Wednesday, 16 January 2019

music video Lady Gaga

women 

  • emotional 
  • makeup
  • pink
  • attitude-sassy
  • self(interesting) vain
  • caring (children)-expressive role
  • weak 1.physically  2.mentally
  • need conform to society 1. cooking   2. children  3.cleaning  4.to get married and have children 
  • bad driving 

language  industry    audience     representation

Million Reasons is a contrasting example of a contemporary music video from a world famous, white, female artist. This particular video (from the album Joanne) marks a change in direction for the artist as media producers make use of media language to construct representations that might attract a broader, more mainstream market whilst not alienating the artist’s core fan base.

Media Language: how the media through their forms, codes, conventions and techniques communicate meanings.

Media Representation: How the media portray events, issues, individuals and social groups.
Intertextualitythe relationship between texts, especially literary ones.
lady Gaga 
  • She's an influential figure music
  • Iconic star-evolved as a musician 
  • unique artist -stands out 
  • support for gay community 
  • activist 

Areas to study:
how the different modes3 and language4 associated with different media forms communicate multiple meanings
how the combination of elements of media language influence meaning
how developing technologies affect media language
the codes and conventions of media forms and 
products, including the processes through which media 
language develops as genre
the dynamic and historically relative nature of genre
the processes through which meanings are established 
through intertextuality
how audiences respond to and interpret the above 
aspects of media language.

the way events, issues, individuals (including self- representation) and social groups (including social identity) are represented through processes of selection and combination
the way the media through representation construct versions of reality
the processes which lead media producers to make choices about how to represent events, issues, individuals and social groups
the effect of social and cultural context on representations
how and why stereotypes can be used positively and negatively
how and why particular social groups, in a national and global context, may be under-represented or misrepresented
how media representations convey values, attitudes and beliefs about the world and how these may be systematically reinforced across a wide range of media representations
how audiences respond to and interpret media representations.

reflecting social, cultural and political attitudes towards wider issues and beliefs
constructing social, cultural and political attitudes towards wider issues and beliefs
how media products studied can act as a means of reflecting historical issues and events
how media products studied can potentially be an agent in facilitating social, cultural and political developments through the use of media language to construct meaning through viewpoints, messages and values and representations of events and issues
how media products studied are influenced by social, cultural, political and historical contexts through intertextual references




representation  in video 
  1. when B+w she is staring at the mirror as she is getting ready for performance
  2. in desert   cost- minds not there 
  3. friends help (sister hood )
  4. religon -lyrics "lord show me the way"
  5. wearing pink links to girls 
  6. suits links to boys 



  • desert sounds (peaceful) to a more dramatic horror sound 
  • black and white reflects her mood 
  • when in the car,back stage she is sad whereas, when she is on the stage performing she is happy 
  •  Lady Gaga's approach is that she states very clearly what it's like and doesn't embellish the sad truth or spend unnecessary time trying to make us cry.
  • The song's musical style reflects this as well. Lady Gaga's voice is very loud and clear in the mix, and the accompanying instruments, mainly a simple guitar and a piano combination, do little to distract from what she's saying.
  •  "You're giving me a million reasons to let you go / . . . to quit the show." She's talking about a relationship that isn't going well. The other person has messed up again and again, and she's not sure she can take it anymore. The reasons to leave keep building.
  • Without revealing the box's contents, we revert back to color, and the reveal of her now-signature Gladys Tamez-designed wide-brimmed pink hat.
  • As the second verse begins, we flash back to the beginning of the video to detail what got her here. 
First shot extreme wide shot in high angle of her rolling away in the desert - 'if i had a highway i would run for the hills' - rolling away form her problems - lost her mind - stereotype of women being emotional. 
Emotion is a running theme throughout the whole video - in the desert - sad - in the makeup chair - sad - on stage - confident, proud, bold posture.
Desert sounds are meant to be relaxing, goes from the relaxed setting to a loud and stressful sound. goes form happy to sad. colour to black and white. 
Black and white - simple - raw - easy to understand
Colour is complex and has many layers to it. 
non chronological - the running thoughts going through her mind make no sense
warm glow (sepia) reminiscing to childhood and normality- to black and waitpeople will always be 
dark car - high angle camera shot - like cctv - seeing the behind the scenes her - she is very private, introverted even when on stage. 
she is ferried around like important cargo that is fragile - like a leader of people- several cars with blacked out windows all for one person - fragile - women stereotype 
collection of hats and clothes and dresses, stereotype of women being obsessed by appearance.
Telling a story of loss and how things have to get worse before they get better, and people will always be there to pick you up and shield you from other negativities.
Ends on a close up shot of her looking at a tattoo of hope
Indirect mode of address.
when introduced to this colourful, pink, bold leader she looks confident and strong - direct mode of address.
desert is peaceful and leads into a dramatic horror sound
car - sad  - stage confident
approach is that she states clearly how she feels - she is being honest and truthful. 
loud and clear - instruments are little distraction form her voice. 
as the second verse begins, it flashes back to the desert to the details that got her there. 
It is an independent experience for whomever watches and listens to it. 
0:15- laying on her back in the desert, weakness, vulnerability
1:08- Looking sad, looking down, slumped body language, black and white for depressive mood, emotional which links to stereotype 
1:14- heavy makeup which links to the stereotype that women need to wear makeup to make them look good
1:17- hiding her face behind the guitar, trying to hide who she is 
2:07- friends running to rescue her in desert, weakness, friends will always be there and you don't need a man
2:32- head in hands, shows emotion and sadness
2:55- back to makeup chair, looks distressed and emotional 
3:32- wearing a cross, and a priest touching her shoulder to represent God showing her the right path 
3:52- hat and sunglasses on to hide identity and emotion in desert
3:58- pink suit shows she is going against normality 

First shot- extreme wide shot of her rolling around in the desert- shows she is rolling away from her problems and worries and trying to hide
Colour is complex and has many layers
Non chronological order- running thoughts going through her head make no sense
Desert is peaceful and leads into a dramatic horror sound
Car- sad, stage confident
Approach is that she states clearly how she feels, being honest and truthful
When introduced to this colouful, pink,bold leader she looks confident and strong- direct mode of address
Ends on a close up of her looking at the tattoo of hope
Analysis of the music video
0:15 
  • mid shot
  • lying on her back, eyes closed, with sun against her in the desert
  • music is soft and somber like a dream like state
  • slow pan downwards from the sun to her face before zooming into a mid shot
0:25-0:30
  • dressed in all blade with blade shades and hat, in a black car going along a dark road leading to know where; death, evil, and mystery. Black is a mysterious colour associated with fear and the unknown.
"Lord, show me the way
But baby, I just need one good one to stay" - cross necklace - christ is salvation - he is the one good reason to stay - one figure to another figure





Assumptions that are held about a social group.
They are often used in a negative or prejudicial sense and are frequently used to justify certain discriminatory behaviours.
Stereotyping is an important concept in terms of representation.



WHAT STEREOTYPES ARE ASSOCIATED WITH WOMEN IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY? ?  LIST 3 THINGS.
1.love songs
2.being attractive 
3.


They are shown as…
Young
Slim
Overwhelmingly white
Conforming to our image of ideal beauty (perfect skin, hair and alluring gaze).



Representations of women across all media tend to
highlight the following:
beauty (within narrow conventions)
size/physique (again, within narrow conventions)
sexuality (as expressed by the above)
emotional (as opposed to intellectual) dealings
relationships (as opposed to independence/  freedom) 





Liesbet van Zoonen: Feminist theory
Suggests gender is constructed through discourse, and that its meaning varies according to cultural and historical context
Advocates that the very presentation of women’s bodies as objects to be looked at is a core element of western patriarchal culture
Also presents that in mainstream culture, the visual and narrative codes that are used to construct the male body are different from those used to objectify the female body Codes- a system of words, letters, Feminist theory: 






Bell hooks: Feminist theory
Propose that feminism is a struggle to end sexist/patriarchal oppression and the whole ideology of domination
Suggest the idea that feminism is a political commitment rather than a lifestyle choice
Advocates that other factors, such as race and class, as well as sex, determine the extent to which individuals are exploited, discriminated against or oppressed


Liesbet van Zoonen: Feminist theory
Suggests gender is constructed through discourse, and that its meaning varies according to cultural and historical context

Advocates that the very presentation of women’s bodies as objects to be looked at is a core element of western patriarchal culture


Also presents that in mainstream culture, the visual and narrative codes that are used to construct the male body are different from those used to objectify the female body Codes- a system of words, letters, Feminist theory:


Males have the image of being strong and brave whereas women have the representation through media such as magazines,music videos,video games, films as they are seen as being damsels of distress.Theres is image on adverts were the womans face is not identified as her legs are the only subject in the photo.This shows that she is objectified as is used as a decoration.




bell hooks: Feminist theory(cant use capital letters for her name )
Propose that feminism is a struggle to end sexist/patriarchal oppression and the whole ideology of domination
Suggest the idea that feminism is a political commitment rather than a lifestyle choice
Advocates that other factors, such as race and class, as well as sex, determine the extent to which individuals are exploited, discriminated against or oppressed


to try and fight for equality 
believes u need to be physically active to be a strong feminist trying to make a different by doing campaigns ect...
she say oppression of women is a complicated thing 
think there is levels 
believes woman are discriminated against-ethnicity and class 
maybe women with less money oppressed more,patriarchally.evidence that women with different ethnicitys are oppressed 
are still being forced to marry  

Task 4:
Revisit the Music Video
Identify the countertypes

Use screen prints and annotations to help convey the media language linked to countertypes



At the start there is a wide shot and it slowly pans as she is rolling down the hill,showing her vulnerability and emotional state.Later on she is on the floor with a close up shot showing her facial expressions.The clip of her in dull lighting has the connotations of not wanting to be in the spotlight and just wanting to be left alone.The black and white scenes reflections on her past as it can be portrayed as reflecting her suffering of depression before she was with her fiance,as she no longer wanted to continue her career. Lady Gaga goes again the counter stereotypes of woman as she decides to wear a suit which goes against the norms of females representation as they're normally seen with less clothing."bell hooks" argues woman are exploited and discriminated against,whereas others may argue that woman are not forced to wear certain clothing thus can wear whatever they feel comfortable in.


She is on the desert isolated from everyone else, this can link to the theorist Liesbet van Zoonen as she is viewed as a damsel in distress as she is emotional unstable and needs her 'fiancé' to change for the better.The camera is looking down on her with the high angle shot.She is seen looking into the sky as though she is deep in her thoughts and seeking for advice from God.The warm glow, sepia, also reflects  reminiscing to childhood and normality. This shot links to her later statement which is "hundred reasons to run away " conveying she is all alone because of him.The Desert sounds are meant to be relaxing, ass it goes from the relaxed setting to a loud and stressful sound. goes form happy to sad. colour to black and white. This can be representation of how her  relationship with Christian Carino is like and how she is happy with him but he also makes her upset.The flashbacks then finishes with her friends then  pick her up as she then puts on her hat and glasses back on and pretends as though she is fine, being strong for her fans, showing her fans she cares as she carries on getting ready for her concert trying not to be emotionally transparent and vulnerable.


Females have the counter stereotype of associating pink with females,she is in a dark atmosphere as the background and half of her face is hidden this is normally use to emphasise a sinister side or that she is always int he spotlit and wants to be alone.This can also reflect on her emotions as she portrays to be a happy person in her shocking outfits,however,she is rather emotional and finally wants to come out to her fans.The dark shot reflects with her emotions as she is upset. The darker and louder music is later introduced showing how her thought are always following her.She is seen shaking her head thus conveys she is annoyed and stressed out ,



The black and white image conveys that she is emotional and sad as the dark colours reflect her mood,it also allows the viewer to see the emotion on her face as she is been "painted with makeup"to hide her emotions like a mask.The counter stereotype is shown here as some feminists argue that makeup  is a tool of the patriarchy, designed to oppress women and keep them in their places.She has two people surrounding her as she is having her hair and makeup done which is contradicts what she wants as she wants to be by herself alone on the dessert.The imagery reflects on how she needs to look perfect as a pop star when really she is sad.The words she uses "You're givin' me a million reasons; Give me a million reasons; Givin' me a million reasons; About a million reasons" - The repetition of this line emphasises the insecurity Gaga feels about this relationship. She’s constantly questioning the state of their romance and whether it’s worth pursuing. Time after time, he forces her to reconsider their future together.



She appears to be sad and worn out however  has to go to work 
 Every heartbreak makes it hard to keep the faith" - Perhaps more generally, each time someone lets her down and breaks her heart, she feels herself giving up on people more, making it difficult to trust those around her. By using the word “faith” specifically, she links her faith in these connections with the more religious faith that she displays in the chorus by praying to God.


































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