Lady Gaga: Between the covers
Lady Gaga's new picture book is barely causing a ripple of controversy.
SUPPLIED PHOTODavid Graham Life Reporter
Almost 20 years after the publishing of Madonnas controversial Sex book, Lady Gagas new picture book is barely causing a ripple of controversy.
The distinct lack of fanfare surrounding Gagas new project, Lady Gaga X Terry Richardson, is far from the shock and awe that erupted when Madonna came out with Sex, photographed by a variety of artists including Steven Meisel. Yet the newer book, simply labelled Gaga on the cover, is filled with outrageous even disturbing photographs of the outrageous singer/ performance artist.
Comparisons between the two artists are inevitable. Gaga, 25, is persistently accused of being derivative of the pop icon. She even appears to look like Madonna on the cover of her new book.
But though Gaga is quick to assert she has nothing but respect for Madonna the books are very different.
The deeply considered photographs of Madonna were highly styled and in only a few instances featured extras like Naomi Campbell and Isabella Rossellini.
By contrast, American fashion photographer Richardson captured Lady Gaga in intimate, random and behind-the-scenes shots over a 10-month period. There are lots of other players in Gagas book her dancers, her fans, or little monsters, as she calls them and even Richardson.
One of the most poignant photos! is of 1 0-year-old Maria Aragon from Winnipeg who performed a Born This Way duet with an obviously moved Lady Gaga in Toronto March 3, 2011.
Madonnas book was singularly about the performer and her glamorous and racy sexuality, which in hindsight seems tame.
The images in Lady Gagas book are raw, like the meat dress she wore to MTVs Video Music Awards in 2010. While she is at the centre of her book, Richardson reveals Gaga as someone not that different from her flamboyant followers her little monsters who were born this way. Gaga even allows herself to be photographed baldly without make-up appearing resolutely un-glamorous and in a collage of 12 images shes captured crowd surfing at a concert.
1. Publishing dates:
Sex: Oct 21, 1992.
Gaga: Nov. 22, 2011.
2. Sold for:
Sex: Retail $49.95 (US) in 1992.
Gaga: Retail $55. (Cdn.).
3. Photographed by:
Sex: Highly stylized images photographed principally by Steven Meisel on locations in New York and Miami.
Gaga: All-access photographs taken exclusively by bad boy Terry Richardson features concert and intimate backstage images.
4. Shock value:
Sex: Considered raunchy for glamorizing sadomasochism and bestiality.
Gaga: Lady Gaga being outfitted in a raw meat dress held together with butchers string.
5. Cover:
Sex: Cover is metalized plastic with SEX stamped into it. Sold with Mylar wrapping it resembled a condom. Came with, Warning! Adults Only! recommendation.
Gaga: Traditional cover shot is profile of pop singer shot from behind with Gaga scripted in clear crystals on black leather jacket. With short blonde hair and black classic Ray Ban-style sunglasses she appears vaguely reminiscent of Madonna in her Papa Dont Preach days.
6. Sales:
Sex: Though some book stores refused to carry it, Sex sold 1.5 million copies in the first three days of sales mak! ing it t he most successful coffee table book EVER.
Gaga: Indigo has already discounted the three-day old book 34 per cent. It retails online for $36.30. Amazon has also discounted the book.
7. What the critics said:
Sex: This must be the most gorgeously, even lavishly, produced piece of junk food since Midas tried to sneak a potato chip and found his touch had turned it to gold, wrote Vicki Goldberg Oct. 25, 1992 in the New York Times. Others called the book a calculated controversy designed up push sales of her new CD Erotica.
Gaga: Nothing yet from the pro critics, but heres what one buyer, Ward J. Lamb, said in amazon.com review: It appears to fall short of real art. Its as if you found a book of personal photos, taken randomly. Richardson stops short of his trademark in your face vulgarity ... Gaga is neutralized by the repetition of it all. Little Monsters may like this vanity fair. Gaga needs the stage setting to be interesting. Madonnas Sex book makes this look like a romp in the playground.
8. Trivia:
Sex: HMV Records at Lexington and 86th Street let anyone who gave a donation to Lifebeat AIDS see one page of Madonnas new book, for one minute in a mock confessional booth.
Gaga: The star was named one of Forbes Most Powerful Women in the World for 2011 and was included in the 2010 Time 100 list of the most influential people in the world. Still, unsure however if sales of the book will reflect that power.
9. Enduring legacy:
Sex: Bookfinder.com reports that Sex is always at the top of their list of most requested out of print books. It is at the top this year beating Nora Roberts and Stephen King books Promise Me Tomorrow and Rage. Sex was perfectly designed to be a collectors item, says Bookfinder.coms Scott Laming. The controversy that surrounded the launch of the book, gave the book a kind of exclusivity which translates well into a secondary collectors m! arket. T here is a premium for unopened copies, says Laming.
Gaga: Considering its already discounted status it is unlikely to have an enduring legacy. Laming compares the length of each performers career about 25 to five. If were still hearing Lady Gagas name in 2033 shes definitely got a shot.
10. Most disturbing photograph:
Sex: Madonna getting it on with a German Shepherd.
GaGa: Of the books 350 colour and black-and-white photographs, Lady Gaga, red and bloodied in a meat dress, is not the most alarming. Rather, an un-staged photo of Lady Gaga seated on a beige sofa wearing heavy eye make-up with an IV drip connected to the crook of her arm rehydrating.