(Task 2.1) Lady Gaga: Textual analysis

Lady gaga paparazzi analysis

Lady gaga is a controversial icon and artist and is also an interesting media text to talk about. She utilises provocative imagery, sensitive subjects and elusive metaphors/connotations to achieve virality on social and mainstream media.

Her broad talent as an artist is evident in her creative dance choreography, narrative music videos and celebrity persona. All these combine to help propel her into mainstream media.

Her main piece of work I will be referencing will be her song “Paparazzi”.
First and foremost the type of channel this song would be played on 

Overall her music video is a short narrative where she portrays herself as a character in her work being betrayed by her lover as he throws her off a                                                                                

balcony, which leaves her paralysed and disabled, and being swarmed by the paparazzi. Her becoming paralysed could be a connotation to how she feels in real life. This is because the character in the music video is actually explicitly depicted to be lady gaga, therefore this display of being immobilised and unable to move could be a projection of her real life feelings on she feels trapped into doing things she doesn't want.  This is evident in a talk she had with a live audience on why she wanted to leave the music industry 

Furthermore she could also be projecting her views on domestic abuse. This is evident as throughout the music video short snippets of graphic imagery depicting mangled deceased looking woman are used in quick succession. Which could be a connotation to how women are the victims in our modern day society.

A lot of the editing used in the music video is very hectic and manic, this is seen as scenes transition rapidly into each other. This could connote to how lady gaga feels in her real life, as in everything is going too fast and is hard to handle.

I must add that although Lady gaga seems to try to manipulate the media by using outrageous and provoking imagery she still, however, conforms to the common norm/convention of female driven music videos. This convention would be the fact that she dresses in over sexualized revealing clothing, which is also accompanied by sexualized dance moves and actions. This is evident in many of her other music videos where she can be seen doing things such as showing females making out with each other.

Her manipulation of media through using controversial imagery and topics can also be seen in some of her other music videos. Such as her music video “Judas” where she can be seen sexually involving herself with a character who is depicted to be Jesus due to said character seen wearing a crown of thorns. This controversial use of biblical imagery shocked and causes uproar in the Catholic community, as can be seen in an article by the daily mail:         Daily Mail: Blasphemy! Catholic leaders in uproar over Lady Gaga 'shock tactics' in new song Judas.



She also uses techniques such as over the top wacky and questionable costumes that can not only be seen in her music videos but also in her real life as a celebrity pop star. Her over the top original costume manipulates the media as it generates interest and conversation which increases her public notoriety which sends her viral at times. Her real life examples which shock the press and send her viral would be the time she wore a meat dress. This led to her being seen on highly viewed media outlets such as "The Ellen Degeneres show".

Another convention/trait that lady gaga also shares with other music artists is in her use of product placement in some of her videos. Some argue that using product placements in her almost 'short film' like music videos actually takes away the integrity and message she is trying to convey in her work. Her relaxation with showing her capitalist values can be seen in music videos such as “Telephone” where product placement for “Beats by Dre” can be seen.

All of the techniques that I have previously mentioned that lady gaga has used has helped her develop her brand in the digital age.
A more recent example of this was her co staring in "The late night show with James Corden" which consists of James Corden singing karaoke with a guest celeb star. Celebs such as Adele, Sia , The red hot chilli peppers and many many more.
More often than not the celeb with either be singing a newly released song so that it increases in popularity and spreads to become viral in our online age.
This is exactly the case for Lady gaga as she sings her newest song "Perfect Illusion".
The video, has of now, received over 20 million views