The New Statesman | UK politics and culture Lady Gaga and the evolution of the pop icon
Mar 10, 2025
Kate Mossman, a senior writer at the New Statesman known for her deep dives into music, joins to discuss Lady Gaga's evolution as a pop icon. They explore Gaga's latest album, Mayhem, highlighting its industrial sound and her growth as an artist. The conversation also touches on Gaga's role in reshaping female stardom, the shift from analogue to digital media, and the authenticity versus persona debate in pop culture. Mossman reflects on how Gaga maintains emotional engagement in an enigmatic landscape, marking her as a defining figure in music.
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Gaga's Impact
- In 2008, the music industry was dominated by a soul revival and female artists were often grouped together.
- Lady Gaga changed this by referencing male rock icons like Bowie and Jagger.
Meat Dress
- Lady Gaga's meat dress, made of raw beef, was a defining moment in her early career.
- It combined artistic expression with a political statement about gay people in the military.
Pop Alter Ego
- Lady Gaga popularized the pop alter ego, influencing artists like Beyoncé.
- This allowed female artists to control their image and avoid being shaped by the male gaze.