The University of South Carolina, Columbia, in the USA is about to offer a new undergraduate course called Lady Gaga and the Sociology of Fame, which I would call the project “ I´m the biggest Lady Gaga fan “.
This project has been conducted by Mathieu Deflem, Professor of Sociology, who also will teach it next semester, actually, Mr. Mathieu is a kind of expert of everything: The Internet, popular culture, laws, terrorism, and right now he is also a specialist of Lady Gaga, at least he is selling himself as an ordinary Gaga fan by convincing the University to open such a strange undergraduate course.
It seems this position would only appeal to Lady Gaga´s most devout fans.
This project has been conducted by Mathieu Deflem, Professor of Sociology, who also will teach it next semester, actually, Mr. Mathieu is a kind of expert of everything: The Internet, popular culture, laws, terrorism, and right now he is also a specialist of Lady Gaga, at least he is selling himself as an ordinary Gaga fan by convincing the University to open such a strange undergraduate course.
It seems this position would only appeal to Lady Gaga´s most devout fans.
According to the University, the course would introduce students to a sociological analysis of selected social issues related to Lady Gaga´s work. The course specifically focuses on socially relevant elements in the rise of Lady Gaga’s popularity as a burgeoning pop music icon. The central objective of this course, then, is to unravel some of the sociologically relevant dimensions of the fame of Lady Gaga with respect to her music, videos, fashion, and other artistic endeavors, the role of fans and live concerts; gay culture; religious and political themes; sex and sexuality.
The next undergraduate course of the University could center on the personal lives of Amy Winehouse or Britney Spears! I´m just saying.
The next undergraduate course of the University could center on the personal lives of Amy Winehouse or Britney Spears! I´m just saying.
Still, according to administrators at the University this is not a course in musicology or in cultural studies. Although some familiarity with the artistry of Lady Gaga’s work will be useful, this course touches mainly with Lady Gaga´s social influence. Here we can observe some inherent contradictions with the format of the course or its intentions.
However, Gaga´s fans must note that there are some prerequisites to sign up for the course, being just a fan is not enough, you must demonstrate a natural aptitude for understanding her place in society, at least you should be able to dance like her, it is specially developed only for dedicated students. First-year students are not advised to take this course because the scholarly approach that has been adopted might be too challenging – wow very, very challenging.
Actually, artists such as Lady Gaga have proven that overcoming challenges can lead to abundant success. She has transcended popular culture and seems to be paralleling the rise of such famed musicians as The Beatles, Elvis Presley, Madonna and Michael Jackson. However, the aforementioned examples might serve as a more precise paradigm of how celebrities and their art impact society as Gaga continues to ascend while The Beatles for example have already left an indelible mark that goes beyond solely popular culture.
However, Gaga´s fans must note that there are some prerequisites to sign up for the course, being just a fan is not enough, you must demonstrate a natural aptitude for understanding her place in society, at least you should be able to dance like her, it is specially developed only for dedicated students. First-year students are not advised to take this course because the scholarly approach that has been adopted might be too challenging – wow very, very challenging.
Actually, artists such as Lady Gaga have proven that overcoming challenges can lead to abundant success. She has transcended popular culture and seems to be paralleling the rise of such famed musicians as The Beatles, Elvis Presley, Madonna and Michael Jackson. However, the aforementioned examples might serve as a more precise paradigm of how celebrities and their art impact society as Gaga continues to ascend while The Beatles for example have already left an indelible mark that goes beyond solely popular culture.
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