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Global Pop Divas. Angelique Kidjo vs. Lady Gaga. Why We Need the Pop Diva. MAGIC. Gaga. outrageously sexualized pop-star diva vapid made-to-sell easily consumable fierce. Kidjo. do-good ethnocentric world-music diva tribal easily consumable positive. Girls in the Game.
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Global Pop Divas Angelique Kidjo vs. Lady Gaga
Why We Need the Pop Diva MAGIC
Gaga • outrageously sexualized • pop-star • diva • vapid • made-to-sell • easily consumable • fierce
Kidjo • do-good • ethnocentric • world-music • diva • tribal • easily consumable • positive
Girls in the Game • Expected to play by the rules • Be 200% committed to your fans • Be approachable • Reflect their reality: nice, modest, behaved • Reflect their fantasy: fierce, sexy, liberated • Bring you’re “A game” to play with the boys • Be a pretty face & a hot body • Be professional and hardworking
If You Don’t Play by the Rules… • If you’re too commanding, you’re a bitch • If you’re too soft, you’re a toy • If you’re too unexpected, you’re weird • If you’re too distant, you’re not dedicated • If you’re too close, you’re imperfect • If you’re too sexual, you’re objectified • If you’re too ethnic, you’re objectified
Represent! • Kidjo presents herself as an African woman with a knowledge of colonialism and African heritage • Her fans connect with the story of liberation • Gaga presents herself as an Italian-American woman with a knowledge of gay rights and equality • Her fans connect with the story of liberation
Creation • While some of Gaga’s fans appreciate her with a cynical post-modern wink, she is created for superfandom • While some of Kidjo’s fans appreciated her with an understanding of cultural dynamics, she is created for world music success
Conclusions… • When I started this project, I wanted to explore how Gaga’s fans accept her story with a consciousness of industry and gender dynamics that Kidjo’s fans don’t explicitly show in regards to colonialist dynamics • However, research revealed that a fan is a fan is a fan, and fandom is based of off imagery
Redeeming their Narratives • If Gaga tried to play the role of the international “world music” diva, she would be as unsuccessful as if Kidjo tried to invade the world of electro-pop • At the end of the day, both of these ladies DOMINATE in their field and speak to their fans, which is the most important aspect of what they do