Comments on: Lady Gaga’s “Marry the Night” video makes the psych ward seem hot http://www.about-face.org/lady-gagas-marry-the-night-video-makes-the-psych-ward-seem-hot/ Tue, 21 May 2013 13:40:07 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Capri http://www.about-face.org/lady-gagas-marry-the-night-video-makes-the-psych-ward-seem-hot/#comment-17924 Capri Thu, 05 Jul 2012 19:59:27 +0000 http://www.about-face.org/?p=9618#comment-17924 Obviously the troll cares because she bothered to read the article THEN respond to it. I think they may just be jealous of the popstar.... Obviously the troll cares because she bothered to read the article THEN respond to it. I think they may just be jealous of the popstar….

]]> By: babygrey http://www.about-face.org/lady-gagas-marry-the-night-video-makes-the-psych-ward-seem-hot/#comment-7512 babygrey Wed, 01 Feb 2012 18:37:42 +0000 http://www.about-face.org/?p=9618#comment-7512 congratulations you fed the troll. everyone else successfully ignored her. happy now? congratulations you fed the troll. everyone else successfully ignored her. happy now?

]]> By: Alyssa http://www.about-face.org/lady-gagas-marry-the-night-video-makes-the-psych-ward-seem-hot/#comment-6847 Alyssa Sun, 22 Jan 2012 23:04:26 +0000 http://www.about-face.org/?p=9618#comment-6847 So you really think that a primate could have created that video? It's fine to say your opinions in a classy way, but just don't be unnessesarily rude. No one needs your attitude. So you really think that a primate could have created that video? It’s fine to say your opinions in a classy way, but just don’t be unnessesarily rude. No one needs your attitude.

]]> By: babygrey http://www.about-face.org/lady-gagas-marry-the-night-video-makes-the-psych-ward-seem-hot/#comment-6158 babygrey Wed, 04 Jan 2012 20:43:28 +0000 http://www.about-face.org/?p=9618#comment-6158 I think the problem lies in the fact that there is such a lack of honest depictions of metal illnesses out there that lady gaga's video is another unwelcome drop in the already shitty ocean. If there was more diversity there wouldn't be a problem but there isn't. just like an overly sexual Christina aguleria video in and of itself isn't a problem but with the already saturated hypersexualised media landscape out there, it certainly isn't helpful. I think the problem lies in the fact that there is such a lack of honest depictions of metal illnesses out there that lady gaga’s video is another unwelcome drop in the already shitty ocean. If there was more diversity there wouldn’t be a problem but there isn’t.

just like an overly sexual Christina aguleria video in and of itself isn’t a problem but with the already saturated hypersexualised media landscape out there, it certainly isn’t helpful.

]]> By: Jackie http://www.about-face.org/lady-gagas-marry-the-night-video-makes-the-psych-ward-seem-hot/#comment-6089 Jackie Tue, 03 Jan 2012 07:45:37 +0000 http://www.about-face.org/?p=9618#comment-6089 Yeah, but when you're discussing an artist like Lady Gaga who's known for being over the top, why wouldn't she over dramatize her time in a mental ward too? She's a lot like Rarity from My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic. Yeah, but when you’re discussing an artist like Lady Gaga who’s known for being over the top, why wouldn’t she over dramatize her time in a mental ward too? She’s a lot like Rarity from My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic.

]]> By: smrnda http://www.about-face.org/lady-gagas-marry-the-night-video-makes-the-psych-ward-seem-hot/#comment-5826 smrnda Wed, 28 Dec 2011 20:15:32 +0000 http://www.about-face.org/?p=9618#comment-5826 I think how a person reacts to the depiction of mental illness of the experience of being in a psychiatric facility depends a lot on whether you've ever had that experience yourself; if you have, it can get irritating when depictions of mental illness don't seem to *get it right*. i have schizo-affective disorder and have been hospitalized a few times, and if someone asked me "what was it like?" i always told them it was like being in a college dorm but without homework or classes, and you can't leave and you can't drink, do drugs or have sex - a total non-event and non-experience. whenever i see a depiction like this one i just keep thinking "do people *still* think there is something glamorous, rebellious or exciting about this?" i mean, Lady Gaga is free to depict her life however she feels like it happened, but in this case I just think that her depiction is no less by the book about mental illness than any others out there. I think how a person reacts to the depiction of mental illness of the experience of being in a psychiatric facility depends a lot on whether you’ve ever had that experience yourself; if you have, it can get irritating when depictions of mental illness don’t seem to *get it right*. i have schizo-affective disorder and have been hospitalized a few times, and if someone asked me “what was it like?” i always told them it was like being in a college dorm but without homework or classes, and you can’t leave and you can’t drink, do drugs or have sex – a total non-event and non-experience. whenever i see a depiction like this one i just keep thinking “do people *still* think there is something glamorous, rebellious or exciting about this?” i mean, Lady Gaga is free to depict her life however she feels like it happened, but in this case I just think that her depiction is no less by the book about mental illness than any others out there.

]]> By: Magdalena http://www.about-face.org/lady-gagas-marry-the-night-video-makes-the-psych-ward-seem-hot/#comment-5614 Magdalena Sat, 24 Dec 2011 05:56:58 +0000 http://www.about-face.org/?p=9618#comment-5614 Oh, thank you for sharing that. I was basing my statements on my own experiences visiting family and friends in psych wards, which were always in hospitals, but you're completely right to point out that there are many flavors of psychiatric facilities. I read an article on Racialicious a couple of years ago that argued that Lady Gaga is radical because she refuses to rely on her fairly conventional white beauty, and makes herself weird and interesting rather than sexy. It was a great point, and ever since I read it, I've been extra disappointed when she caves to the dominant message of beauty. Sigh. Oh, thank you for sharing that. I was basing my statements on my own experiences visiting family and friends in psych wards, which were always in hospitals, but you’re completely right to point out that there are many flavors of psychiatric facilities.

I read an article on Racialicious a couple of years ago that argued that Lady Gaga is radical because she refuses to rely on her fairly conventional white beauty, and makes herself weird and interesting rather than sexy. It was a great point, and ever since I read it, I’ve been extra disappointed when she caves to the dominant message of beauty. Sigh.

]]> By: Magdalena http://www.about-face.org/lady-gagas-marry-the-night-video-makes-the-psych-ward-seem-hot/#comment-5613 Magdalena Sat, 24 Dec 2011 05:48:09 +0000 http://www.about-face.org/?p=9618#comment-5613 Hal, thanks for your comment. I imagine reactions to this video would differ greatly based on if you view it as sex-positive imagery or objectification. To me, it reads as objectification, but I accept that it's not the only possible interpretation. Gaga is free to portray her past however she wants, but when she uses tropes and images that are part of a pattern of misogyny (the hot crazy girl cliché I mentioned), I just can't excuse her on the basis of art. Hal, thanks for your comment. I imagine reactions to this video would differ greatly based on if you view it as sex-positive imagery or objectification. To me, it reads as objectification, but I accept that it’s not the only possible interpretation. Gaga is free to portray her past however she wants, but when she uses tropes and images that are part of a pattern of misogyny (the hot crazy girl cliché I mentioned), I just can’t excuse her on the basis of art.

]]> By: Jackie http://www.about-face.org/lady-gagas-marry-the-night-video-makes-the-psych-ward-seem-hot/#comment-5608 Jackie Sat, 24 Dec 2011 01:54:49 +0000 http://www.about-face.org/?p=9618#comment-5608 I agree with what Hal said, Lady Gaga said in the video that it was her artistic recreation of what happened. Just as One Flew Over the Cuckoo's nest was ken Kasey's artistic perspective on the mental illness wards. Nobody would seriously believe that Gaga's vision is representative of an actual mental ward. From how she explains it, seems her vision was how she envisioned the mental ward she was in as a way to cope with that dark time in her life. It's like you're suggesting it's wrong for people to dissociate into fantasy as a coping mechanism. As for the haters, I'm not seeing you making these inspiring and artistic videos like Lady Gaga. It's easy to judge, it's harder to do. I agree with what Hal said, Lady Gaga said in the video that it was her artistic recreation of what happened. Just as One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s nest was ken Kasey’s artistic perspective on the mental illness wards. Nobody would seriously believe that Gaga’s vision is representative of an actual mental ward. From how she explains it, seems her vision was how she envisioned the mental ward she was in as a way to cope with that dark time in her life. It’s like you’re suggesting it’s wrong for people to dissociate into fantasy as a coping mechanism.

As for the haters, I’m not seeing you making these inspiring and artistic videos like Lady Gaga. It’s easy to judge, it’s harder to do.

]]> By: Cherish Rybak http://www.about-face.org/lady-gagas-marry-the-night-video-makes-the-psych-ward-seem-hot/#comment-5607 Cherish Rybak Sat, 24 Dec 2011 01:22:48 +0000 http://www.about-face.org/?p=9618#comment-5607 I love everything about your post and this website. I have yet to watch the video in its entirety, but I did read the article itself and I do want to point out one thing.... Psych wards, mental facilities.. they come in all shapes and sizes. I was recently released from a facility that specialized in eating disorders and when I was admitted, I was surprised to find that it was nothing like I ever would have ever imagined. Facilities like that generally don't broadcast what they are, in favor of privacy for the patients. My eating disorder treatment facility was on a very busy, well known, city street, yet the townspeople weren't neccessarily aware of it's existence. When patients left that location, where group therapy was held and meals were conducted, we stayed in a regular old house that looked exactly like any other home in the neighborhood. I completely agree that mental disorders should not be glamorized, or sexualized at that. It's enough to make my skin crawl... this kind of ambience in Hollywood settings is exactly what put me in that facility to begin with. I really appreciate you pointing out that Lady Gaga is a culprit of placing intricate emphasis on outer beauty, fashion, and everything else superficial. I wish that more people would take this negative influence into consideration. It truly is tragic to see so many women and young adults belittling themselves over an idea beauty that doesn't exist. I love everything about your post and this website. I have yet to watch the video in its entirety, but I did read the article itself and I do want to point out one thing…. Psych wards, mental facilities.. they come in all shapes and sizes. I was recently released from a facility that specialized in eating disorders and when I was admitted, I was surprised to find that it was nothing like I ever would have ever imagined. Facilities like that generally don’t broadcast what they are, in favor of privacy for the patients. My eating disorder treatment facility was on a very busy, well known, city street, yet the townspeople weren’t neccessarily aware of it’s existence. When patients left that location, where group therapy was held and meals were conducted, we stayed in a regular old house that looked exactly like any other home in the neighborhood.

I completely agree that mental disorders should not be glamorized, or sexualized at that. It’s enough to make my skin crawl… this kind of ambience in Hollywood settings is exactly what put me in that facility to begin with. I really appreciate you pointing out that Lady Gaga is a culprit of placing intricate emphasis on outer beauty, fashion, and everything else superficial. I wish that more people would take this negative influence into consideration. It truly is tragic to see so many women and young adults belittling themselves over an idea beauty that doesn’t exist.

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