Thursday, 23 April 2009

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  The Personal Fame Epidemic

  I don’t know Lady Gaga personally, so I don’t know if she is purposely trying to piss me off, but every time I hear her “hit song” Poker Face I feel like ripping my ears off the sides of my head.  Now, I’m not an artist, musician, or poet, so I might be out of my league for ranting about this, but what the hell is that song even about?  I suppose it’s about not making any goofy expressions when talking to a potential love interest, but the analogy to playing poker is uninspired at best.  Worst of all, the singing is over-the-top and the song is sung much too dramatically for the lyrics and subject matter.  It’s just as ridiculous as Barry White singing a neo-soul version of the Transformers theme song, except, unlike Poker Face, that song would be COOL.  I can’t fathom how Lady Gaga can take herself seriously and sing such a stupid song with a straight face (perhaps that’s the purpose of the song?).

  But maybe I am misunderstanding her completely.  Maybe she does acknowledge that her songs are full of shit.  In an interview regarding her album The Fame, Lady Gaga famously said, “The Fame is about how anyone can feel famous.”  If “fame” was her goal, then I suppose this album is emblematic of the type of attitude that has characterized American culture over the past decade.  Have you ever heard of Paris Hilton?  I suspect that you have, and I also suspect that you have no idea why.  The reality is that Paris Hilton is famous for no reason, but this is why she is going to be one of the most iconic figures of this decade.  Television shows like The Hills perpetuate America’s hunger for fame without merit.  Who the hell is Heidi Montag, but, more importantly, why does anyone care?

  You might think you’re above all this nonsense.  You might proudly declare to yourself, “I don’t fucking care about Spencer Pratt!”, but if you’re reading this post then there’s a good chance that you, too, are infected with the personal-fame disease that is plaguing America.  If you’re reading this, then you probably have a personal blog, which probably means that you want some kind of audience for whatever entries you post.  If you’re a blogger, then you’re seeking fame from complete strangers.  If you have a profile on MySpace or Facebook where you post information about your personal life for all your friends to see, then you’re seeking fame and attention from the people who know you.  But, most insidious of all, if you’re on Twitter and update your status multiple times a day, then you are epitome of the personal-fame epidemic.  You operate under the assumption that people actually care about the little details of your life, whether it is true or not. 
  

  You want to feel famous. 
  

  If you are any of these people, then you’re guilty of wanting personal fame.  There isn’t necessarily anything immoral about it, but it’s just annoying to deny that it’s true. 

  You can’t deny that with a straight face. 

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