In response to the post: Lady Gaga: a good Christian? Or a great Christian?
The quality of Gaga’s christianity is possibly a sidenote. What seems more important is that she IS a christian while also a huge pop culture icon.
As I discussed in my latest post (http://smc305christblog.blogspot.com/2012/01/gays-christ-and-pop-culture.html), christianity and pop culture have changed one another. Popular culture now embraces christianity a lot more often; being a christian isn’t the ultra “lame” thing that is used to be. In turn christianity has accepted popular culture. This new christianity we have with Gaga involves sex and nudity (which have long been staples of popular culture - they sell very well). It’s also more human as the Judas quote illustrates; Jesus can be our virtue while we all accept that, as humans, we’re more like Judas.
Johnny Cash fits in well here. He is a former pop culture icon who is, as you quoted, “and artist who is a christian”, exemplifying the separation that existed when he was at his peak.
As I discussed in my latest post (http://smc305christblog.blogspot.com/2012/01/gays-christ-and-pop-culture.html), christianity and pop culture have changed one another. Popular culture now embraces christianity a lot more often; being a christian isn’t the ultra “lame” thing that is used to be. In turn christianity has accepted popular culture. This new christianity we have with Gaga involves sex and nudity (which have long been staples of popular culture - they sell very well). It’s also more human as the Judas quote illustrates; Jesus can be our virtue while we all accept that, as humans, we’re more like Judas.
Johnny Cash fits in well here. He is a former pop culture icon who is, as you quoted, “and artist who is a christian”, exemplifying the separation that existed when he was at his peak.
It seems logical that the more (positive) a presence christianity we find in popular culture, the more (positive) a presence of pop culture we’ll find in christianity.
While she likely refrained from using the term “christian” in favour of “religious” with Larry King to avoid alienating her religious fans who aren’t christian, it also could very well be the case that Gaga is playing a part. She’s a very clever woman, so even if she’s only pretending to be christian, the act itself just as faithfully reflects the new relationship between christianity and popular culture.
While she likely refrained from using the term “christian” in favour of “religious” with Larry King to avoid alienating her religious fans who aren’t christian, it also could very well be the case that Gaga is playing a part. She’s a very clever woman, so even if she’s only pretending to be christian, the act itself just as faithfully reflects the new relationship between christianity and popular culture.
Hi Sean,
ReplyDeleteThanks for bringing up this discussion. It is interesting how you proposed the two terms "a good Christian" or "great Christian" to identify Lady Gaga. She has been a controversial character for many good discussions in the secular as well as Christian circles.
I guess different people see the different things about Lady Gaga because perception is very much based on one self. To me, Lady Gaga is first and foremost an artist. Even though I know she is a well- professed catholic, it is difficult for me to find traces of her to be a Catholic. I won't even bother ask the question if Lady Gaga is a "good Christian" or "great Christian". Although they are many metaphorical pictures and symbolisms in the song related to Christianity, a notion I want to challenge today's notion, that is when there is this happens, these symbolisms and metaphors don't necessarily mean what they want. They could be there in the song for an artefact , not to mean anything regarding to Christianity. Those terms and concepts could be just decorations of a song. And I think "a good Christian or great Christian" should reflect who Jesus is and represent Him accurately. From her nudity and sexual acts, I presume Lady Gaga is probably not a Christian. But after all, she is an artist who performs. For this, I'm really thankful as many would spend so much time listening to songs like Lady Gaga's. Though it is difficult to classify Lady Gaga's songs and who she really is, I find these songs interesting in opening up a conversation and dig into some good discussions with strangers. Lady Gagay's songs have created an imagined community for them to connect with the world, thus also form a collective entity of people who listen to her songs.
Cheers,
Rachelle