What architectural element in gothic cathedrals functioned to transfer the outward thrust of the nave vaults to massive, free-standing, upright buttresses on the exterior?

I believe that element is called flying buttresses.
Flying buttresses support the walls of a building and given that they are quite slanted, they seem as if they are forming an arch with that particular wall they are leaned against. I've attached an image of them for you to  see what I mean. 

Well, in the music industry during the 80s  cyndi lauper took a risk in changing a certain type of music art into something creative with her hair dye and wild hairstyles that were bold, her style was entice and screeching that she actually did her get a lot of hate for it because at that time hair dye and crazy patterns wasn't the norm girl's just wanna have fun for example that changed the work of her genre and a lot of people were influenced by her ways. there was other people who took the dare but not a lot. that itself refers to change in art style, because modern times changed.