2. Deconstructing Lady Gaga
• Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta (26), known by her
stage name Lady Gaga, is an American singer and
songwriter, from New York.
• She began performing in the rock music scene of
Manhattan's Lower East Side, and was signed with
Streamline Records by the end of 2007.
• During her employment as a songwriter for the record
company, her vocal abilities captured the attention of
recording artist Akon, who signed her to his label Kon
Live Distribution.
• Lady Gaga invented herself, fashioning her oversized
persona out of a mix of high and low culture; drag
queens and heavy metallers, pop stars and random
provocateurs.
• Unlike Madonna, pop history's other great appropriator,
Gaga, wears her influences proudly: She's smarter than
the average pop star. Better read. More extensively
travelled. Deeper. And she wants you to know it.
7. Deconstructing “Paparazzi”
• The song portrays Gaga's struggles in her quest for
fame, as well as balancing success and love.
• The video acts as a „short film‟ reflecting a powerful
message of fame and death of celebrity and its
effect.
• Throughout, it portrays several examples of
situations people go through to be famous;
pornography and murder being the main themes to
the video.
• It is 8 minutes long and features an attractive
Alexander Skarsgard (Eric in „True Blood‟) as
Gaga‟s boyfriend.
• Narrative based, following the murder plot line of
gaga as a pop star followed by the paparazzi and
heavily revolves around the lyrics of the song.
8. “Paparazzi” continued
• Bubble „comic-like‟ writing flashes onto the screen reading „A serial pictures production‟.
Throughout this sequence various names flash onto the screen reflecting „opening credits‟.
• Various quick cuts are used showing a pile of money on the floor imprinted with Gaga‟s face.
This could be a use of branding Gaga as an artist, incorporating her alter ego within the scene.
• Close ups are used of gaga and her boyfriend seen lying on a bed talking in Swedish; subtitles
are imprinted on the screen again much like in a movie – music video has a very cinematic
feel.
• Gaga is seen wearing black heavy eye shadow and over exaggerated false eye lashes with a
leather glove and „Dior‟ diamond rings; high fashion is a predominant feature within the video
and highly associated with the artist choosing over exaggerated fashion choices. This is very
postmodern, because it heavily relies on image and the outer shell of things.
9. More on “Paparazzi”
• One showing gaga dancing and another of various
dead models situated in different locations.
• Several extreme close-ups are used of each model
focusing facial features showing extravagant eye
makeup and outfit – focusing on outward appearance.
• At one point the camera uses a low angle shot of a
model hanging from the ceiling. This choice of
narrative and imagery reflects Gaga‟s extremity and
attempt of steering away from the representation of
pop videos; based around dance routines and
„innocence‟.
• Gaga is seen in heavy black eye makeup and a black
leather outfit doing various dramatic hand gestures
with frequent close ups of sexual facial expressions.
• A scene is quite sexual as gaga licks one of the trio‟s
hands and is seen kissing them often. This represents
the artist as having a sexual image. Gaga is
represented within the video as dark and unique,
choosing to present various alter egos within her
videos following different narratives presenting her as
a versatile artist.
