Rants: Lady Gaga + Kanye + A Bunch of Tired Racial/Sexual Subtexts = FAIL
OK. I'll admit it. I like both Lady Gaga and Kanye West. I own music by both artists. Their personalities are outsized both on purpose and they front an insane amount of ego. Kanye's ridiculousness nonwithstanding they are responsible for some very listenable and decent pop music. But how can I explain the ridiculousness that is this crappy photo from this crappy photo shoot by David LaChappelle? Could he at least have made an effort to shock me? Why did he have to phone in "Random Racial/Sexual Stereotypes in Iconic Imagery for $200, Alex?"
Why is it in post-racial America all the sexual/racial images are still from the turn of the century?
Case in point? This NSFW (I think) 10-tons-o-FAIL.
We've got a naked, airbrushed to hell Gaga and Kanye looking like he would like a batch of brains for supper while a volcano ejaculates -- I'm sorry -- errupts in the background. Then there are bunch of fake plants and maybe he's rescuing her, or he's going to eat her brains because Kanyezzy's got a baaaaad case of what Tyra would call "Dead Eye," making him look like he should be trying to make a sandwich out of Mila Jo-va-whatevea-her-name-is as a zombie in those crappy Resident Evil films.
Oh, and it looks like his forehead wrinkle is trying to grow a third eye.
Oh, and the props look like leftovers from fake Mars in Ah-nuld's classic "Total Recall" meets a Ray Harryhausen dinasour flick.
Oh, and Kanye-I'ma-let-you-finish-but ... I REFUSE to believe those are your abs. Seriously.
Two-thousand-and-nine had to be the year of the lazy racial/sexual imagery in high end photography. From all the lazy pictures of European models in blackface to the plethora of pale, emaciated 14-year-olds who all look the fucking same and dominate the runway right now to David LaChappelle trying to make someone like Kanye look "edgy" in the laziest way possible by invoking the Big Black Buck Mandigo stereotype when there is nothing "big," Mandigo-ish or "bucky" about Kanye. (He's a self-described BACKPACKER for goodness sake!) I mean, if you're a white person having racial rape fantasies about Kanye may I suggest a fine psychiatrist? Who fantisizes about being sexually dominated by KANYE?!?!?! This photo is like watching Jaleel White carry off the chick who played Blossom. But I'm more disappointed in Lady Gaga, nee Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta, who *cough* usually tries to be more interesting than this and usually succeeds at genuinely disturbing me. (See video for "Bad Romance," *shudders*)
Just once, you know, I'd like to see someone actually do something genuinely shocking (nee, interesting) other than ripping some Fay Wray and sprinkling Photoshop on it. (See stupid Gisele/LeBron James Vogue cover) Try harder, racial/sexual edginess pushers! Be original!
Like when Madonna made out with sexy ass actor Leon when he was supposed to be Jesus while crosses were burning in the "Like A Prayer" video. I mean, if you're going to piss people off DO IT IN STYLE! Piss EVERYONE OFF in an amazing way! Have the Catholic League call for your stoning while black people are confused if they should be A) happy there's a black man playing Jesus versus B) pissed that you're making out with Black Jesus! versus C) Burning crosses? What's THAT supposed to mean! C'mon!
I know, Gaga. Madonna did everything before you in the most maddening, psycho-racial-sexual fashion, and she did it in the most offensive way possible ("Truth or Dare" anyone?), while often naked, but I'm sure if you really put your mind to it you could top the offensiveness trainwreck that was "Like A Prayer." Someone has to! It might as well be you!
As for Kanye. Um ... please. Focus on the beats. It's the only thing that keeps me half-assed on your team. Despite your efforts to become a fashion icon, you honestly don't inspire much in photographs. They're just not your "thing." Other than when you wear that oversized bear head I can't think of a photo of you that's remotely memorable. And isn't it sad that the most memorable photo of you doesn't involve your face ... if that's actually YOU under than bear head.
Scratch that ... there was the stoopid Rolling Stone "Jesus" cover. Nevermind.
What I'm saying is, I liked 808 & Heartbreaks. Please, stop talking. Stop taking pictures. Start making music. That's all.
Anyway, I'm proclaiming, now, on this day, Dec. 21, 2009 that if you're a white female pop singer who enjoys shocking people if you CANNOT top Madonna's whole "Like A Prayer" video you should just not try to touch psychosexual-racial imagery. You are a kindergartener in the school of offensiveness. And if you're a black rapper who can't top the "hide your daughters" vibe of say ... I dunno ... at least a bootleg 50 Cent you should stick to rapping about cartoons and backpacking and not try to go there.
I mean, unless Dave LaChappelle really does want to film Jaleel White carrying off Mayim Bialik because that would be kind of hot in a self-refernetial, counter-culture, RIDICULOUS ass sort of way, but ONLY if he's dressed as Urkel and she's dressed as Blossom OTHERWISE IT DOESN'T COUNT!
Rant over!
Danielle Belton | 36 Comments | Share Article | Email Article | Print Article | tagged fashion, kanye west, lady gaga, madonna, music, music videos, pop culture, race, sexuality 
Reader Comments (36)
" I'm gonna let You ( Perfect ) FINISH " Wow - Have a Great Day DC.... (-:
Have a Good Day PEOPLE!
And I'm mad at myself for knowing who Mayim Bialak is!
I wonder if they realise the implication of this kind of imagery or they're just to foolish to see it. No...it can't be. They're doing it deliberately and it's so wack.
I wonder if they realise the implication of this kind of imagery or they're just to foolish to see it. No...it can't be. They're doing it deliberately and it's so wack.
good idea on the Urkel/Blossom imagery...no comment on that Kanye/Gaga mess!
I actually like the picture. I over making a big deal out of these things.
is finding a racial aspect (whether or not it's actually there) in everything one looks at part of Post-Racial America?
Great post!!
Great post as always. But I have to disagree you with on this one Snob. I don't find the photo offensive. Boring yes, but not offensive. I think I'm not offended b/c I saw Lady Gaga do an interview on Fuse and she said she and Kanye are friends and she seems pretty intelligent so I'll give her a pass. But I am bored with the photos of the strong black man carrying the white damsel in distress.
Well, they did this before canceling their joint tour. This shot - or part of it - was in the promo video they did for the show. (In the video, you just see her holding her hand over her breast while being held up by what everyone correctly thought was Kanye's hand.) I don't recall people being upset about it at the time. (except complaints it was too sexy). True, you didn't see the volcano in the video. Does that make a difference? When I saw the photo, I thought it was simply him saving her from a volcano when she didn't have time to get her clothes on. He's wearing expedition clothes and I figured they were out camping in the wrong place at the wrong time. Dopey me I guess. Anyway, him holding her naked was meant to promote their tour. I find it interesting and heart warming that Gaga decided to include Kanye in her extras package after all that happened at the MTV awards and the canceled tour. I'm impressed that she kept him in it. She easily could have deleted the photo from the set. But, they're friends and I imagine he had a good time doing the shoot and is glad that it's out there. I think it's a step, even if a small one, in his public rehabilitation, so to speak.
The picture looks exactly like the others in that they are all pictures that resemble the cinematic themes of the 30's -50's. Kanye could be easily replaced with a white/hispanic/asian man in the same style.
The point of the picture is that a man is rescuing a lady while they are stranded on a dangerous island. This could be the cover of a romance novel! In fact, that's another thing it is probably exemplifying.
It doesn't scream racism to me. Kanye can't change his color and Gaga can't change hers. But now friends shouldn't take an artistic picture with one another for fear of racial undertones?
I appreciate the thought in the article and respect it, however, I must differ in opinion. We can't always read into things so much. I highly doubt their intentions when posing were to arouse racial issues, but to take a pretty picture of two friends (and creative geniuses) in a specific theme.
I've got to disagree with you on this one. If you look at the rest of the pictures in that set, she is clearly riffing on those old B-movie posters and she used Kanye because they were planning on touring together. My only complaint is that there's too much retro and not enough Gaga, usually she tries to make things her own. Her album is called The Fame Monster, her tour is the Monster's Ball, so she's paying homage to old monster movies. I see no FAIL in this picture.
I totally agree with you Snob. It's offensive not because of the racial imagery per se. It's offensive because the racial imagery is so lazy, trite and unoriginal. I expect more from both Gaga and Kanye.
Why the hell did he even let them dress him up like a tarzan Mandingo zombie? I thought Kanye had more sense (or at least better taste) than to be used like that. The concept has FAIL written all over it.
@ dkan71
OMG! You noticed that that's what I was writing about. That they were trying to be titillating and failed. I was getting worried for a minute there. I mean, this whole post was a long ass way of me saying the photo was boring and I was outraged by the boredom. I mean, I wrote an effin' endorsement for "Like A Prayer" and made a Jaleel White reference! Lady Gaga and Kanye are better than this crappy ass picture!
"It's offensive because the racial imagery is so lazy, trite and unoriginal." Cosign dkan. Boring, lazy and not particularly artistic. Anyone who can't see the hyperracial not-so-subtle-subtext, well, you're just willfully blind. Thanks Snob!
This picture doesn't offend as much as it just bores me to tears
when I first saw it, my intial reaction was just " meh"...I still feel
kinda meh about it now.... Madonna did it better....
Hahahaha! Well said, as usual.
Loves this post!!
@ Danielle Belton...don't worry. I'm picking up what you're layin' down ;)
am i the only who thinks they photoshopped kanye's head on someone else's body?
All I can say is "Birth of a Nation"
Why is Kanye;'s skin so dark?
The photos are boring, and I totally think Kanye's body is photoshopped on someone else's. Maybe I'm just lame, but I've never liked David LaChapelle's photographs in the first place. Love or hate her, you can't offend like Madonna. I'm still trying to decide if I should be upset about her allegedly circumnavigating laws to adopt her two children from Malawi. Excellent post. I got a nice laugh out of it.
It's kitsch art to me.
The "Like a Prayer" video is still off the chain...there are ways to continue artistic commentary on social issues, but artists can't be lazy about it...I like the photos, but they are not shocking or thought-provoking.