Princewill Pius
Since her debut single, “Video Games,” came out in 2012, Lana Del Rey has been regularly criticized for glamorizing sadness. Is this perhaps something that’s bled into her relationships, as well? This argument is no secret, and even some celebs have joined in on the commentary, such as Kim Gordon of Sonic Youth.
“Today we have someone like Lana Del Rey, who doesn’t even know what feminism is, who believes women can do whatever they want, which, in her world, tilts toward self-destruction,” Gordon wrote in her 2015 memoir, Girl in a Band (via Consequence of Sound). “Naturally, it’s just a persona. If she really truly believes it’s beautiful when young musicians go out on a hot flame of drugs and depression, why doesn’t she just off herself?” Woah. While Gordon’s words seem a bit harsh, her criticism isn’t at all new. As Popdust writes, “Del Rey checked all the boxes. She was angry, irresponsible, violently expressive, in control of her own narrative and simultaneously devoted to the men in her life. She quickly became the face of the ‘sad girl’ stereotype.”
So, is Del Rey’s glamorization of sadness merely a character? As the singer previously told the Swedish outlet, Aftonbladet, “Well, it’s not a persona … It has made it easier for me to express a very clear aesthetic that I love.” As for this aesthetic? Del Rey added, “All things dark and beautiful.”
Written by: Nicki
