Leigh Bowery and Lady Gaga

[OMonster 14,675]

For those of you who aren't familiar with the name, Leigh Bowery was a performance artist and fashion designer known for his love of 'revolting', 'outlandish' and generally-shocking style choices. He peaked, arguably, in the 1980s, collaborating with predominantly British artists, including Boy George. He is a recorded influence of David Bowie and, in turn, Lady Gaga - as I am sure most of you will know already. 

Gaga has, since the very beginning of her career, referenced the works of Bowery. See some clear examples below: 

Spoiler

 

What's most interesting to me, however, is Gaga's continued referencing of this icon - particularly when a lot of us have questioned Gaga's recent commitment to the avant-garde (including herself; see Joanne era). From Joanne World Tour to even Enigma, I believe the influence of Bowery is pretty explicit: 

JWT: 

Paint Interlude: 

   

Applause Aesthetic: 

Blood Mary Aesthetic: 

ENIGMA: 

Neon / Green Aesthetic:

To conclude, I personally find it really rewarding to think that Gaga continues to be inspired by her outlandish, avant-garde roots. From both JWT and Enigma, I think it is arguable that she has taken some inspiration from Bowery - particularly when the referenced looks are too 'iconic' to be merely coincidental. We also know from Gaga's interview with Lin Manuel, that Bowery is someone she 'still' thinks of and considers... which only supports the above examples of her continued referencing. 

Pretty interesting, really. I hope she continues the return to form that Enigma is beginning to suggest. #LG6, we are waiting. 

[ANVEEROY 61,255]

Umm..

 

[Didymus 34,380]

Wow. Thanks for compiling all that, I didn't know it was that consistent.

Tbh, it's a bit... Like, sorry, but if we found out Katy did this we'd probably call her a shameless copycat. It's kind of odd she never mentioned him. Or maybe this is just the doing of some gay stylist of hers

(To be fair, some of them are a huge reach though.)

[misunderstood 8,736]

Pretty sure most of these are reaches lol only 2 of them look inspired by him

[crisTEAne 21,059]

thank you for your precise writing style and for the actual content of your text, pointing out this matrix of references. i loved reading it. 

[Miracle 14,068]

16 minutes ago, Didymus said:

Wow. Thanks for compiling all that, I didn't know it was that consistent.

Tbh, it's a bit... Like, sorry, but if we found out Katy did this we'd probably call her a shameless copycat. It's kind of odd she never mentioned him. Or maybe this is just the doing of some gay stylist of hers

(To be fair, some of them are a huge reach though.)

Gaga has mentioned Leigh Bowery back during The Fame era. Every queer / club artist is inspired by Leigh Bowery in one way or another, period

 

[OMonster 14,675]

19 minutes ago, misunderstood said:

Pretty sure most of these are reaches lol only 2 of them look inspired by him

Really? 

I'm not saying the looks are direct-copies, I'm just suggesting that maybe she is still inspired by the likes of Bowery - which is a really fantastic thing. 

All of the stated Bowery looks are iconic and famed - they are not 'unearthed gems', they are his most regarded designs. I do not believe it is a coincidence that someone who is inspired by David Bowie, and someone who has recently referenced Bowery himself at the time of planning Enigma, is then seen wearing similar designs in a very stylised and considered context (a tour / residency). 

I'm definitely not accusing Gaga of 'copying' other designs. In fact, I feel very positive if she has a continued connection to these figures. 

The Bowery and Gaga link is long-standing... it's certainly not a reach. See: 

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2011/jul/07/performance-art-pop-lady-gaga-yoko-ono

http://missflickchick.blogspot.com/2010/05/leigh-bower-and-lady-gaga-separated-at.html

http://www.torontostandard.com/style/was-lady-gaga-born-this-way/ (slightly more negative article... but still reaffirms the point) 

Gaga has referenced Bowery throughout her career, and his influence on fashion, pop and gay / drag culture is undenied. If you look at a lot of the looks on Drag Race, they are rooted in Bowery's work. He's a very known figure, and Gaga is certainly a fan of his. 

 

[AlexanderMagno 10,746]

18 minutes ago, Didymus said:

Wow. Thanks for compiling all that, I didn't know it was that consistent.

Tbh, it's a bit... Like, sorry, but if we found out Katy did this we'd probably call her a shameless copycat. It's kind of odd she never mentioned him. Or maybe this is just the doing of some gay stylist of hers

I keep reading your posts around here and I never disagree, so happy to find someone who's not a blind stan  marry me 

Anyway, agree, this thread is the exact copy of a hate post about Katy Perry copying an artist or that cartoon. I always laugh when we called it "referencing" whenever Gaga does it.

However, remember that Gaga started her career by explicitly referencing pop culture. She used Bowie symbols, Madonna symbols, and lots of other artists', and have always claimed that her art is based in a sort of pop icons collage and reinterpretations. She was actually very smart then, because truthfully she has always admitted she was kind of a vessel for pop culture history. It's a good insurance to protect yourself from the copy claims when it's about her aesthetics. So I guess this is the case.

[That J 12,166]

18 minutes ago, Miracle said:

Gaga has mentioned Leigh Bowery back during The Fame era. Every queer / club artist is inspired by Leigh Bowery in one way or another, period

 

Exactly and it's worth noting there is a fine line between being inspired by and just plain out copying. Gaga has come a long way in that regard. 

Within this topic, she has learned to be inspired and is using the inspiration correctly unlike in the past where there was clearly the Vogue video in Alejandro or the Express Yourself video in Born This Way.  I'll forever say had she not wore a suit on a platform in the video, the two songs would have NEVER been compared. 

So it's a fine line and this inspiration is adding a unique quality to her work and it feels like Lady Gaga! 

[Glamourpuss 29,062]

1 hour ago, misunderstood said:

Pretty sure most of these are reaches lol only 2 of them look inspired by him

I thought the same thing. 

[Pietro 1,068]

1 hour ago, OMonster said:

 

   

 

[OMonster 14,675]

22 minutes ago, Pietro said:

Bowery is definitely someone she has always been inspired by. 

[Hurem 17,800]

Icons inspiring icons.  

[Lord Temptation 11,209]

1 hour ago, OMonster said:

Really? 

I'm not saying the looks are direct-copies, I'm just suggesting that maybe she is still inspired by the likes of Bowery - which is a really fantastic thing. 

All of the stated Bowery looks are iconic and famed - they are not 'unearthed gems', they are his most regarded designs. I do not believe it is a coincidence that someone who is inspired by David Bowie, and someone who has recently referenced Bowery himself at the time of planning Enigma, is then seen wearing similar designs in a very stylised and considered context (a tour / residency). 

I'm definitely not accusing Gaga of 'copying' other designs. In fact, I feel very positive if she has a continued connection to these figures. 

The Bowery and Gaga link is long-standing... it's certainly not a reach. See: 

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2011/jul/07/performance-art-pop-lady-gaga-yoko-ono

http://missflickchick.blogspot.com/2010/05/leigh-bower-and-lady-gaga-separated-at.html

http://www.torontostandard.com/style/was-lady-gaga-born-this-way/ (slightly more negative article... but still reaffirms the point) 

Gaga has referenced Bowery throughout her career, and his influence on fashion, pop and gay / drag culture is undenied. If you look at a lot of the looks on Drag Race, they are rooted in Bowery's work. He's a very known figure, and Gaga is certainly a fan of his. 

 

Not only Leigh Bowery but also 1980s house and ball culture as seen in the documentary “Paris is Burning” eg naming her first three concert tours “ball” (the Born This Way Ball, Monster Ball and Fame Ball). Then you have the Haus of Gaga, perhaps a tribute to the house culture like the House of Venus or the House of Labeija.

Gaga has always honoured underground, subversive, transgressive, drag and queer culture. That’s just who she is. I just wish as many people knew about Leigh Bowery and Willy Ninja as they do Bowie and Madonna.

[KatieJudasGaga4 67,907]

1 hour ago, AlexanderMagno said:

I keep reading your posts around here and I never disagree