What else accounts for the soaring popularity of the 24-year-old global phenom [Lady Gaga]? The question has intrigued and inspired Mathieu Deflem, 48, a sociology professor at the University of South Carolina at Columbia, who plans to teach a course called “Lady Gaga and the Sociology of Fame.” He believes it is the only such full-time college course in the country.
He wants to explore what makes a person famous and what being famous means in today’s culture. Or, as the course description puts it: “The central objective is to unravel some of the sociologically relevant dimensions of the fame of Lady Gaga.”
This course could also be called “Obsession.” Mr. Deflem said he was instantly entranced with Lady Gaga when he saw her on “The Tonight Show” in January 2009. Then he went to a concert in Atlanta. That led to his traipsing after her around the world to more than 28 shows.
[…]
Still, he harbors hope that she might visit his class. “I will get the word out to her that I’m doing the course,” he said, “but it might be logistically too difficult for her to come” because she will be on tour for most of the spring semester.
0
Support the Blog — Buy This Book!
For Kindle and with free ePub version. Only $9.49 Great reading.
Here is what Gary Shapiro CEO of the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) said: Dvorak's writing sings with insight and clarity. Whether or not you agree with John's views, he will get you thinking and is never boring. These essays are worth the read!
Put this ad on your blog!
Syndicate
Subscribe to Main Blog feed here:
Subscribe to Comments too (below):
Junk Email Filter
Totally appropriate for a sociology class and would have lots of application to a polysci class as well.
We follow our leaders because they have power and money and can coerce our choices.
But why do we respect or worship them?
Lady Ga-Ga is a Ga-Guy.
Stalker.
Such a fabulous use of state taxpayers funds in a time of financial stress.
#3 Fred Ziffel
Taxpayer funded creepy stalker.
Fixed that for ya.
What an idiot …
I like turtles, I went to more than 28 zoos to watch their sociological behaviours… perhaps I could apply for a college class too!
At least he will get some attention from his students, for a few weeks.
Shouldn’t the class be named “Scientology and Fame?”
It would be more apt to call it Drag Queens and Their Affect on Modern Culture.
Then Lady Gaga can be in near the end on the section of how the idea has come full circle with now women dressing like men that dress like women.
Cursor_
Whose job is it to invent these people? They use the tired old formula every time, but it seems to work.
Lady Who?
Ya, keep saying it, you will sound more intelligent each and every time.
Dress freaky and act outrageous. Reminds me of Jackson and Madonna.
Oddly enough she may be hot to some but…the shine is off for me which leaves tarnish and tawdry.
Ain’t tenure wonderful?
Gag looks 38-42 to me, 24, really? I don’t buy that.
Tea Party Retarty,
That is because she is between 38-42 in drug years. Chronologically speaking she is still 24 however.
This SCU college course reminds me of the Dire Straits song, “Money for Nothing (and the chicks for free)”. How lame to make up courses based on temporary media icons. It’s not like she’ll ever be an Elvis or something. And even a course about him would be a pretty frivolous use of college time and money. But obviously, college have become mainly a money making business. And teaching really useful skills has become a very secondary consideration in many cases. No wonder the other countries are beating us, in higher education and jobs. I’ll bet this Prof. is getting a little under the counter funding from the Music Industry, to teach about LG. First the RIAA got most of the music piracy halted in colleges. Now they’re getting their lame products promoted as educational!
Sounds like the prof is gaga for Gaga and found a way to get the university to pay for his passion.
USC – underwriting stalkers since 1801
Taking that class? Oh, definitely.