Music Video

Music Video

Textual Analysis

All media products are 'texts'. When you read, watch, play, listen to a media text, you make meaning or understanding the media text is called Decoding.

Decoding = understanding a media text

Codes can be visual or aural. Codes have symbolic values. TV drama, magazines and video games use these symbolic codes to generate character types and character archetypes. 

Four Micro-elements

• Mise-en scene 
• Camera work cinematography
• Editing 
• Sound

Micro-Elements relate to the following above. 

Lady Gaga

• "Born this way" shows her opinion on society
• Body Image
• Gender
• Sexuality 
• Intertextual References
• Centre of attention
• Sings mostly Pop music
• Mainstream 
• Virgin, Mother and Whore (Vertigo...)
• Empowered Woman
• Counter-stereotype 
• Not the Norm 
• Laura Mulvey: Male Gaze

Lady Gaga: A Million Reasons

• "Million Reasons" is a song recorded by American singer Lady Gaga.
• It is featured for Lady Gaga's fifth studio album Joanne.
• Initially released as a promotional single

Open and Closed Narrative

Stereotype production is based on

• Simplification
• Exaggeration or distortion
• Generalisation
• Presentation of cultural attributes as being 'natural' 

Masculine traits: powerful,strong and independent

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Task 2

What general stereotypes are associated with women? List 3 things

1) Domestication e.g chores/housewife

2) Damsel in distress

3) Dress in feminine way 

What Stereotypes are associated with women in the music industry? List 3 things

1) Sexualised so sexually attractive

2) In need of being saved

3) Idea of perfection 

In advertising and Magazines

They are shown as...

Young 

Slim 

Overwhelmingly White

Conforming to our image of ideal beauty

Representation of Women

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)

Stereotypes in Lady Gaga Million Reasons

High angle shot (looking down) gives the impression that Lady Gaga is vulnerable. This represents the idea of Lady Gaga being the damsel in distress. Lady Gaga has her hands on her head which connotes to being stressed this suggests that Lady Gaga has had enough with her life? or suggests that she is thinking about decisions she has made or choices she has made in the past. As well as that this shot represents Lady Gaga trying to promote herself as well. as on her t-shirt it clearly shows her named stitched on the t-shirt.

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Task 5

Discuss how Lady Gaga uses the iconic representation of the cowboy as a counter type representation of femininity? 

Lady Gaga uses the representation of a cowboy to suggest that females are as equally strong as men and females can be empowering and independent themselves. A cowboy outfit has connotations to being independent but are strong and respected. Gaga uses these connotations to prove to audiences and that despite what is going on her life, Gaga is still tough and strong minded. Even though, Gaga is wearing the cowboy suit to show these connotations. The actual suit is in pink and Gaga is seen wearing heels.  

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Task 6

In what way is the representation of an all female crew a counter type representation of the media industry.

An all female crew is a counter type representation of the media industry, as typically men are always seen as protecting females and are almost bodyguards for females. This is mainly due to society encouraging Men to always look out for females and also Men are generally 'seen as' stronger then women. But by Lady Gaga having an all female crew accentuates that Gaga doesn't need a man in her life to be with her all the time. She promotes the idea of being self-reliant and independent. Also by Lady Gaga having a female crew this suggests that they are there for her emotional needs. In this picture shown, there is a long shot to represent the whole entourage.

In what way is the video depicting the musician as a musician on the road, representing the drudgery behind the glamour of performance

This video shows a musician on the road and how hard it actually is, behind the glamour of performance. The music video of 'A Million Reasons' show the backstage of a tour and what actually occurs. 

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Task 7

Lady Gaga as a Vulnerable Female 

Identify key aspects of the text which represent Gaga as "the vulnerable female"

These shots all represents Lady Gaga as a vulnerable female. The first shot shows her friends helping her up and this shows that even though Lady Gaga is a superstar she still feels vulnerable and needs help from her friends and crew.  In this shot a high angle shot is used to show the vulnerability of Lady Gaga but it also shows her friends picking her up an almost consoling her. 

As well in the second picture it shows Lady Gaga almost crying out for help in the mirror. Here a closeup is used to show the emotions on Lady's Gaga face to show the pain and grievance Lady Gaga is going through. Also it is shown in black and white to present the pain and sorrow Lady Gaga is going through.  

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Task 9

Identify key aspects of the text which represent Gaga within the narrow conventions of music video "a young and conventionally attractive, star"

How might this representation have negative implications.

Aspects of a conventionally young star:

• slim 
• blonde 
• clear skin
• well done makeup 
• blue eyes

Lady Gaga matches with all of the above.  

Three Examples:

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Task 10

Symbol of religion suggests hope and peace. This provokes the idea of Lady Gaga is religious and is using religion to move past the stress and emotional distress. This relates to Propp's theory of Lady Gaga being the princess and is basically the damsel in distress. The rosary symbolises Lady Gaga's life and how she has suffered from depression and trauma throughout her life and through religion Lady Gaga has found her escape or has found the light in the darkness.

The rosary can also symbolise Lady Gaga's past life with her being brought up as an Italian Catholic so this rosary can accentuate Lady Gaga's return to the light as such.