Category: PAS!

Many people may recognize this iconic dress worn by Lady Gaga in 2010. She wore this dress to the VMAs as a protest against a policy in the U.S. military at the time. This dress proceeded to go viral and shock everyone watching and in attendance. Lady Gaga was known for wearing exciting and different clothes, but not typically clothes that portrayed a message. 

Lady Gaga was protesting the military’s ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ policy, which discriminated against gay men and lesbian women in the military. She made a speech against it called The Primes Rid of America. The U.S. military did not want to know if someone was gay or lesbian, as they did not support it. 

She took a stand against this policy and was acting to fix it. Many people did not know about her speech, so they did not understand the outfit’s message, but once it got out, she made an impact. The dress was made of real meat and a corset underneath to represent the title of the speech about equality for all. 

Lady Gaga was, and still is, a very prominent celebrity, with many fans supporting her. When she came out in this dress, it was not so unusual for her, but people knew there was a reason for it. No one would voluntarily wear a dress made out of meat unless they felt it really mattered. The message got confused with animal rights and other things, but she clarified the real message behind it.

She used her power to stand up against something she knew was wrong. People were not as concerned with social issues as they are now, and many people were not acknowledging the military’s policy. Gaga knew how to get people’s attention and communicate effectively. When celebrities talk, a lot of people listen, and she used her rhetoric to her advantage. 

While I think the dress may have been gross to wear as it was real meat, I think it looks good and was made well. It must have been hard to make a dress like that, and they pulled it off so it looked like clothes but was still very unique. I also really like the shoes with the dress, as they elevate the look, and the blocky heel goes very well with the dress. Also, the dress is laid nicely and of different lengths. I also like that her hair has blue tips, which goes well with the red, and the jewelry accents make it look good. 

Overall, Lady Gaga stood up for what was right when others were not and caught everyone’s attention. The dress became an iconic piece, and the policy was eventually revoked. She did something uncomfortable for a good reason and used her platform to communicate with a wide audience. There was no better way to spread a message than wearing a dress made of real meat to the VMAs. She made a speech and persisted with the issue all the way through.

This passion blog will interpret fashion with a message in a different way than previously. I will be diving into the protesters during Victoria Beckham’s fashion show during Paris Fashion Week. This has happened many times before, but this is the most recent example, as it only happened three weeks ago.

Victoria Beckham is well known for being Posh Spice and marrying world-renowned soccer player David Beckham. Over the years, she has embraced her creativity and love for everything posh by creating her own brands, which include makeup, clothes, and more. She is an impressive woman who made a name for herself at a young age and continued her life of fame gracefully. 

Victoria Beckham held a runway show during this year’s Paris Fashion Week showcasing her new designs. During this show, protesters from the animal rights organization Peta stood up, holding signs and wearing T-shirts against her line, and walked on the runway with the models. 

They were adorned with words stating “animals aren’t fabric,” “turn your back on animal skins,” and a few more sayings. Victoria Beckham uses genuine animal leather in her clothing, so the protesters came out to disrupt the showing. They saw an opportunity to voice their opinions, and they took it like many others have done in the past regarding similar issues.

The organization used Victoria’s platform to their advantage by doing this act. Many famous people were in attendance and media which would make a difference in using animal skin for clothing. They communicated with people as they knew many people would see it, and the word would spread fast. Rhetoric has much to do with freedom of speech and voicing one’s opinion, making this a perfect example. 

I am personally a big fan of Victoria Beckham, but I do not condone the use of animals for material things. This is a problem, as we now have very good quality leather made from fruits or other materials. Many substitutes allow for a stoppage in using this leather altogether.

While the protesters were effective, I think things should be done legally and professionally. The protesters interrupted a show and had to be escorted out by the police. The protesters could most likely find an effective way to get their message across without causing much uproar. I believe it also could be done more professionally, which would gain the protesters more respect, therefore allowing them to convey their message better.

The saying was clear on the shirts, and it was apparent what they were standing up for, making their rhetoric to the people successful. Protesting is a right in the country that will never be taken away, but it must be done somewhere people are allowed to and in public space. I think it is best to follow the law so others aren’t upset by it but listen to the problem.

Victoria Beckham held an incredible show in Paris over Fashion Week, and she is an inspiring woman, but it would be nice if she could get rid of real leather. It harms animals and the environment for no good reason and creates a need for people to stand up for the animals. 

The 2024 Grammys occurred just this week, on February 4th. While there was lots of stand-out fashion and beautiful pieces, one dress stood out the most. Many celebrities like to make political stances at one point or another throughout their career. While that is often the case, this look is more sentimental than others I have encountered. 

Montana Tucker, a famous singer-songwriter in the music industry, wore the look. She is also well-known on social media and uses her platform to spread awareness. There has been a theme at award shows recently, with a few stars wearing yellow ribbons to support the Israeli hostages. Montana wore a prominent yellow ribbon on the corset of her dress so everyone would know what she stood for. 

The ribbon had the words “Bring Them Home” etched onto the top. The message she is portraying is unmistakable and cannot be missed. Everyone knows about the wars in the Middle East, and many choose to keep quiet. Tucker did not. 

Hamas attacked Israel a few months prior to the Grammys and took many Israeli hostages as a result. It is known that Hamas is not in favor of other religions, and with Israel being a primarily Jewish country, Hamas does not want them there. Montana Tucker is the granddaughter of Holocaust survivors and is sticking up for them and all the other Jewish people being targeted.

The clear message on the dress calls for empathy and action. She used red-carpet fashion to share her thoughts and call people to help others. It is a scary and heartbreaking situation that needs attention so the innocent Irealis can be taken home safely. People of all ages and backgrounds watch the Grammys, so it is a perfect place to use rhetoric and communicate with the audience at home.

I enjoyed the color of her dress with the yellow and the styling of it. The dress fit her beautifully and was not too much or too little. The sleeves and neck add-on elevated the look as a whole without overpowering anything else. I’m also a big fan of the sheerness of all of it, as it accentuates certain parts of the outfit. The flare sleeves added movement that is often missed in a carpet look.

The ribbon was executed well. It did not look cheap or weird with the dress, but I do think it could have been a bit more discreet and incorporated into the look better. However, it definitely allowed her to get the message across. The nude background allowed it to really pop. Her hair and makeup also look classy with the dress, and I love that it is simple. The words on the ribbon are firm but not in your face.

Montana Tucker used rhetoric and her societal position to wear a beautiful dress that provoked action. I loved many aspects of the look and understood her words immediately. She is fighting for an important cause and for the freedom everyone deserves. 

The topic for my spring semester passion blog focuses on the rhetoric involving red-carpet fashion. Thousands of celebrities attend red carpets yearly to celebrate their creations and win awards. Carpets are for significant events and are major hot spots for people to show off what they are wearing and make people notice them. 

The first look I will be writing about is one that a famous singer, Lizzo, wore. In 2020, Lizzo won the award for Top Song Sales. This was an election year and an election that people were earnest about. The country was becoming divided as there was a strong resentment toward the side people disagreed with. 

This award show was the Billboard Music Awards and was hosted just 19 days before the election between Donald Trump and Joe Biden. Lizzo used her platform to encourage people to vote by wearing a custom Christian Siriano dress. The dress was plain black with big white letters stating VOTE all over it, which can be seen below. 

Not only did Lizzo wear this dress, which was encouraging people to go out and vote for the 2020 presidential election, but she also talked about it in her acceptance speech. She told the people, “there’s power in your voice.” She wanted people to go out and use their voices and the right they were given to vote. The only way to make a change in the country is by everyone voting for the ideas they stand behind.

She went on to talk about voter oppression and how important it is to be true to who you are. Voting is important because you are exercising a right and showing power to yourself by having a say in government decisions.

By wearing this dress on the red carpet, she was able to reach a lot of people with her message. She won an award and used that time to say something that meant something to her, not just talk about herself. Being a celebrity allows people a great advantage, as they can make a difference with their opinions, which many people do not have the platform to do. 

Lizzo communicated with her fans by making a clear statement that was not too political but more of a call to action. I love that the dress was simple and had one sleeve. That is always classy, and so is the color black. It allows for the words to pop without being too much. I also like the shoe choice with the dress, as it keeps everything relatively simple. It would have been cool to see the word VOTE hidden a little more instead of it being so big and bold, but it truly makes the statement she was going for.

I am excited for my passion blog and to dive deeper into more fashion statements. Artists make fashion statements all the time, but I am looking at the looks which really make a statement like Lizzo did at the Billboard Music Awards.

The 2023 BMI country awards took place on November 7. Broadcast Music Inc., the company that hosts the awards, was founded in 1939. They host these awards annually for country singers. I just learned about these awards a few days ago, but I saw some compelling videos and pictures and wanted to know more about them. 

The picture that first caught my eye was on Instagram. I was scrolling through and saw a post from Jason Aldean’s Instagram of him and his wife. They were dressed nicely and were clearly on a red carpet. The following picture I scrolled down to was on Nicole Combs’s account. This picture was very similar to the one Brittany posted, as it was of her and Luke Combs, also on the red carpet. 

The post that had me wondering the most was in TikTok. I saw a video of Luke Combs and Morgan Wallen singing each other’s songs on a stage together. Considering they are my two favorite artists, I had to know why this happened. 

After looking, I found out they performed together at the BMI Country Awards. Only a few awards are given out, making it a real honor to receive one. Luke Combs and Morgan Wallen tied for this year’s Songwriters of the Year award. They performed each other’s songs at the ceremony in Nashville, Tennessee, which was the video I saw.

Them singing the songs was a huge surprise; people loved it, including me. Morgan Wallen sang “Going, Going, Gone” by Luke Combs and Combs sang Wallen’s song “Thought You Should Know.” These are both artists’ hit songs, and it was amazing to see the two most famous country artists sing them. 

What I found most interesting was how easy it was to pick up on their different singing styles. Combs has a deeper voice with some edge, while Wallen’s voice is younger with a country tone. They are both spectacular country singers who have written unbelievable songs. It is astonishing to see how they can sing each other’s and sound so good live, which is one of the things I love so much about country artists and their music.

There were many other famous singers there who won awards that they deserved. I plan to continue to follow these awards in later years. I could not have asked for a better performance, and I hope Morgan Wallen and Luke Combs continue to work together in the future.

Zach Bryan is a 27-year-old country singer who has become very famous. He was born in Japan but is from Oklahoma, where he started his career in 2017. He started in a different way than some of the previous artists I have mentioned, which was through YouTube. Bryan posted videos of him singing his songs on the website until one finally blew up. The song is one you may have heard titled “Heading South,” as it recently has been used for many TikTok videos. As one can see, social media has done a lot for country artists.

I was never a huge fan of Zach Bryan before, but he released a new album not too long ago that I enjoy. The album consists of 16 songs that he released in 2023 called Zach Bryan. While I have not listened to the whole album, I have heard a few songs I love. One in particular that stood out to me is “I Remember Everything.” 

He wrote and sang this song in collaboration with Kasey Musgraves. A common theme in this album is collaborations with other artists, including The Lumineers and Sierra Ferrell. He did a collaboration on a fourth of his songs on the album, which I found interesting and a creative way to make it a little different from a lot of other albums. 

Back to the song, it hit number 1 on the Billboard 100 List shortly after it was released. This song made history for the Billboard because it was the fourth country song in a row over four weeks to hold the number one spot. People latched onto the meaning of the songs and the male and female voices that connect throughout it. 

The song is sad and slow, telling a story of despair over a relationship that he remembers and cannot forget. People can relate to this song and it has a wonderful melody with two soothing voices singing. Bryan’s voice tends to be a bit rugged, while also calming. One of his popular songs that shows his ruggedness is “Something in the Orange.” His tone is unique and allows him to stand out from other country artists.

Another publicity standpoint that caused me to start listening is his relationship with Barstool’s Brianna ChickenFry. I would like to start listening to more of Zach Bryan’s and experience more of his music.  He is currently on tour and is coming to State College to perform.  While I will not be going, I am sure it will be memorable and a great experience.

Country is a particular genre of music. Some people love it, and others hate it, but everyone can pick a country song when they hear it. Country music started more recently than most might think. I did some research, and I was shocked by my findings.  

The country genre did not originate until the 1920s. While other genres similar to country, such as folk music, started beforehand, the actual genre still needed to be invented.It began in the southern parts of the United States. It mainly emerged from Tennessee, which is still a significant hotspot for country artists, the most notable place being Nashville. 

This is one of the things that makes country music so unique. When looking at almost every other genre, you will find that artists move out to LA to pursue their careers. Country artists are different in that they move to Nashville or somewhere southern, like Texas. All genres are different, but I believe that country has something exceptional to it.

When listening to genres of music, one can typically pick out significant things about that one style of song. Country music tends to mention everyday common things like beer, trucks, and a love story. This is a stereotype, but also very accurate. The big idea that some people miss is that the song often has a deeper meaning. 

One of the reasons that I love country music and country artists so much is that they are more real than most other artists and songs in modern times. While I listen to other genres, there is often lots of electronics driving the song.

In country music, that is typically not the case.  Most artists still use authentic instruments, and their voices sound just as good in person as they do on the track. The songs are wholesome and have actual storytelling beyond them. Take rap for example. While many people thoroughly enjoy rap, it is often very techno and fast, with little meaning behind it. I personally prefer the authenticity of country music, but I do not mind a rap song here and there.

People have all different tastes when it comes to music. I like all different kinds, but my favorite will most likely always be country due to the unique nature of the songs and artists. I encourage everyone to listen to all genres of music to find what they love listening to.