-
Palin Stalker Trivializes Nazis
June 1, 2010 | 32 comments
-
War-Caused Innovations
May 26, 2010 | 13 comments
-
How Bad Is the Economy? Ask a Young Adult
May 25, 2010 | 13 comments
The Spectacle Blog
In the 19th Century, respectability was important in most of the Western world. Men and women of all classes strove for it. Sometimes the striving was emotionally painful and financially difficult. Possibly in reaction, artists in France adopted épater le bourgeois as their rallying cry. Needless to say, the theme didn’t stay within French borders. The zeitgeist was picked up in other parts of the world by other artists and certainly floated unknown, unrecognized, and unobserved above the thoughts and feelings of most of humanity in a time before mass media, such were the unimportant contributions of many of these artistes.
Today, you would think the theme would have run its course. Oscar Wilde was truly clever and funny. That was then. By today’s standards of épater le bourgeois, Oscar was a true genius practicing épater le bourgeois with élan. Surely, imitation of épater le bourgeois by lowbrow entertainers has made it trite by now. It’s odd that a cheap, unoriginal, sterile approach lives on in the simple-minded themes and acts of artists that hold so much attention in pop culture today. Madonna kissed Britney Spears to shock us. Former child star Miley Cyrus fake kissed a girl in the same inane spirit. And soi-disant Lady Gaga has trumped them all in a music video named “Alejandro” that displays the banality of today’s trite épater le bourgeois. Poor thing this Lady Gaga. You know you’re just a bore when Katy Perry, singer of such épater le bourgeois songs as “Ur so Gay” and “I Kissed a Girl,” calls Ms. Gaga’s video blasphemous and compares it to “a comedian telling a fart joke.” It’s good to see Katy Perry can be judgmental.
Being creative is hard work. Being vulgar to shock the middle class is by now simply the last refuge of an empty mind; it’s not shocking at all. We expect disrespect from people like Lady Gaga. After all, we’d only be shocked if she sang something beautiful, inspirational, or possibly with more than ten words in the song.
View all comments (25) | Leave a comment
More Blog Posts by C.H. Fowler
http://spectator.org/blog/2010/06/09/so-predictably-disrespectful
Follow us:
ADVERTISEMENT
The Spectacle Blog
Democrat Dan Maffei Blames Budget Cuts for Girl’s Rape, Mother’s Murder
Robert Stacy McCain | 6.18.13
SPONSORED LINKS
FLASHBACK TO: 1995
-
Pope Culture
A man of faith in a godless age is hitting Americans where it hurts.
-
Why the GOP Does Not, Like, Totally Suck
Mr. and Mrs. American Spectator Reader, let P.J. O’Rourke talk sense to your kids.
-
Dames at Sea
-
In the Absence of Guns
In Britain, defending your property can get you life.
-
The Metaphysical Martini
-
Counting the Costs of Clintonism
The debacle of this president’s administration is both a cause and a symptom of the decline of American values. Unless Congress impeaches him, that decline will go on unchecked. An eminent jurist surveys the damage and assesses the chances for the recovery of our culture.
-
Chuck McHagel
It won’t take long for conservatives to scratch this presidential wannabe off their 2008 scorecard.
-
The Legacy of Old John and Mother Fresh-Roasted
-
It’s the Best Time of the Year
The American Christmas, like the songs that celebrate it, makes room for everybody under the rainbow. Is that why so many people seem to be hostile to it?
-
The Bush Crack-Up
Was the President done in by the economy, or by the politics of the economy?
Clip of the Day
ADVERTISEMENT
Ammo Guy| 6.9.10 @ 2:14PM
Another bit of brilliant writing by the mysterious Mr. Fowler. Insightful while being inciteful, this young scribe is deserving of a place in the White House briefing room, preferably occupying the spot once reserved for the callipygous Ms. Thomas. We look forward to further perspicacious ponderings from RET's likely heir.
earlyparades | 6.9.10 @ 2:29PM
Love this! So true - celebrities are quite disrespectful... like they think we'll be intrigued or something?
Note: You spelled Miley wrong... but that's OK ;)
Grzmlyk| 6.9.10 @ 4:26PM
Did anyone doubt that Miley Cyrus would go through the inevitable "skank" phase? It's the birthright of Disney-spawned teeny boppers the minute they're out of training bras. Another proof point to Women's "liberation."
And so Miley's skank phase has officially begun. I SO look forward to pictures of her puking in front of night clubs, doing blow in a batthroom, galavanting pantiless into and out of a stud-du-jour's SUV, getting her first DUI, courting the paparazzi, then railing against the paparazzi, going through rehab, getting married after a whirlwind weekend romance, getting divorced a few days later, getting her second DUI, going through rehab again. . . .
Yawn.
Raena| 6.13.10 @ 10:48PM
This is hilarious...really great writing. You should take over for Fowler.
bret| 6.9.10 @ 2:37PM
Well the same day Lady gagas new video premieres Katy releases a 30 sec teaser for her upcoming video " California Gurls" in which she has a baking product on her breasts spewing out what ' appears ' to be whipped cream but we can see the message and her hair is bright blue now poor Katy using such a gigantic premiere to grab attention for herself by acting all religious when her songs are far from religious FAIL !
Ammo Guy| 6.9.10 @ 2:55PM
Bret, we need a link in order to evaluate your arguably tainted view of the portrait of the artiste as a young lady. Mine eyes will not deceive me!
Tim*| 6.9.10 @ 3:05PM
If these attention seekers can't get positive attention from strangers , apparently negative attention will satisfy their craving .
Aaaand ,we like how this author dude got in all them fereigner woids.
These Be Shockin' Times by Them Thar Self-Styled .
Okey Dokey !
Dixie Pixie| 6.9.10 @ 5:00PM
In village life “Respectability” has survival value as one is dealing with the same small number of people daily.
A good to excellent reputation is required as one is relying on ones long term neighbors.
Lose your reputation and you are in real trouble.
In today's retail social environment one is dealing a secession of strangers.
A good reputation is nice but with a notorious reputation it is better to be widely known than known to be good.
Notorious = wider sales = greater wealth. (i.e. Madonna / Lady Gaga )
Wealth has supplanted Reputation as the more desirable quality.
Personally I blame the Liberal Media and their supporters in the major retail corporations.
Nate| 6.9.10 @ 9:42PM
Who is Lady Gaga?
My advice is this: go to used record stores. Buy vinyl records of classical music.
Person you don't know.| 6.10.10 @ 1:42AM
May I point out that Katy Perry seems to want to upstage GaGa by releasing a preview on the day of GaGa's premiere for her video? Her video has been scheduled for weeks. Perry's preview was spontaneous. Notice anything?? You can talk bad about GaGa all you want, but the woman's talented, smart, successful, and creative. And if you beg to differ, just look at her. She doesn't own a house if you take notice. She spends her money and time making music and doing what she loves while inspiring others to do the same as well. I don't see what's so terrible about that. OH- and her songs DO have more than ten words, thank you. That's insulting to anyone, especially miss "I kissed a girl and I liked it (repeat 100x)"
Person you don't know.| 6.10.10 @ 1:59AM
I am just appauled that someone who makes music videos about california girls while wearing cupcakes on her bra and candy everywhere with slurry girls dancing behind her is being defended against someone who makes creative, slightly weird, interesting, crazy, meaningful music videos that tell a story and have a purpose and lesson to convey. I don't get it. Katy Perry, you'll never amount to Lady GaGa. So just deal with it instead of talking bad about her to get attention. Go hang out with your slutty california girls and eat cupcakes you hateful popscicle sucker. You should be ashamed of yourself. And to think I used to like you as an artist. Some role model.
I hope you have alot of California girl friends who will buy your songs on iTunes because i'm not and I'm discouraging everyone I know too. I'm disappointed in you, Katy Perry.
Bob| 6.10.10 @ 12:59PM
Person you don't know,
Were you thinking this was a teenybopper pop culture forum? The writer takes exception to both of these shallow artists.
Person you don't know| 6.11.10 @ 1:40AM
I was just stating my opinion on this topic. Didn't know there were guidelines. Thanks, Bob.
*sarchasm*
Bob| 6.11.10 @ 12:56PM
Person, not guidelines.
The writer of the blog post, it seems, wasn't trying to figure out which of these two phonies is a better artist or person. He was showing how boring their music and shows are when they try to shock us.
I'm not so sure...| 6.11.10 @ 5:40PM
...that the Alejandro video was meant to be disrespectful or shocking. The video poses some important questions about the complexity of religion and the confusing place it holds in human experience. I don't think Gaga is trying to shock us...she can do whatever she wants and being raised Catholic is obviously something she's dealing with internally. (If anyone is even thinking they might try to say being raised Catholic isn't confusing, let me say advance you are a liar.) The fact that people are shocked and offended is a testament to the confines of their own expectations and beliefs. We can have such tunnel vision for a species that is supposed to be so intelligent. Now being a hypocrite is something completely different and Perry's pathetic.
Jack | 6.12.10 @ 2:07AM
Bob, give it up. A lot of kids have the same values as Lady Gaga.
"I'm not sure," truth is Lady Gaga was operating on the same level as Andres Serrano and his "art" "Piss Christ." "People who are not seeing that" is "a testament to the confines of their own expectations and beliefs. We can have such tunnel vision for a species that is supposed to be so intelligent." I quote you because it applies more to your inability to deal with Gaga treading down the same lane Madona mined for simple minds and money long ago. Some times a cigar is just a cigar, as Gertrude Stein said.
Open mind| 6.12.10 @ 2:12AM
Jack,
Maybe Lady Gaga isn't interested in money, maybe she is philosopher or deep thinker, maybe she really cares about the human condition and not her vanity, and maybe she doesn't wear outlandish costumes, and maybe she hasn't said she's a hermaphrodite, and maybe she writes showing respect for other's religions....and maybe not.
Dear Jack| 6.12.10 @ 2:49PM
I happened to love "Piss Christ". That tank with a urine sunken cross was one of the best statements ever made. Religion has done a lot of damage in the world and if you still need a mythical God to please and need it to forgive you... you're an idiot. There are 20, 000 years of recorded human history and we still get upset when someone points out issues and flaws with their imaginary friend (God). Go to a physics class for Christ's sake. I am willing to admit that there is a possibility I suffer from tunnel vision and will readjust my eyes. Are you willing? Since I appreciate all art for an external creation of an internal struggle...even the ones that aren't nice or my particular favorite... So, I'd say my tunnels are a lot wider and brighter than yours. Sex, violence, and religion are huge parts of life and if you can't "tread down those lanes" as an artist then there is no point in art anyway.
Jack| 6.13.10 @ 5:47AM
To "Dear Jack,"
Are all people who don't agree with you idiots? You must be a lot of fun to be around with your self-proclaimed open mind that so easily insults anyone who has a different view. You seem like a great example of liberal tolerance.
Dear Jack| 6.13.10 @ 10:47PM
What are you talking about? You have been handing out insults like a Jehovah's Witness hands out flyers and now you act all 'holier than thou'. Whether I think you're a jack-ass for believing in a mythical being or not is beside the point. You prove yourself an idiot with every word, so by all means, continue.
Typical Christian behavior...| 6.13.10 @ 11:36PM
To "Dear Jack"
Don't worry about it. All Christians behave poorly and then point it out when others do it...even other Christians. It's a sick cycle.
C. H. Fowler| 6.16.10 @ 12:27PM
As soon as I get the venereal warts extracted from my anus I'm going right back out to find a big black transvestite who will slam fuck my ass until I pass out or cry like the little bitch I am.
Curious| 6.16.10 @ 12:33PM
What happened to all the other comments?