached such an over the top point from where it was constructed that it ultimately was only to be perceived as constructed. Tinkom showed the way of Warhol’s camp by stating: “Remembering Warhol’s comment that he wanted $ 1.000.000 from Hollywood to make a movie, I can only hazard that the final product might have looked like Terminator II with RuPaul playing the hero.” (Tinkom, 351).

"Music Minute" - ARTPOP - A track by track review!

Okay it has happened again: a leak! I've had this topic before and I still have to say i do not appreciate leaks and the problems they bring with them. Thing is: Lady Gaga's latest pop epos should have been released earliest on November 6th in Japan, but the album has leaked in full and high quality on November 2nd. And thing is that I could not resist and have listened to it in whole. So now I can give you a track by track review of "ARTPOP". But still I will get my digital copy and my physical copy, which I encourage you to do as well, since we should support our favorite artists. 

I have discussed the cover an promotional efforts of "ARTPOP" in very length. And by that I mean that I have discussed everything concerning "Applause", the "Applause" Music Video, made comments on why Lady Gaga is like Tinker Belle, analyzed the leaked song "Aura" and have been tweeting about the album constantly. As well I have given you some of my opinion on the legendary "ARTPOP" album cover that Lady Gaga has been releasing slowly and part by part via her fans tweets. So we can skip the usual pre-story of the album and hump directly to the songs. Oh and by the way: That one review on a certain bad gossip webside, from a certain Person calling herself a "music journalist" on her twitter actually is so painful to read that i just want to say that never a Madonna die hard fan, and I love Madonna myself, should be allowed to write a review of a Lady Gaga Album. I mean she believes that the hips surgery of Gaga in February 2013 was fake. Yeah, and so was the moonlanding! #Idiot #Fail

01 - Aura

 

I have given you my opinion on the song before. The Studio Version might be a bit different to the leaked ´Version, but actually it is even more magical with Gaga's voice beeing  atonal to the Music at some point. Actually it is a great Album starter and gives you a hint that "ARTPOP" will be a joyride of all the gaga-esque things we love! That leaves "Aura"  with a nice 8/10 in the ranking.

02 - Venus

Released as part of the countdown to "ARTPOP" "Venus" has gotten ist own in depth review from me. Nothing much to add to it so I am just gonna give it a nice "I love it!" and a rating of 9/10 possible points.

03 - G.U.Y.

Wow! I absolutey love the beginning of the song. I mean the intro is very electronic but still very mystical and the song does really do it for me. I mean what is not to love about the rendering of guy to "G.U.Y."? The idea of a girl under you does not mean that one is not a feminist. (Never Forget about 3rd wave feminism!) The whole song raises the qustion of power in relationships and about the power of females in love. Possibly a feminist disco sex anthem with a great electronic undervibe. Typically Gaga - a straight 9/10!

04 - Sexxx Dreams

Definitly one of my absolute favorites on "ARTPOP". It is a  mid tempo song with a twisted and naught sounding beat to it and the way she manages it to use her voice within the music and give it that robotic and electronic but still very sexy twist is just plain amazing, in my opinion. The lyrics are just absolute great and remind em of a mixture of a cheesy love Story with an affair in the middle and a great sexual romance. The song definitely lives up to its expectations and therefore gets the first 10/10 in the review of this album!

05 - Jewls'n Drugs Feat. T.I., Too Short & Twista

I love it when Gaga hits onto new territories and different muscial Genres then her usual pop, rock and electronic. And this one is her first really major venuture into hip hop and rap. Her lyrics are dark and bitchy twisted and typically hip hop and rap. But sadly I have to report that I would have liked the whole thing better with just Gaga and only one of the three doing rappers on it. Even though the beats and the electronic tunes are epic, get you to bring out your inner rapper, the song has not that much Gaga vocals to it, so it is a bit disappointing. Still a great song, but not my favorite. So that gets it a rating of 7/10.

06 - MANiCURE

Very rock, very sexy and very glam pop - you can directly feel Grace Jones and Kiss joining in. But broken down it is another typical Gaga song that will get you on your feet to dance and go up and down to it. It is all about naughtyness and rock chicks having an addiction to two things: men and manicures. But not in that silly Barbie way, but in a very independant women way. Very strong powerfull and a clear 8/10 for me!

07 - Do What U Want Feat. R.Kelly

Another song we have already heared as promotion for "ARTPOP", and also the second single due to ist huge success in the iTunes Charts. (That song has sky rocketed to the number one spot in 70 countries! And that is a new record!) A good song with great lyricas and vocals that gets me totally in the R'n'B mood. (Even though I could also get rid of R.Kelly on it, but aint nobody got time for that!) Make it an 8/10.

08 - ARTPOP

And there is the mystical title track that personally is one of my favorites. The atmosphere it spreads is a mixture of mystical rosegarden meets out of this world art show with rebirth performances. A very refreshing song that really shows how an electronic voice can be used in a high quality to actually make music less mainstream by sing a meanstream technique. Also the song really Shows what "ARTPOP" is all about: bringing things together. Another 10/10 for me!

09 -Swine

Gaga has has a feud with Perez Hilton after he allegedly stalked her. Right after her iTunes Festival Performance was called "Swine Fest" by her. Coincidence? What so ever, "Swine" is an amazingly rck and electro song that deiveres the goods everywhere. With its experimental and rough sound Gaga actually gets deep into the topic of people relation and how oneself can turn into a swine on the inside. Very good sing along song as well, ad hence a clear 9/10!

10 - Donatella

My personal favorite from "ARTPOP" is Lady Gaga's hommage to Donatella Versace. The beginning, where Gaga sings: "I am so fab! Check out: I am blonde, I'm skinny, I'm rich and I am a little bit of a bitch!", could easily become her new: "I want my whisky mouth, down over my blonde south.". The lyrics are actually so wrong sometimes that it is campy to such an extend that we have to read them ironically. The chorus gives me the shivers and the line "Walk down the runway but don't punke // its okay // you just had a salad today" gives me the big smile! A clear 10/10 for me!

11 - Fashion!

The first one where I really raise my eyebrows. I hear the will.i.am in this! And, even though I love the BEP, i am sick of will.i.am and his endeaours in music. The song is more on the slow side and sings about all things "a la mode" and fashion. But basically it is the developement of her earlier song "Fashion". Sorry Gag's but this one is just okay for me, so its just a 6/10, cause compared to the rest it seems pretty weak.

12 - Mary Jane Holland

And another favorite of mine. To get Madeon in the boat of "ARTPOP" producers was a great idea. I mean this drug inspired song is just amazing. "Russian hookers and cheap gin" is easily another remarkable and iconic lyric line that makes its way directl into my heart. And the sich and twisted beats this song has gets you to bounce your cool out and be all sexy, naughty, dirty! A definite must listen in "ARTPOP" with the guarantee of controvery! A clear 10/10, even though it really is all about weed ;).

13 - Dope

Earlier the song was presented as "I Wanna Be With you", but now changed to "Dope". But the basic message to the fans is the same since it says that Gaga is nothing wthout her fans and that she really is only half and completed by her little monsters. The first ballad on "ARTPOP" and definitely a good one. BTW: to change to "Dope" to make the Little Monsters her new must have or otherwise she'll die drug is a good shift... in my ears. A good 8/10.

14 - Gypsy

Already hyped as THE new Gaga song, I must say that I don't think so. I mean I like it and it really is a description of what Gaga is living: the live of an always wandering gysy. And this of course brings certain problems. But anyways: the song is a nice ballad at the beginnig and then turnig more and more pop and classical Gaga. A really nice song about her life and a perfect 9/10.

15 - Applause

"ARTPOP" has been described as a night at a club, a musical journey and an experience in whole. And ehat usually comeas after such things is "Applause". A perfect album closer, since it goes iout with a big big bang! I have reviewed the song already, and you should not hesitate to read the review here. A very solid 8/10.

In summary: "ARTPOP" is a damn good album that really shows Gaga's abilities as an artist. The songs s´might not be tht chart friendly and radio playable to some points but it is more experimental then ever! With "ARTPOP" Gaga has proven to be in it for the long run and that she can combine genres, art and pop, pop and art, sex sells and feminism, self referencing and hommage and has given us a hell lot to be excited about with it. Is "ARTPOP" the best pop album since Michael Jacksons "Thriller"? Well, it sure has all the potential for it, but time has to show this. Is "ARTPOP" better than her previous albums? Hard to say, but as each Gaga album it is special. Pointwise "ARTPOP" has gained 129 out of 150 possible points which make it average at 8,6 points per song. And that is a hell of a lot and has beaten Miley Cyrus "BANGERZ" from the throne which had a song average of 8,4. So now it is up to you what you think and to Gaga, what she does with this amazing piece of music called "ARTPOP".