The most bullish meme du jour is Mandonna, an all-male tribute to Madonna. Be sure to check out the videos–they’re kind of amusing. Plus, the lead singer is a less capable singer than the Material Girl herself.
The reason I mention this is for a bit of meme analysis. Sometimes memes are such an excellent touchstone for the current culture zeitgeist. In this case, we find themes of conflicted male sexuality in a throwback to the eighties.
Gay culture has always influenced the straights, but lately with shows like Will and Grace and Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, it’s playing an increasingly mainstream role in our society. Furthermore, many of our popular male celebrities are hardly macho: Orlando Bloom, Jude Law and Tobey McGuire, to name a few. Last night I got an email from a friend who attended a Prince concert in Seattle. She reported that “he was the sexiest man in the world”. And don’t let us forget the dreaded (and mostly media-manufactured) metrosexual.
In Mandonna, the lead singer looks more like the late Shannon Hoon than Madonna. He’d look more at home fronting a Guns and Roses (or is that Guns ‘n’ Roses, I never know?) cover band. Yet, here we get this apparent masculine fellow fronting a stereotypically-gay act. What’s the conclusion? Our culture seems pretty comfortable at the moment with feminine men.
The eighties angle is one we’re going to have to get used to. Our culture’s scorched-earth approach to the seventies has left it spent, and we need a new decade to pillage.
The title of this post is a reference to an old REM song. That seems appropriate, as it was released in ’87 and Michael Stipe has a penchant for skirts.
You’re beautiful more beautiful than me
You’re honorable more honorable than me
Loyal to the Bank of America
I note that REM is coming to the frickin’ Orpheum in November. Tickets don’t appear to be on sale yet, but that’s great news for somebody like me who loathes concerts in hockey arenas.
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