The Lolita Complex: - Scholarly Commons Home

e seen not only in regard to Lolita fashions but also in influences on the
music industry.
A notable homage to the Lolita movement is seen, for example, in the
work of American singer and fashion designer Gwen Stefani of No Doubt.
With her breakaway solo album, Love, Angel, Music, Baby (2004), Stefani made
lyrical references to Harajuku in her lyrics; *
* Harajuku, Tokyo is where Lolita first appeared on the streets, en masse.
was supported by four
“Harajuku girl” dancers; released a video in which she starred as a Lolita-like
Alice; and has since launched Harajuku Lovers, a range of perfumes for her
fashion label, L.A.M.B.
The musician Courtney Love, lead singer/songwriter and guitarist of
Hole, has also demonstrated her fascination with the subculture through the
medium of manga. As the author of the graphic novel series, Princess Ai (Figs
68 & 69), she caricatures herself as the leading Lolita-styled protagonist, Ai
(“ai” being Japanese for “love”), while the princess’ lover is based on
Nirvana’s Kurt Cobain (Love’s deceased husband). In a poignant episode,
the characters embrace, accompanied by the caption, “Even apart, we’ll
always be together” (Fig. 68).
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