Maturity

[Karandr 150]

The recent and numerous conflicts surrounding the Million Reasons video have exposed a lot of issues within the fanbase which point to a stark division between those who seek to nurture and support Gaga in all her ventures, and those who want to push her to achieve more. 

Falling myself in the latter camp, I've been accused of spreading negativity and wasting my breath, with the insinuation that anyone who critiques Gaga's work isn't a true fan. I argue the contrary: that the most avid fans of an artist's work will acknowledge the low points alongside celebrating the highs. To truly know the breadth of an artist's work is to recognise that not every album, song and video will hit the mark. We're in a forum dedicated to discussing the work and career of Gaga - if that conversation is unilaterally positive, it's not really a conversation. 

The issue that I think has become most apparent is one of maturity. The fanbase itself, bordering on ten years strong, is entering into its adolescence and adulthood. The initial buzz over Lady Gaga as a cultural phenomenon is largely decreased (when compared to the TFM / BTW imperial era) and what remains is arguably the core group of fans. 

Pretending that people who express opinions contrary to "spread love with every invention" / "no negativity on this site thank u" are not true fans is asinine. Smearing the entire portion of the fanbase who didn't like the video as abusive, hateful and not supportive is not only inaccurate, but unfair. Maybe because so much of this fanbase is young, but also perhaps because they've swallowed her two-to-three word mantras and manners of speaking without understanding the nuances of debate and discussion. While we're on the topic - I condemn any comments which do directly abuse Gaga on a personal level, but these seem to be in the small, small minority. 

Gaga, as an artist, is also entering a stage of more maturity. Her recent endeavours in jazz and acting, as well as her more toned down/classically elegant appearance over the last year or two point to an artist seeking to broaden her horizons and be taken more seriously and legitimately in the broader community. I applaud Gaga for this, and I think she is unique in the modern landscape for her spread across several platforms of entertainment. 

What comes with that, though, is opening yourself to more thorough critique. We should encourage and celebrate Gaga when she tries new things, but we should also be free to voice opinions when her work doesn't live up to expectations which have been set by a career dominated by large, spectacular events. Regarding the video, my personal gripes (so I'm not accused of being nonspecific or vague) are the reuse of existing footage - which she has never done before, and make the video feel like an afterthought, and the very limited and claustrophobic scope of the video. It's not a problem that it's simple, but it feels small and low budget. Not every video has to be a Judas or G.U.Y level spectacular, but every other Gaga video draws you into its world, the particular flavour and feeling of the song. MR lacks a cohesive feeling and aesthetic, there isn't really one iconic visual that comes to mind – like the Coke can hair roller, the flame thrower bra, the smudged paint makeup, or even the purple colour scheme of The Edge of Glory (a video which is also simple, but still presents a clear vision in a compact package). 

I don't know what all of this means for the future of this fanbase or for Gaga's career and creative endeavours. I do think, though, that it all comes down to what Gaga does in the coming months. If she chooses to only listen to the positive feedback, the sycophantic twitter monsters thirsty for a retweet, then I would be extremely disappointed. This is an opportunity for Gaga to grow. When you have a misstep (because, whatever you think of the video itself, the fact that it has provoked such a reaction in the fanbase seems to indicate that something is amiss), it's an opportunity to learn. 

I hope that we see a return to the calibre of work that we all fell in love with Gaga for. I encourage her to produce work that is different, challenging and unexpected. I love it when I see or hear something from Gaga that I never would have thought I'd see. But I want her to put her all into it. I want to be excited again. That's not an unrealistic request for an artist whose trademark is her ability to impress and surprise with quality and creativity. 

[ShockPop 7,747]

Let me put you straight. It's ok for you to make mistakes like this, you're young, now's your chance to learn.

The behaviour of people on this website regarding the MR video in relation to the song's chart performance or lack thereof due to streams can not be considered in any way to be "Criticism" or "Pushing her to achieve more".

Let me tell you this, as you seem to think otherwise and you're blatantly wrong: Gaga is achieving EXACTLY what she wants to achieve right now. The video is as it was always going to be. She wants to tell a story with all the videos? Fine! Let her do it, who the hell are you to say otherwise?

As for the MR video being a dud - it's a page of a story. Remember the part in literally all books between the big events? This is one of those. Get over it.

Really. It is typical of millenials to gloss over their shitty attitudes and entitled bratty behaviour and try to label it as "Critique" or "pushing for better". Why lie? You're being a spoiled little child because she didn't come to "slay" or "snatch weaves" or "pop her booty" or any of that redundant garbage. 

I'd hate to break it to you, but what you want doesn't matter. You have zero influence on what's going on. But now you're acting like you "deserved" better...like... no. You never ever were entitled to anything better than what you get.

Having Gaga is a privilege not a right.

[DeanWinchester 41,390]

just when i needed to like a well thought out post, I have hit my limit

[DeanWinchester 41,390]

2 minutes ago, ShockPop said:

It is typical of millenials to gloss over their shitty attitudes and entitled bratty behaviour and try to label it as "Critique" or "pushing for better". Why lie? You're being a spoiled little child because she didn't come to "slay" or "snatch weaves" or "pop her booty" or any of that redundant garbage. 

nice strawman. You are right about Gaga achieving what she wants if her goals now are different, but this does not mean anybody providing critiques are only doing it for those buzzwords you just spewed

[REALITY 76,270]

I completely respect what you've written, but at the same time, I disagree with certain parts. No one is saying that you cannot have an opinion, and if someone is saying that, then they are in the wrong.

The fact of the matter is how your opinion is communicated. No one said that you have to like everything she does. There are things she's done that I don't necessarily like or agree with; however, I'm not going to say she's lazy, or that she sucks, etc. etc. There's a difference between being critical and constructive, and just being rude, it's plain and simple. 

Being constructive (about a video in this instance) is providing specifics, and providing ideas on how it could improve. Granted, I've seen some of that around here, and that's being constructive. However, the vast majority of what I saw was just blatant hate on the video, and her, and her artistry. 

I'm sorry, but this, to me, is just like a "freedom of speech" sort of argument. You are allowed to speak, allowed to have opinions, but you have to be respectful about it. Call me a hippie or whatever for trying to promote kindness, but at the end of the day, if you're not going to be kind, it ultimately does nothing, and in fact, could have negative consequences.

If you want to talk about maturity, then let's be mature. Let's have a civil and intelligent discussion. Don't just say "This sucks." or "She's lost it all." or "THIS WAS IT?!".

[TCHIKITAH 2,810]

"I respect what you're sayin but"... is the new fire starter 

[ShockPop 7,747]

7 minutes ago, A Gaga Lad said:

nice strawman. You are right about Gaga achieving what she wants if her goals now are different, but this does not mean anybody providing critiques are only doing it for those buzzwords you just spewed

There are no critiques, just whining because she didn't *insert buzzword here*.

I don't like the MR video at all. Not a single bit of it. However, I appreciate and understand what she's doing and I know that it is necessary. Unfortunately, this ability to comprehend the simplest of things isn't something we're all blessed with.

[Bogdan 164]

5 minutes ago, A Gaga Lad said:

nice strawman. You are right about Gaga achieving what she wants if her goals now are different, but this does not mean anybody providing critiques are only doing it for those buzzwords you just spewed

I don't see it as a strawman at all. The hate is real on these forums, I have seen it myself. People are extremely unsatisfied and express that in the most rude way possible. Now I don't want to sound lame and say she doesn't owe you anything, but besides that being true, you can listen to a gazillion other pop music out there while she goes through this country era.

Gaga is only one. I would like to see her make an album for every major genre there is. Pop music is cool, but I'd rather have a multitude of genres to choose from to fit my mood. Songs like living on the radio, soft ballads pre fame era and all of those acoustic performances is what made me love her increasingly more.

[PaperIz 7,346]

So basically you just want to excuse your negativity?  

[DeanWinchester 41,390]

4 minutes ago, ShockPop said:

There are no critiques

5 minutes ago, ShockPop said:

just whining

4 minutes ago, ShockPop said:

I don't like the MR video at all. Not a single bit of it.

[djBuffoon 12,115]

11 minutes ago, M Monstre said:

The fact of the matter is how your opinion is communicated. No one said that you have to like everything she does. There are things she's done that I don't necessarily like or agree with; however, I'm not going to say she's lazy, or that she sucks, etc. etc. There's a difference between being critical and constructive, and just being rude, it's plain and simple. 

Being constructive (about a video in this instance) is providing specifics, and providing ideas on how it could improve. Granted, I've seen some of that around here, and that's being constructive. However, the vast majority of what I saw was just blatant hate on the video, and her, and her artistry. 

I'm not sure what about this is difficult for some to understand.

[ShockPop 7,747]

1 minute ago, A Gaga Lad said:

Now's the part where you find the post where I ripped the video to shreds and acted like a kid who got told "no".

Go ahead, I'll wait.

[REALITY 76,270]

Just now, djBuffoon said:

I'm not sure what about this is difficult for some to understand.

I know right. Like, are they purposefully trying to deflect it or something? It's really very simple: you can be constructive and critical, but not an a**hole. 

[DeanWinchester 41,390]

4 minutes ago, ShockPop said:

Now's the part where you find the post where I ripped the video to shreds and acted like a kid who got told "no".

Go ahead, I'll wait.

No, I won't bother. And that's not my point at all. I am trying to understand where you are coming from.

I took your comment personally because like you, I disliked the MR video but I have always tried to say why. And my issue was not with what its defenders usually think the reason is (avant-garde crap). My issue was that the narrative could have been more cohesive--the repeating scenes added nothing to the story she was trying to say. If it was for build-up, the reveal was not worth the momentum. And then you go and say you have never seen any critique, just whining. But then you state you don't like the video AND THEN you don't state your reasons why. It's like you posted a self-defeating statement.

[ShockPop 7,747]

1 minute ago, A Gaga Lad said:

No, I won't bother. And that's not my point at all. I am trying to understand where you are coming from.

I took your comment personally because like you, I disliked the MR video but I have always tried to say why. And my issue was not with what its defenders usually think is the reason (avant-garde crap). My issue was that the narrative could have been more cohesive--the repeating scenes added nothing to the story she was trying to say. If it was for build-up, the reveal was not worth the momentum. And then you go and saying you have never seen any critique, just whining. But then you state you don't like the video AND THEN you don't state your reasons why. It's like you posted a self-defeating statement.

I didn't post a critique or whine. Really doesn't go against "I only see whining", does it? Hm.

The narrative wasn't the strongest in the world, but we're being given page 16 from a book with no title. I wouldn't expect it to make much sense until further down the line when other videos link in and make it make sense. 

The video is essentially a snippet.