Professor of Sociology
University of South Carolina
Department of Sociology
Office: Sloan 217Email: deflem@sc.edu __________________________________________________ www.gagacourse.net
COURSE OBJECTIVES
“What music colors is the desolation of the inner sense. It is the decoration of empty time.”
–Theodor W. Adorno
"A few can touch the magic string, and noisy fame is proud to win them; Alas for those that never sing, but die with all their music in them!"
–Oliver Wendell Holmes
Topic: Within a framework of the sociology of popular culture and music, this course focuses on the rise of Lady Gaga to her status as a pop music icon. The central objective of this course is to unravel some of the sociologically relevant dimensions of the fame of Lady Gaga. Specific attention will be devoted to the role of: business and marketing; entertainment law; the old and new media; fans and live shows; gay culture; religion and political activism; sex and gender; and the city of New York
Framework: This is not a course in music or cultural studies. Although some familiarity with the artistry of Lady Gaga will be useful, this course instead focuses on the societal contexts of Lady Gaga’s rise to fame. These social issues, furthermore, are explored from a scholarly perspective that is grounded in the theoretical traditions of sociology. Thus, this is not a course in Lady Gaga but in sociology; and it is not a course about Lady Gaga as much as about the culture of the fame as exemplified by the career of Lady Gaga. The syllabus will be handed out at the start of the semester.
Framework: This is not a course in music or cultural studies. Although some familiarity with the artistry of Lady Gaga will be useful, this course instead focuses on the societal contexts of Lady Gaga’s rise to fame. These social issues, furthermore, are explored from a scholarly perspective that is grounded in the theoretical traditions of sociology. Thus, this is not a course in Lady Gaga but in sociology; and it is not a course about Lady Gaga as much as about the culture of the fame as exemplified by the career of Lady Gaga. The syllabus will be handed out at the start of the semester.
More info is available at the course blog: www.gagacourse.net.
An article about the course experience has been published: Deflem, Mathieu. 2013. Professor Goes Gaga: Teaching Lady Gaga and the Sociology of Fame, in: The American Sociologist (May 8, 2013).
CONTENTS
Part I – Analytical Framework: The Sociology of Popular Culture
Part III – Dimensions of Analysis: The Fame of Lady Gaga
REQUIRED READINGS
a) Sociological Perspectives of MusicPart II – Topic of Inquiry: An Introduction to Lady Gaga
b) The Case of Pop & Rock
c) The Sociology of Fame and Celebrity
a) Life and Timesb) The Music
a) Business and Marketing
b) Law and Legalities
c) Old & New Media: From Radio to Internet
d) Fans and Live Concerts
e) Gay Culture
f) Religion and Politics
g) Sex, Gender, and Sexuality
h) New York
The required readings for this course include the following books, articles, and media sources.
1) Martin, Peter J. 1996. Sounds and Society: Themes in the Sociology of Music. Manchester University Press.
2) Frith, Simon et al., eds 2001. The Cambridge Companion to Pop and Rock. Cambridge University Press.
3) Lester, Paul. 2010. Lady Gaga: Looking for Fame. The Life of a Pop Princess. London: Omnibus Press.
4) Articles in the sociology of popular culture (available online):
- Corona, Victor P. 2010. “Gaga Studies.” PopMatters, November 24, 2010.
- Deflem, Mathieu. 2012. "The Presentation of Fame in Everyday Life: The Case of Lady Gaga." Margins (Haverford College), Issue on Divas, Spring 2012.
- Kurzman, Charles et al. 2007. “Celebrity Status.” Sociological Theory 25(4):347-367.
- Deflem, Mathieu. 2012. "Marketing Monster: Selling the Fame of Lady Gaga." Essay in a catalogue accompanying the exhibition “The Wicked Twins: Fame and Notoriety,” Paul Robeson Galleries, Rutgers University, January-May 2012.
- Corona, Victor P. 2011. “Memory, Monsters, and Lady Gaga.” Journal of Popular Culture 44:1-19.
- Deflem, Mathieu. 2012. "The Sex of Lady Gaga." Chapter in The Performance Identities of Lady Gaga, edited by Richard J. Gray. McFarland Publishing, 2012.
- Currid, Elizabeth. 2007. “Art, Culture and New York City.” Chapter 1 in her The Warhol Economy: How Fashion, Art, and Music Drive New York City. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press.
5) Media sources: available via the course blog at gagacourse.net on the following topics:
a) Business and Marketing
b) Law and Legalities
c) Old/New Media: From Radio to Internet
d) Fans and Live Concerts
e) Gay Culture
f) Religion and Politics
g) Sex, Gender, and Sexuality
h) New York
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