The Church of the Mother Monster

In 2008, Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta released her first album, Fame Monster, under the stage name Lady Gaga.  It was a hit that propelled the then 22 year old to the top of the charts and into the hearts of her fans.  Since then, Lady Gaga’s fan base has exploded across the globe with almost 17 million Twitter followers and 45 million Facebook likes.  And these aren’t ordinary fans, they are “obsessive, abundantly creative” (Wolk).  The spiritual and nearly religious essence of Gaga culture is born of the religious language and imagery of Gaga, the unprecedented devotion of the Lady’s fans, and Her unique relationship to them.