Global Pop Divas Angelique Kidjo vs. Lady Gaga

Why We Need the Pop Diva MAGIC

Gaga outrageously sexualized pop-star diva vapid made-to-sell easily consumable fierce

Kidjo do-good ethnocentric world-music diva tribal easily consumable positive

Girls in the Game Expected to play by the rules – Be 200% committed to your fans Be approachable Reflect their reality: nice, modest, behaved Reflect their fantasy: fierce, sexy, liberated Bring you’re “A game” to play with the boys – Be a pretty face & a hot body – Be professional and hardworking

If You Don’t Play by the Rules… If you’re too commanding, you’re a bitch If you’re too soft, you’re a toy If you’re too unexpected, you’re weird If you’re too distant, you’re not dedicated If you’re too close, you’re imperfect If you’re too sexual, you’re objectified If you’re too ethnic, you’re objectified

Represent! Kidjo presents herself as an African woman with a knowledge of colonialism and African heritage – Her fans connect with the story of liberation Gaga presents herself as an Italian-American woman with a knowledge of gay rights and equality – Her fans connect with the story of liberation

Creation While some of Gaga’s fans appreciate her with a cynical post-modern wink, she is created for superfandom While some of Kidjo’s fans appreciated her with an understanding of cultural dynamics, she is created for world music success

Conclusions… When I started this project, I wanted to explore how Gaga’s fans accept her story with a consciousness of industry and gender dynamics that Kidjo’s fans don’t explicitly show in regards to colonialist dynamics However, research revealed that a fan is a fan is a fan, and fandom is based of off imagery

Redeeming their Narratives If Gaga tried to play the role of the international “world music” diva, she would be as unsuccessful as if Kidjo tried to invade the world of electro-pop At the end of the day, both of these ladies DOMINATE in their field and speak to their fans, which is the most important aspect of what they do