Postmodernist analysis of the Video 'Telephone' By lady Gaga.

1. POSTMODERNIST ANALYSIS OF
‘LADY GAGA – TELEPHONE (FEAT.
BEYONCÉ)’

2. WHAT IS POSTMODERNISM?
Postmodernism is a modern day style and concept which focuses on the ability for
individuals to ‘pick and mix’ between various different styles and not stick to one
simple concept or theory.
In Lady Gaga’s music video for the song ‘Telephone feat. Beyoncé’ are various
different themes that oppose or inherit the normal themes and traditional
stereotypes represented in many music videos of today and the past. The
producers and writers of the video do this through the use of intertextuality,
Bricolage and of course originality.

3. INTERTEXTUALITY
1. The “Pussy Wagon” is a vehicle which
features in the film “Kill Bill Vol.1”. Quentin
Tarantino lent it to Lady Gaga for the
purpose of the video. This is an example of
the way in which Lady Gaga has chosen to
include references to other media texts as a
way of making the video more ‘Postmodern’.
2. Another reference to a Tarantino film that
features in this music video is the way in
which Beyoncé and Lady Gaga address
each other as ‘Honey boo’ or ‘Honey Bee’
which shows a direct reference to the
criminal couple at the beginning and ending
of ‘Pulp Fiction’ who attempt to ‘stick up’ a
restaurant/Diner which is also featured in
the Telephone Video.

4. INTERTEXTUALITY
3. The Disney Mickey Mouse sunglasses worn
by Beyoncé are not a coincidence either, it
draws reference to Lady Gaga’s previous
single “Paparazzi”. Arguably there are Pop
Culture references, in terms of the
sunglasses, as both Lady Gaga and
Beyoncé wear them – Lady Gaga has
definitely succeeded in branding herself so
that intertextual links between her work can
be noticed by audience members.
4. The Video also features pastiche towards
the film ‘Death Proof’ in the sense that
similar camera shots are used in effect in
the same way (Demonstrated below).

5. COSTUMES
The video Features various different costumes that use and also challenge
typical conventions of fashion and art.
Some costumes are similar to other concepts such as the way in which Beyoncé's outfit
(Left) may be a reference to the superhero ‘Wonder Woman’ from the DC comics. This
is a good example of the use of Bricolage in the video. Other costumes are rather
abstract and artistic in the sense that they may have a deeper meaning such as the
way in which women are dangerous and are capable of crime equally similar to men
(Right) which opposes the patriarchal stereotype that women are typically gentle

6. ‘HYPER REALITY’ IN ‘TELEPHONE’…
In the opening scene we are presented with a prison
environment. The population of the prison is strictly Female and
majority of the women in the prison look fashionable and wear
outgoing and alternative outfits and the majority of the women
also have slim figures. This opposes the stereotype of the
typical female prisoner which we see in television series such
as ‘Orange is the New Black’.