Often seen with a pouty expression under the guise of noir vintage film, popular artist Lana del Rey proudly presents herself as a good girl gone bad, the epitome of living fast and dying young. Del Rey’s music is unequivocally romantic and revolutionary, giving a voice to the estranged but powerful women of the late fifties and early sixties. However, her romantic vision of vintage americana has a dark side, detrimental to the well-being of the thousands of young people who look up to her. In turn, she regresses the values of the most progressive generation to a dangerous place of seeing non-existent beauty in being unwell and joyfully submissive to men.
Del Rey’s romanticization of these activities poses a danger to the fans who look up to her, promoting the glitz and glamor of a damsel under unrelenting distress.
Though her music is already seen by some as controversial, the songs themselves aren’t what’s problematic. Artists can sing about controversial topics and unhealthy habits without pushing the idea that those habits are normal onto fans. The issues come when Del Rey embodies the message of her music so obviously outside of the songs themselves that smoking a cigarette while singing her hit song “Summertime Sadness” becomes iconic. When the term “heroin chic” resurfaces from the depths of 2010’s Tumblr, a platform encouraging drug use, domestic violence, and pro-eating disorder behaviors, it pushes young followers of the trend to a ledge of unwellness they didn’t know existed.
All ages may reminisce the unhinged yet fantastical nature of David Bowie’s drug use in the 70s or Elvis Presley’s in the late 50s, but to promote these harmful habits in 2023 towards a generation known for saving the environment and protecting mental health is uncalled for.
Although a common misconception is that her fanbase is 18-24-year-old women, her main demographic is high school girls. With her trademark controversial edginess and angst, she promotes risky behavior while believing wholeheartedly in the message as she does so. The artist has faced controversy for lyrics such as “you hit me and it felt like a kiss,” from her song “Ultraviolence”, drawing on her own experiences with domestic violence and toxic relationships. She also remarked that she “felt beautiful” even if the relationship “wasn’t perfect.” Her apparent need to justify her abusive relationships only solidifies her inappropriate messages to fans.
Those who have seen firsthand the effect of habitual drug use that Lana Del Rey glamorizes know that It’s not glamorous. It’s something that tears apart families and often ruins both the mental and physical health of individuals, destroying valuable lives and potential. Although the subject matter is difficult to talk about, it’s necessary to distinguish the fine line between feeling the glamor and indulgence of old Hollywood and needing psychological help.
Though her music is enchanting to listen to, her confidence in the message of her music is problematic, prompting discussion to preserve the mental and physical health of both high school and college students.
