Publication Date

1-1-2014

Document Type

Dissertation/Thesis

First Advisor

Jaffee, Barbara

Degree Name

B.A. (Bachelor of Arts)

Legacy Department

School of Art

Abstract

“’Some of Us Just Like to Read’: Lady Gaga’s Pastiche and the Rhizome” explores intersections of network theory, new media, contemporary art and visual culture, and post-modern critical discourses. It attempts to characterize the productive tendencies of contemporary pop culture, using Lady Gaga as a lens through which these tendencies can be observed. It pays particular attention to the correlation(s) between the structure of the Internet, the exchange of texts and images within such a structure, and how Lady Gaga embodies this dynamic. This paper demonstrates, through both a critique of the concept of pastiche under current cultural conditions and a close examination of some specific performances, that Lady Gaga’s is a pastiche informed by a historical and cultural awareness, which turns pastiche into an affirmative, indexical reaction to the socio-cultural condition of the digital age. Ultimately, I argue that Lady Gaga’s tendency to pastiche reflects the structure of the current cultural moment; and that, by embodying a pastiched image, she encourages multifaceted interpretations of her music, fashion, and performances from an equally multifaceted audience.

Comments

Includes bibliographical references.

Extent

49 pages

Language

eng

Publisher

Northern Illinois University

Rights Statement

In Copyright

Rights Statement 2

NIU theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from Huskie Commons for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without the written permission of the authors.

Media Type

Text

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