I did not expect this article to get this much attention! I've read all your comments, and I very much appreciate all your feedback.

To be honest, I wrote this in haste. It's not the most well-researched or well-written article out there. Heck, I'm not even sure if I'm swayed by the writing in this piece.

But I stand by my intended purpose, which was this: I think for all her show and glitz, there isn't much substance. My concern isn't with what kind of clothes she wears or doesn't wear. It's not with her fashion taste or any of those material things. I'm concerned that Gaga and her immense popularity are emphasizing individuality in one's material items and clothing rather than promoting REAL individuality. Real individuality I personally interpret to be courage in one's beliefs, independent thinking and the awareness of our choices. 

I've seen a lot more of her since I wrote this, and I can't say that she's changed my opinion. I've seen interviews, her speeches, and Gaga's public appearances, and she's failed to impress me. (And yes, I said that she failed to impress me. As a performer who markets herself both as a commodity and idol, I reserve the right as the consumer to disapprove.) She SAYS that she is a supporter of LGBT rights, anti-bullying, women in entertainment and media, etc, but I don't SEE those beliefs anywhere in what she considers her art, (and of course, she insists that her art IS her) namely her music and performances. To be clear, I fully support all the causes she claims to be a supporter of. My irritation is not with her views, but with the way she talks about and treats them. She will act like such movements are the most important things in the world to her, and yet she almost never takes the initiative to empower those beliefs through her work.

When she DOES talk about these beliefs, she is always very vague, calling for “equal rights” but not actually naming her grievances, talking about “the oppressed” all the while still keeping the spotlight on her. Take, for instance, her appearance at the VMAs. She brought gay and lesbian soldiers who had been discharged under Don't Ask, Don't Tell as her dates. I loved that she did that. But what I didn't love was seeing them not as the guests of honor, but as people sitting uncomfortably on the sidelines. What I didn't love was seeing them be reduced to trendy, “I'm such an activist” accessories. She overpowered those brave and incredible people that night, and she did it on purpose. At the end of the night, no one is discussing the inequality of Don't Ask, Don't Tell, or even LGBT rights at all. They're talking about how nice of a person Gaga herself is for doing that, how cool, how thoughtful, and wasn't her dress just so gorgeous? Don't even get me started on the meat dress fiasco. 

I'm absolutely not telling people how to dress, or that being “normal” is the only way to go. I would never. I was trying to say that there's a difference between looking different for the sake of being different, and actually having the guts to be different, to have convictions outside of glamour, materialism, and shock value. 

great work. u could b a critic someday

and i am SO GLAD some1 decided 2 look past the money & the sex and think about something important :)

Loooveee thiss! Seriously! This is such a great review!

Your writing style is awesome.. I <3 the way you string together your words, it's so poetic & well-spoken.

What's more is that every point you made is so valid and though it's your opinion I don't think anyone can disagree with this because what you say is the complete truth!

I used to love modern music, but now I like punk rock from the seventies, motown, and classic rock. And Drake. I <3 Drake, because I just do. But anyway, I used to like Lady Gaga, and now I realize what she is and how us, as a whole in America, are turning out to be. We are arrogant and we need a woman in a mask, a few wigs, wearing a cone-bra or sparkles bra and panties singing about sex, drugs, and money to catch our attention. It is pathetic. I wish that Lady Gaga was normal and gotten a record signing and was still herself. I think I would be a fan of the REAL Lady Gaga.

And what's even worse is that most people don't even know her real name.

I completely agree.

I mean, she is definately not the only one writing about sex and money. And doesn't everyone have their own style and the sorts?

Regardless, I admire your writing style, readers can feel the emotion behind it.

It's true that Lady Gaga's gone a bit over the top trying to catch the media's attention- that's probably why she came up with those ridiculous-sounding statements you quoted which would shock and influence fans. But think of it this way: people love being shocked. And nowadays, if a rebel with the likes of David Bowie came about, his "rebellion" would be given nothing but a sweet tap on the head and a  lollipop. But at his time, such a change was just as shocking as Lady Gaga is now. Desensitisation.

I don't like Lady Gaga's music either, and I don't like the fact that she's giving up so much just to be a star- not even good in music, a star. But you'll have to hand it to her, she's determined and it takes guts to outstep boundaries as she has. As for the "mask and sparkling breasts", well, I do think it's art to some extent. Have you seen her music videos? Shocking, aren't they? How much effort has she put into them to make them so attention-gripping, even bothering to come up with a story for them? All in all she just wants to make an impact. And it's working, isn't it? We're talking about her, right now.

You misused the expression "begs the question. Begs the question does not mean "to raise the question", "to ask the question" or the like. It actually means to respond to a question in a way that does not really address the issue raised by the question, more like avoiding the question really

Sorry that just bothers me.

I tried to not like lady GAGA, but too catchy... couldn't resist.

You say she was such a "normal" girl before, but did you consider that she was always Gaga underneath, yet she didn't have the means to create such elaborate costumes? I don't think she "changed" into what she is now; she was always Lady G, but now she has the fame and money to pull off the persona.

But, yes, the Bowie incarnate would be appreciated.