What is cool? How do we actually define what is cool in our society when the youth of our society has so many definitions of what is cool and what isn't cool? According to the documentary called " the merchants of cool" the youth determine a lot of what is marketed in our society and what is in the media today. What i wonder about is how the singer and songwriter Lady GAGA became a part of pop culture and how many teenage girls view her songs and her extremely forward and bizarre appearance as cool. She has been spotted hanging herself at a VMA performance, covered in a meat wardrobe, and walking around singing with blood stained clothing. She continuously keeps her fans off guard with her frequently changing appearance and her music which is also a tad bit away from the norm. What also makes Lady GAGA bizarre is that she makes political and religious statements. Recently she has been trying to promote ending the don't ask don't tell policy and has been advocating worshiping satin. Even though she is continuously doing something bizarre at her performances and in her music videos, she also has values and beliefs that she decides to stand up for.
If teens in America didn't find Lady GAGA somewhat appealing she wouldn't be as popular as she is. She also wouldn't be rich and famous if it wasn't for the youth of our society gravitating to her and continuously purchasing her CD'S and various items that she produces. In the documentary, " Merchants of cool" a representative from the soda company called sprite explained that they were profiting because of teenagers and because of hip hop that helped endorse their product. Since most teenagers like hip hop and hip hop artists were endorsing sprite the sales in sprite increased. The documentary also explained how companies pay teenagers to tell them what things in the media that they find appealing and the things that they find unappealing. The studies they do on the teenagers helps build what our society deems as cool. Since youth in our society has proclaimed Lady GAGA to be cool, she is accepted in our society despite the fact that she is a proclaimed devil worshiper and continuously reveals that she isn't 100% sane in her musical performances, musical lyrics and appearance.
The documentary showed that all of the fads, musical styles, clothing, and even food that exist because the teens of today contol what is considered cool and uncool in our society.The subcultures in our society all put an effort into creating the mix of things that preside in our society and culture today. In the documentary, the students that stood out were the srudents that were the students that were choosen to be interviewed and asked their opinion on what things they consder to be cool.
Even though lady GAGA is a bit off key and extremely contrary to what the majority of society says is the norm, she makes great music. I enjoy listening to some of her songs called Alejandro, Bad romance, and poker face. She continuously brings an interesting twist to her music. Here are some links to one her music videos:
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