1. Is Lady Gaga in the pantheon of pop stars whose message is greater than the effervescence of pop?

I am not an expert on the Pop genre of music, for starters. I would just like to say that I think the one thing that makes Pop music notable is the historical significance of events and figures involved within it's timeline. Ga Ga is another figure who is being molded by an industry, hell bent on determining that popular music is about being exceptional. That their reputation for promoting acts that are beyond anything conceivable by the average mortal mind is incalculable and that they have the greatest show on earth! Bullshit. What they do does not compare to what the average group of teenagers can do if they work together. There isn't a pinstriped suit in the galaxy that will convince me otherwise.

2. Do you think the "establishment" consciously tries to degrade and devalue the significance of artists, i.e. attempting to portray them as eccentric, non-serious, possibly put-ons and phoneys?

Of coarse they are. They want their promoted acts to prosper. Are they looking to give us the "bang" for our buck when it comes to entertainment? Only if they get a bigger bang back. Artists will always be ridiculed on their quest for acceptance and their path to gain enlightenment through mental exercising. Artist are just trying to enjoy what they do, give us a break. Lady Ga Ga has been given a spotlight for whatever reason. Hope she enjoys it. The rest of us enjoy art, not because it gives us popularity, but because it gives us a sense of both wonderment and accomplishment. You can try to take that away, but it will only last briefly. A true artist, one who loves to create, will always find a way to do so; whether they are accepted for it or not.

3. If you are an artist, have you experienced attempts to paint you as a "non-serious" person – and certainly not one whose ideas on politics, economics, etc., could possibly be taken seriously?

Before I found my own space, constantly. Still from time to time. Usually the elderly take it as an insult for anyone younger than them to claim to have any knowledge of anything, so I don't take it to heart from them. The younger tend to mock the words of their seniors, making anyone with anything that goes against the grain seem trivial and unworthy of their interests. I am glad I have been shunned, however, it causes me to think of more creative ways to be noticed. There are those who only have their anger and spitefulness to turn heads.

4. Do you think you are the person you are today partially because of the singers and songs and artists and comics you love?

I, for one, am not afraid to admit that I have taken influences. Some of the time due to jealousy, some of the time due to admiration. I think that there are many sources of inspiration out there, there is little originality when you think of how long the human race has been around. I think that the sense of wonderment about art and originality lies with the youth. The younger you are, the more you react to something you have never seen before. Whether it be emotions of fear, joy, anger, or infatuation the younger you are, the harder it hits you the first time. As we get older, we become more subdued and when we see artists, musicians and actors repeat the actions of othes, perhaps through more advanced creative medium, we perceive; instead of amazement, a sense of nostalgia and novelty.

5. Do you think the Internet, twitter, etc., revolution is accelerating change around the globe as much because of the dissemination of the arts as the dissemination of political information?  Are they equally necessary calls to human freedom?

I think, as usual, that there are others with the advantage of entering and age of technology with a reputable popularity. These people are many times responsible (whether intentionally or not) with mainstream opinions about things such as art, culture, politics, social news and other important transfers of information. One has to restrain themselves from believing everything they hear. Albeit more quickly than ever. I don't think the information we are told is important really is. Does it really matter to you how many people have died in the last year? If you are honest with yourself, it is more important that as many of us as possible take care of the ones we love instead of worrying about the ones we don't even know. I am aware that Pop stars love more people than me, I just don't have the public's attention span to prove that I am any better than those who are in the public's eye. So I do what little I can to remain who I am and hold on to what I believe is right. I think we should all do that.

but enough about me, how are you?