Could Lady Gaga be the most popular spokesperson for the empathy movement?
Editor's note: This post was written by Ashoka Changemakers' Abby Chroman.
Who has a voice loud enough to amplify the message of a movement, a brand strong enough to enlist millions of participants, and the defiant will to try? Could be Lady Gaga.
In Wednesday’s launch of Gaga’s new initiative, the Born This Way Foundation (BTW), Oprah Winfrey joined the diva onstage along with Gaga’s mother and co-founder of BTW. The event positioned Lady Gaga to explain her big new idea.
BTW focuses on institutionalizing safety, skills, and opportunity into the fiber of our schools, and by doing so, stimulates an environment of bravery, acceptance, and love. Sound familiar? We noticed some key concepts (empathy) and started paying attention.
Through all the frills and fabric and the funny, famed attitude, Gaga is substantively talking about a shift in institutional practice leading to a transformation of social norms. The goal: empowering all children enough to act with kindness, compassion, and acceptance.
As Ashoka has defined it, empathy is about “standing up, not standing by.” Gaga’s message is that once children feel safe in their environment and acquire the skills to be loving and accepting people, the opportunities for humans to stand up for each other are endless.
Could Lady Gaga be the most popular spokesperson for the empathy movement?
While they have the power to inspire and a humongous audience, Gaga and BTW have yet to present any strong or tested methods to achieve their goal. In response to almost every methodology question put to her by an audience that included psychologists, students, educators, and policy buffs—not to mention the U.S. Secretary of Health Human Services—Gaga gushed, “I certainly don’t have the answer. . . we really don’t have all the answers.” My favorite of her answers was directed at researchers in the audience: “Give us all your information!”
To her credit, Gaga was able to articulate an overall framing that helps to position her idea. “This is about transformative change in culture over time.
“This is not an anti-bullying foundation. This is a youth empowerment foundation. This is about changing the environment of school, and not putting the power in just the hands of the teachers or government.”
Expressing admiration in a recent Huffington Post piece, Gaga’s mother recognized the “countless and tireless champions in the trenches of academic research, policy making, and direct care,” and that it is because of this tremendous energy and momentum that she and her daughter find the moment ripe for BTW to act.
Participating in the foundation are Harvard's Berkman Center for Internet & Society, the Harvard Graduate School of Education, the John D. & Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, and the California Endowment.
To start a Changemakers conversation about the role of pop and media in social movements, feel free to comment below.
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This broad cohort gathers in social media communities, and consumes the products and services in pop culture. So it makes sense for someone in a position of influence to be able to capture the attention e-papierosy and patronage of the most important and active segment of society. I'm eager to hear the opinions of those from other cultures and generations. What e-papierosy are some of the disadvantages, or contrasting views, of the influence of pop culture and media in social movements?
hi Abby
Here is the clip with Lady Gaga talking about empathy and the text below is the quote. Would be good to talk with her directly about the role of empathy. I'm not sure that she yet sees it as a foundation organizing value.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQVXsKxuJ3I
"I also sometimes get really hateful messages, a tremendous amount of hateful massages, but I don't talk about them. Because you know, why give it energy. On top of that, I always, I always have a moment of empathy... when I read it.
I think to myself, man, they must really be going through something today to write something.... sometimes just so violent... The truth is that's also coming from a place of insecurity..."
Thanks so much for pointing out those quotes, Edwin! I agree that it would be good to connect with her directly. - Abby
The role and influence of pop (culture) and media in social movements is expanding partly due to advances in technology. There has also been an increase in how pop artists are able to retain the attention of the general public. There seems to be a greater connection and closeness between pop artists and fans ;partially due to technology and social media. It is no secret that the largest audience gathers in social media and at venues. Additionally, the age range of the most socially active catchment is between 15 and 55. This broad cohort gathers in social media communities, and consumes the products and services in pop culture. So it makes sense for someone in a position of influence to be able to capture the attention and patronage of the most important and active segment of society. I'm eager to hear the opinions of those from other cultures and generations. What are some of the disadvantages, or contrasting views, of the influence of pop culture and media in social movements?
dbunton, thanks for your thoughtful comment. I'm also really interested in hearing how different generations and cultures perceive this influence. I also hear Gaga herself being very forthcoming that she is not actually a strategic implementor, rather a message-spreader, and that this is an important part of the ecosystem of changemaking. I think in this case we still need a lot of innovators, implementors, researchers, direct service orgs. etc. to figure out how the best models to actualize her message.
Thanks Abby. Although all generations can benefit from creating awareness, the generation that needs to hear Gaga's message most is the same that can benefit most. We know that all ages and cultures appreciate Gaga's musical influence -evidenced by her fans and followers. For Gaga to spread a positive message encourages all generations to listen. Just look at some of the attention she has garnered from her stage and public antics. This makes her an obvious "message-spreader", thus expanding the ecosystem of "changemaking". Innovators, "implementors", and researchers evolve in response to the messenger. They come in the form of the Eway's, the Achroman's, the Ashoka's (and its members), and the world community.
Speaking on behalf of Eway Foundation, we don't require an official document or partnership with BTWF in order to produce results. Our mantra is an age-old one, "Be the change you wish to see in the world". Each day this becomes easier because we practice what we preach. It becomes a way-of-life. Each day we aim to spread a message that has been our mission since 2010. This just happens to be in accord with BTWF, and the many other service organizations working to create change in our homes, schools, and communities.
It's difficult to create a particular model for teaching bravery, acceptance, and love. The models evolve as the message spreads, and people learn empathy. Individuals must be willing to make a difference. These individuals are within service organizations. For example, Eway proposed to the Los Angeles Unified School District to implement anti-bullying/LGBT activities. This awareness will complement LAUSD's existing violence prevention (social-emotional) curriculum -Second Step. We are awaiting word from the LAUSD Office of Health Education for approval of our program. This Abby, is how innovators and changemakers make things happen.
Eway will utilize Ethical Citizen Media, digital technology,social media, and evidence-based curricula to actualize the message, and to actually empower people to be compassionate, kind, and accepting. Activating empathy in the second largest school system in the United States, in the entertainment mecca of the world, would surely send a powerful message around the globe. Finally, I am not your average Gaga fan/Monster. I admit, once I started listening to her public message, I became a bigger fan. It is also a blessing that Eway is aligned with other service organizations working to make the world a better place.
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