lady Gaga - Paparazzi

Genre:  synthpop and electropop

Video director: Jonas Akerlund

Date of release: July 5, 2009

Type of video: Narrative, concept based

The music video incorporates the themes and conventions of a typical Hollywood film in the Golden Age. This is shown through the titles, editing and shots used.

the font used in the typography is old fashioned, the use of black and white and the editing technique of having the cycle which either opened up to reveal the scene or close up to end it. All of these are examples of conventions used in the Golden Age films. I believe that the director has decided to use this as a theme as it linking in with the title of the song 'paparazzi' as the idea of celebrities was developing during that period of time. Films starts became hugely popular and paparazzi followed their every move. Lady Gaga is the 'leading Lady' in the music video this suggests that she is well established and popular artist.

The video uses intersexuality to the film version of the musical Chicago as there are striking similarities between the two. For example:

Both blur between friction and reality. This is an example of the music video being post-modernist as a modernist romanticism music video would paint a true picture of reality. The movie blurs fiction and reality as Roxy's (one of the main characters) thoughts come to life. whereas in the music video the breakdown of distinction between binary divides lady gaga as an humanoid shown when she is wearing the robot costume.

The metallic outfit is a reference to the film Metropolis fans of the movie can gain pleasure in recognising the reference.

Their is clear intextuality between the music video and the film Chicago as they have a similar narrative. In the film the main character only becomes famous after she kills her partner out of revenge the paparazzi get hold of this news and snap photos as she leaves her house. The police and investigators then come to take check on the dead partner. The narrative of the music video mires this. The reason why the narrative is so similar because the music video is following a Jazz Age movie theme and this story line is typical of most Golden Age movies. The film Chicago is very well-known therefore a mass audience will take pleasure in noticing the similarities.    

Another similarity between the musical Chicago and the music video is that they both focus on the influence of the media and paparazzi. The representation of the paparazzi is crucial in this music video as it's the focal point of the lyrics. 

The paparazzi are portrayed as being uncaring as they don't give the celebrity, which in this case is Lady Gaga, any privacy, this is suggested the the shot where they are taking photos of Gaga in her house whilst she is show affection towards her boyfriend. This is something that is clearly done in private but the paparazzi don't take this into consideration. The are also shown as being uncaring as they see that Gaga is being hassled by the boyfriend but they don't no nothing to help her as they care more about getting a dramatic photograph. Even as Gaga is lying in a pool of her own blood they do not stop to help her but continue to taking photos. A point of view shot, of Gaga lying down from the fall, shows the paparazzi as vultures as they crown over a dead body and take advantage of it. Lady Gaga might have been criticising the paparazzi as they do exploit celebrities.

The media is also shown as being very manipulative as they influence the public on their view of Lady Gaga.  As Lady Gaga drops from the balcony the tabloids read 'Lady Gaga is OVER' 'Lady Gaga hits rock bottom' and 'Lady no more Gaga' this is because they believe that her career is over because of the accident. This shows that they have the power to penitentially end someones career.

However after she kills her partner the tabloids change their view and say ' we love her again' and 'she's innocent'. the fact that they start talking about her again only once she's done something so dramatic shows that there is pressure on 

celebrities to stay relevant by being overdramatic.

Theres a scene in the music video where strobe lights are used to show flicking images of Lady Gaga, this is done to show a clear relation between the lyrics and the footage. 

During this scene shots of two Dalmatian dogs are shown which mirror Lady Gaga's black and white outfit. This is a polysemic media text, but i think the meaning that was being suggested is that celebrities are treated like animals by the media.

There is a clear link/ resemblance between the dog and Lady Gaga, especially in the eyes.

There is also intertextuality between the music video and the famous classic movie Sunset Boulevard. This is also a very well know movie which an older audience will be able to recognise therefore as a consequence maybe enjoy watching the music video more. 

The hypnotic background is a homage to Alfred Hitchcock’s psychological thriller, Vertigo directed by Alfred Hitchcock. They have payed homage to this director in particular because his work is well-known and highly respected which is what the Paparazzi music video hopes to achieve. 

Homage to Vertigo

The styling of lady gaga here is also a hallmark of the icy, remote blonde ‘femme fetale’ characters Hitchchock starred in his movies.

during the scene where she is about to poison her lover there is reference to popular culture - Mickey/minnie mouse. I think that this outfit contrasts with the nature of her actions because Mickey Mouse and Disney give the appearance of childish, innocent and naïve and she is about to kill her boyfriend.
 Nevertheless the Disney characters will be recognised by a worldwide mainstream audience thats why it was been used.

 Representation of Lady Gaga:

At the beginning Lady Gaga is represented as being innocent this is implied by the ambient sounds of the birds, water fountain and the piano.  She is also wearing white at the beginning, which is symbolic of innocence.

The sound of the piano is then replaced by the sound of flashing cameras and paparazzi screaming ‘right here’ and come on in an effort to take her picture. This could suggest that the paparazzi took away her innocence.

Though out the video she then wears dark clothes implying that she is angry and more evil, this is also suggested by the gun symbol she makes with her hand.

She is also represented as being extremely successful by the exterior shot of her mansion, her faced printed on money, having stacks of money and jewellery all over the house and being front page of newspapers. This is not a stereotypical representation of women as men are know to earn more. 

She is even shown as being royalty. This is suggested by the purple carpet and by her two bodyguards doing the queens wave. Again males are more likely to be represented as royalty. 

However Lady Gaga could be criticising fame because in the video her character abuses her power and fame by killing her lover and a number of women around her house who she thinks her lover has been unfaithful with.   

There is a quick cut and the image of three identical triplets sitting on the golden couch. These triplets, who are a Swedish rock band, had previously been on the MTV reality dating show, Daisy of Love. Fans of the band and show will take pleasure in recognising them. In the next shot, which is a long shot, Lady Gaga appears sitting between the triplets and begins to kiss and caress them. This scene is very sexually suggestive; feminists might have a problem with this as it shows women as being promiscuous