11.26.13 Adam vs. the Puppet -- who is the real DIVA!?!?

[restless]

Nov 26, 2013 10:47:43 GMT -5 Q3 said:

Nov 26, 2013 9:36:24 GMT -5 @juniemoon said:

No one would have said it was racist if a Japanese performer dressed up as a cowboy. It's a manufactured controversy. 

Manufactured is right -- particularly because it was based on some folks on Twitter posting snarky comments -- example:

Nathan Hatcher ‏@nathanhatcher 24 Nov
Oh, good. Katy Perry is dressed as a geisha. I was afraid her sharp vocals would outshine her racism.

Nathan Hatcher ‏@nathanhatcher 24 Nov
I can't wait to hear my favorite country singer, Miley Cyrus, perform!

Without noticing he is a avid Gaga fan -- and it was snark, not offense.

Nathan Hatcher
Nathan Hatcher
@nathanhatcher

Twitter bio: nathanhatcher.me † www.youtube.com/thecultofgaga † cultofgaga.com
Oklahoma

This is not manufactured -- it is reporters desperately seeking a story.

***

But, as with most controversies like this, it is inspiring a good conversation about stereotyping and exoticizing Asian women:

"Katy Perry's AMA performance is offensive. It is yet another example of Orientalist, exoticizing stereotypes about Asian women being reinforced. When you consider the pairing of her ensemble, which for the average viewer invokes the stereotypical 'geisha' image, with the words of the lyrics, 'I will love you unconditionally … don't need apologies,' it's clear that — intentionally or not — Katy is encouraging the kind of racist fetishization of Asian women as submissive and powerless that harms us and clouds the strength and resilience we demonstrate every day in this country as we support our families, contribute to the economy, and lead movements for social change."

Shivana Jorawar, Reproductive Justice Program Director at National Asian Pacific American Women's Forum, to Yahoo Music.

So while I find the Tweets that started this controversy to be foolish, I think there is a worthwhile discussion happening.

***

ETA: On the more important topic -- Adam's new hair kut -- I agree with MySpenser50 -- Adam was behind this new hair, not mandated by Glee. The diva puppet scene was probably more an exaggeration of what it is like to be a major label artist and to be in musical theater -- to not control what songs you sing, the costumes you wear and -- well -- anything. Diva now exits off, stage right!

I totally agree. And as much as I agree that our culture may be a bit hypersensitive, it is not always cut and dry.  My son and I were discussing the Katy Perry "controversy"  and he thought what she did was fine and we should be able to dress up in the garb of other cultures without issue.  We then joked about halloween costumes and I told him his father dressed as a Rastafarian for Halloween in the early 80's, complete with make up, ie, black face.  His instant reaction was "That is racist."  I said no, his dad was paying homage to the great reggae singers of the time and embracing a character. (In fact more than one party guest thought he was a member of the reggae band performing that night).  I did not think Julianne Hough going as OITNB Crazy Eyes for Halloween should have been attacked.  She was playing a character.    
I enjoyed the twitter rant, too. I get what Adam is saying, but I appreciated that he understood  glitterbitch's perspective. Entertainment may not  be that deep, but guess what, it is!  Obviously it is not always MEANT to be, but there have been many cultural and social changes that began or was reinforced with what is on screen, in literature, in music, etc.  Finding the balance is tricky.

[Q3]

Nov 26, 2013 12:32:40 GMT -5 bridget said:

I love Katy Perry. I love Adam more. And I think if she didn't expect her AMA performance would draw some of the critical responses it has, she should have. Flavor-Wire has an interesting article on the subject - her quote about how much she loves Asian culture is, IMO, kind of shocking and . . . as the article argues, a little clueless.

I think Adam is conflating a lot of issues with his tweets (and retweets) and painting with a broad brush. But I still love him!

I read some of the comments he responded to -- and I think although he was inspired by the critiques of Katy's performance, it was a general comment. And many of the comments back to him on Twitter were very thoughtful and are worth reading.

Adam has a lot of very passionate and thoughtful fans.

The comments about the role and importance of entertainment/entertainers are most interesting. Here is one example.

@glitterbitch98 Meaghan Morris a teenager, and avid Adam fan -- tweeted some really worthwhile thoughts.

Meaghan Morris ‏@glitterbitch98 10h

@adamlambert getting a little frustrated with the world Adam? Lol #banter
lol you'd be surprised ....
I think that they're kind of scared of it tbh, like, people fear the unknown and for the most part dont like change
so when they get scared they react negatively towards whatever is scaring them, like entertainment and creativity that's why
individuals are " picked on " so much, because the fact that they have a different way of seeing things scares the world
if society was more willing to embrace what they consider the abnormal maybe we'd be living in a more open minded world but
we are taught that we have to live a certain way or act like someone we're not just to fit in, when someone tries to create ...
a new path instead of following the same one everyone else is people tell them they're cuckoo and the stray away from it becuz.

Adam Lambert ✔ @adamlambert
Entertainment isn't heart surgery. Why do so many onlookers take it so literally? so seriously? It's as if they're forgetting its purpose.

@adamlambert that's not how we're " supposed to be " .... Sorry for my spam

Adam Lambert ‏@adamlambert 10h
I can't keep up w all the double standards & contradictions. But as I said, it's just entertainment -ain't THAT deep. K I'll stop ranting.

@adamlambert again, sorry for the spam but , sometimes we have to take certain aspect of entertainment seriously, cause it means ...
something to us, more than just a show, like a way to feel comfortable in our own skin and free, be happy or an escape
and I'm saying that it's not entertaining but I think we can find a deeper meaning behind it all even if some ppl look too deep
I don't even know what to say.... But I hope what I did say helped

Adam Lambert ✔ @adamlambert
@glitterbitch98 good point Meaghan. I wasn't looking at it that way. This is why it's good to ask questions- we can learn more.

Adam Lambert ‏@adamlambert 10h
@glitterbitch98 you're a smart girl!

Meaghan Morris ‏@glitterbitch98 10h
@adamlambert thank so you so much.

[Deleted]

Nov 26, 2013 12:39:20 GMT -5 4Ms said:

I don't think the comments were about anything other than GLEE.

Obviously about the puppet, but the thoughts maybe about his own situation on GLEE.

The show is a great opportunity to be seen by many that haven't kept up with him and maybe he'll gain some new fans.

However, we all know he'd rather be singing his own songs, at his own concert, and in front of his own fans.

Why not both

[Deleted]

Don't worry, I am the only one who isn't on the same track as Adam here! But I'm not on the same track as Adam here.

I think, ULTIMATELY, "PC-ness" does more good than harm and allows for more voices to be heard, not fewer.

[Q3]

IMO there is a big difference between dressing up as Rastafarian for Halloween, and Julianne Hough's blackface prison get-up. That was at the least ignorant and clueless and thoughtless.

IMO, in the US, with our history of black enslavement, imprisonment and discrimination, and such low notes as white people using blackface in minstrel shows to mock black culture and diminish, belittle and degrade blacks -- common in the post-Civil War South until the 1920's -- some level of extra consideration is needed about the general use of blackface -- even on Halloween.

And linking it to prison (in any form) when African Americans are incarcerated at nearly six times the rate of whites and are 1 million of the 2.3 million prisoners in the US was just thoughtless or ignorant.

**

I cannot see much offensive in Katy's AMA performance and it seem like a bunch of Gaga fans on tweeter did most of the complaining. Kind of like the stuff that goes on with Idol.

**

Bringing it back to Adam -- when he was on Idol and the photo of green Adam appeared people were "offended" but they were mostly/all Danny and Kris fans who just were anti-Adam. No one was actually offended by Adam in green. Green Bay Packer fans take off their shirts and paint themselves green all the time! (And yes, I know there was also the Brad-Adam kissing photo. Oh shock, Adam is gay and on Idol! Even my 80+ year old mom figured that out when she saw Ring of Fire.)

[Deleted]

Nov 26, 2013 12:39:20 GMT -5 4Ms said:

Nov 26, 2013 11:05:17 GMT -5 @glitter said:

I think people are overthinking the puppet. Chris and Adam were speaking as their puppets not as themselves. I don't believe Puppet Elliot was making a commentary on major label politics or theater or anything else other than "hey I'm a puppet and someone makes me do the things I do."

I don't think the comments were about anything other than GLEE.

Obviously about the puppet, but the thoughts maybe about his own situation on GLEE.

The show is a great opportunity to be seen by many that haven't kept up with him and maybe he'll gain some new fans.

However, we all know he'd rather be singing his own songs, at his own concert, and in front of his own fans.

  


Adam is incredibly smart IMO insomuch as he never limits himself by narrowing his opprotunities and challenges. 

He fronted Queen because it was an opprtunity and challenge. 

He's on glee because it's an opportunity and a challenge. 

All the while he has upcoming concerts booked where he can perform his music for his fans and maybe with the other opportunities he'll be able to perform for some new fans as well.

[augenpoesie]

kardam ‏@kardamdoll

Adam,What are you doing?? (￣Д￣)ﾉ pic.twitter.com/P5jZv3AEcB

[theosgma]

Nov 26, 2013 12:47:55 GMT -5 wal said:

Nov 26, 2013 12:31:05 GMT -5 Q3 said:

ETA: I think that this is Adam's real hair color -- the roots. Pretty redish-blond.

An old interview with Jessi Cruickshank, Adam talked about his hair color at 3:11.

If you don't remember this or haven't seen it, it is just hilarious

[jean1010]

I love the ginger in the hair, and it will go so well with the ginger Melvin which I also love.

About the PCness of our current age, while at times it gets a little silly, it is a huge step forward from the time when it was open season on blacks, Jews, gays, etc presented in deriding ways as entertainment. Things have improved a lot in tolerance, and awareness of how we respect and treat our fellow humans. For example, it is a shock to watch the blatant sexism of the comic ladies man of a 1960s movie or hear Alec Baldwin use a gay slur. We are shocked because as a society we have become more tolerant and these things like those are no longer acceptable or funny. Maybe the stereotyping of Asian women has not reached the point were the majority recognizes it as racist, but it looks like it is on the way. Entertainment reflects our societal values, and what is considered OK changes as we continue our progress forward.

Wanted to add that I love that Adam is sticking up for his friend Katy who has always said very lovely things about him.  He is a good friend and a complete sweetheart.

[Deleted]

Nov 26, 2013 13:17:16 GMT -5 Q3 said:

Bringing it back to Adam -- when he was on Idol and the photo of green Adam appeared people were "offended" but they were mostly/all Danny and Kris fans who just were anti-Adam. No one was actually offended by Adam in green. Green Bay Packer fans take off their shirts and paint themselves green all the time! (And yes, I know there was also the Brad-Adam kissing photo. Oh shock, Adam is gay and on Idol! Even my 80+ year old mom figured that out when she saw Ring of Fire.)

LOL people were offended that Adam was painted green?  were they pro-alien supporters?  I mean seriously, who would be offended by someone painted green?  That's hysterical and I wish I had seen this when it happened.