I am SO glad that this video is way more emotional than Telephone. It's more in the tradition of Bad Romance and Paparazzi, it's got a message and it's just aesthetically amazing.
You might ask yourself what the hell this is all about. Well, my interpretation totally corresponds with this one. Gaga's ever intellectual opinion on genderroles and homosexuality. And this one goes more into detail. I'm in awe. Also: how beautiful is she in this video? I'm digging the shorter hair.
This video is AMAZING. One of her best yet. Now I'm off to check out the analysis. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing!
I think it IS her best, everytime I watch it it gets more awesome! I hope you liked the analysis, just made everything even greater for me :D
ReplyDeletealso: the rosary in her mouth = religion being forced down people's throats.
I totally agree with you about this vid being the best and about Lady Gaga being the best thing that's ever happened in the Pop music genre/industry. She is truly an artist don't you think? They keep on bashing her and her work aesthetics but I can't help but feel inspired by her vids. Even though I'm Catholic, I have to agree with some of the metaphors that were used in the vid to link to the religion. Uh-oh...Haha!
ReplyDeleteIt's not about religion-bashing per se, I think religion is a photogenic metaphor here for social and cultural pressure on gender stereotypes with the juxtaposition of the harder, masculin side of marching guys and then the men being very feminine with the heels, fishnets and the way they dance. My click came when I realized that Gaga actually is a man in this video: she's a closeted gay man in chains because of cultural/religious beliefs and she is in love with Alejandro, but she can't give into the temptation because she's not ready to come out of the closet even though she loves him. In the end she rips off her habit and gives into the temptation. People all over the internet have been bitching about the final scene being a rape and what that's supposed to mean, but it isn't rape, it's the internal struggle every person who's afraid to be him/herself because of social and cultural pressure. In the end, she realizes that this is who she is underneath the restraints and just gives into it. I think it is truly beautiful. There is so much meaning in this video, from the gun bra (femininity/sexuality as a weapon) and the golden gun the one guy is holding strategically positioned near his crotch (the fallus as a weapon) to the way the men dancing with each other changes into wrestling moves and vice versa, and how Gaga is the one "approaching the men from behind" in the bed scene: she plays with genderbased stereotypes and how close violence and love really are at times.
ReplyDeleteWhen she's lying in the bed at the end, it's a flashback to before her "coming out of the closet", she's just had sex with the guy next to her, they are both still puppets on the strings of religion/culture and she is still in the nun's habit, being consumed (burned) by guilt. It's a masterpiece.
Hi, I just commented on your chictopia blog but thought better to come on to your blog, which is great btw!
ReplyDeleteGreat description of this video you have mentioned above, as many will have misunderstood or will only see the negative. Although I'm not personally a fan of mixing religion in this way as there are other ways to tackle these issues but this is how she chooses to portray this and I can see where she is coming from and what she is trying to say. Love her music and wish I could see her in concert again! x
I feel like nothing should be "above" criticism, every institution should be discussed in the same way and she just uses pop music and videos because she reaches so many people with it! A bit like Michael Moore: he uses shock tactics of poor taste sometimes, but he reaches so many people... The cause justifies the means?
ReplyDeleteI saw it more as a criticism of don't ask don't tell than of religion btw :)
I feel like nothing should be "above" criticism, every institution should be discussed in the same way and she just uses pop music and videos because she reaches so many people with it! A bit like Michael Moore: he uses shock tactics of poor taste sometimes, but he reaches so many people... The cause justifies the means?
ReplyDeleteI saw it more as a criticism of don't ask don't tell than of religion btw :)
It's not about religion-bashing per se, I think religion is a photogenic metaphor here for social and cultural pressure on gender stereotypes with the juxtaposition of the harder, masculin side of marching guys and then the men being very feminine with the heels, fishnets and the way they dance. My click came when I realized that Gaga actually is a man in this video: she's a closeted gay man in chains because of cultural/religious beliefs and she is in love with Alejandro, but she can't give into the temptation because she's not ready to come out of the closet even though she loves him. In the end she rips off her habit and gives into the temptation. People all over the internet have been bitching about the final scene being a rape and what that's supposed to mean, but it isn't rape, it's the internal struggle every person who's afraid to be him/herself because of social and cultural pressure. In the end, she realizes that this is who she is underneath the restraints and just gives into it. I think it is truly beautiful. There is so much meaning in this video, from the gun bra (femininity/sexuality as a weapon) and the golden gun the one guy is holding strategically positioned near his crotch (the fallus as a weapon) to the way the men dancing with each other changes into wrestling moves and vice versa, and how Gaga is the one "approaching the men from behind" in the bed scene: she plays with genderbased stereotypes and how close violence and love really are at times.
ReplyDeleteWhen she's lying in the bed at the end, it's a flashback to before her "coming out of the closet", she's just had sex with the guy next to her, they are both still puppets on the strings of religion/culture and she is still in the nun's habit, being consumed (burned) by guilt. It's a masterpiece.
Hi, I just commented on your chictopia blog but thought better to come on to your blog, which is great btw!
ReplyDeleteGreat description of this video you have mentioned above, as many will have misunderstood or will only see the negative. Although I'm not personally a fan of mixing religion in this way as there are other ways to tackle these issues but this is how she chooses to portray this and I can see where she is coming from and what she is trying to say. Love her music and wish I could see her in concert again! x
I totally agree with you about this vid being the best and about Lady Gaga being the best thing that's ever happened in the Pop music genre/industry. She is truly an artist don't you think? They keep on bashing her and her work aesthetics but I can't help but feel inspired by her vids. Even though I'm Catholic, I have to agree with some of the metaphors that were used in the vid to link to the religion. Uh-oh...Haha!
ReplyDelete