Saturday 16 January 2010
Lady GaGa's Dark Muse
Can we take a moment to talk about Lady GaGa? I first "discovered" her on Pandora, long after she'd made her actual debut. I'm out of the pop loop, is what I'm saying. And then I was hanging out with a friend, who, like me, doesn't listen to top 40, loves horror movies, and enjoys making fun of people, and we (somehow) got to talking about Lady GaGa. She'd asked if I'd seen the video for Paparazzi. I hadn't.
And now that I have, let me just say: Huh. In spite of the pop music and the glamorous sheen, the video is a short treatise on obsession and revenge. The lyrics themselves are quite dark, telling the story of a fan who obsessively pursues her idol, sure in the knowledge the idol will one day return her love. The video takes these themes and pushes them further, as Lady GaGa herself is living with her stalker.
We don't know exactly how this happened, but we're to assume she fell victim to his relentless pursuit. It's an interesting idea, this notion of pushy, obsessive love that wears down its object to the point of submission. But that's just the tip of the iceberg. Lady GaGa's boyfriend, the terrifyingly handsome Alexander Skarsgaard, is a total narcissist and is more in love with the idea of being with Lady GaGa, than he is with the woman herself. The combined pathology of stalker and narcissist creates quite a monster and the inevitable happens when they boyfriend dumps Lady GaGa off the balcony in a glory-seeking fit of anger.
Lady GaGa doesn't die from the fall. No, she suffers a worse fate--her career is over. Holed up in her mansion with her ungrateful boyfriend, who benefited nothing from the attempted murder, Lady GaGa heals. Stripping off her braces, Lady GaGa sheds her innocence and morality, and takes her revenge on Alexander Skarsgaard by poisoning his drink. Though she confesses to the crime, Lady GaGa is found not guilty and, as a final insult to Alexander Skarsgaard, she enjoys new success and fame. By accomplishing all that her boyfriend failed to do, Lady GaGa essentially triumphs over her oppressor, finding salvation in death.
One of the more arresting images in the video is Lady GaGa's dance number on crutches. I don't mean to suggest the disabled are less than human, but the scene in the video presents Lady GaGa as a kind of quasi-human, a woman who is not yet finished being made. The image is creepy, and made all the more striking by the video's outlandish design.
The colours and the music offset the video's dark subject matter. Drawing inspiration from fashion, Lady GaGa's look is one of glamorous excess, and is in total opposition to the story being told. The song and the video work together to create a beautiful world that is rotten at its core, full of treachery and deceit. Though not horror-themed per se, Paparazzi, explores a lot of the same dark territory as horror--lust, obsession, murder--and uses startling visuals to help tell its twisted story.
Labels:
horror,
Lady GaGa,
music video
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
45 comments:
Ok I swear I'm linked psychically to your mind or sumthin' because while I was doing dishes last night I thought a GREAT post idea would be to look at how Lady GaGa is inspired by horror. This is awesome. I frickin' love that video- and how it's so classic horror looking, even Hitchcockian in some sense.
Have you seen her performance of this on the VMA's? That was my first actual glimpse at the lady and I instantly fell in love. Phantom of the Opera, blood, hanging...yes!
That's crazy, we're totally on the same wavelength. I didn't catch the VMAs (I generally stay away from that stuff) but it sounds like it was quite something. I'll have to check it out.
Don't worry her performance was the only thing worth watching, and I only watched it because I heard she was going to do something crazy. I guess she got in tons of trouble because all those righteous extreme groups said her performance glamorized suicide. Bah.
Okay, I just watched it and thought it was amazing.
Yay! It's soo Argento there at the end. The perfect homage to Suspiria
Great post! This is one of my favorite videos from recent years. The "Sunset Boulevard" gothicry combined with the shiny, shiny Thierry Mugler outfit make me swooooon. I've seen a few interviews with Lady GaGa in which she talks about her enthusiasm for horror movies and monsters, and there's the Hitchcock film name-dropping in "Bad Romance." There's a definite love for horror themes in the NYC Club Kid scene from which GaGa hails, and I love that she honors that in her work. She rules way more than most folks give her credit for!
I will admit...I'm fucking obsessed with her. She did a horror photoshoot. I'll post pics and link back to your post since you've inspired me :)
Love it!
You know, Kate up there reminded me of something odd - this is a horror-themed blog, but you didn't review Gaga's obviously horror-themed video, 'Bad Romance'. It's the one with filled to the brim with coffins, monsters, and a charred skeleton. Perhaps a sequel to this article?
It's great to see a blog of this quality. I learned a lot of new things and I'm looking forward to see more like this. Thank you.
You made some good points there. I did a search on the topic and found most people will agree with your blog.
I'm watch the video which is also amazing like lady gaga other videos nice presentation.
Smead office products
I love lady gaga. because while I was doing dishes last night I thought a GREAT post idea would be to look at how Lady GaGa is inspired by horror.Diesel Home Generators
Glad to be one of several visitors on this awful internet site.home based business
Very nice and helpful information has been given in this article. I like the way you explain the things. Keep posting. Thanks. Green Smoke
Bad credit problems -- such as late payments, collections and bankruptcy -- can become an issue when renting a house or an apartment. People with bad credit typically can't get mortgage loans and have to rely on rental housing.
That's amazing!! Don't worry her performance was the only thing worth watching, and I only watched it because I heard she was going to do something crazy.
I like your website. Thank you for great information. I will come back to your website again.
best regards
oh yeah thats right good catch, I didn't really think of Moby Dick as Homo-erotic filler until just now. but, with Heath Ledger dead who would play Captain Ahab
This was a really very good post. Thanks for posting this.
This is very interesting, You are a very skilled blogger.
Great info. I like all your post. I will keep visiting this blog very often. It is good to see you website.
Thank you for sharing the info. I found the details very helpful.
Great post, It’s posts like this that keep me coming back and checking this site regularly, thanks for the info!
I'm impressed, I must say. Incredibly rarely do I come across a weblog that's both informative and entertaining, and let me let you know, you've hit the nail on the head.
I wonder how you got so good. This is really a fascinating blog, lots of stuff that I can get into. One thing I just want to say is that your blog is so perfect!
Hi, Thanks for the nice post.
This is really interesting site that gives huge of information to all readers thanks a lot.
This information is very interesting, I really enjoyed, I would like get more information about this, because is very beautiful, thanks for sharing
This information is very interesting, I really enjoyed, I would like get more information about this, because is very beautiful, thanks for sharing
This information is very interesting, I really enjoyed, I would like get more information about this, because is very beautiful, thanks for sharing
British rock band Muse are reportedly planning a live duet with Lady Gaga at the Grammy Awards.
British rock band Muse are reportedly planning a live duet with Lady Gaga at the Grammy Awards.
The song and the video work together to create a beautiful world that is rotten at its core, full of treachery and deceit.
I’d have to check with you here. Which is not something I usually do! I enjoy reading a post that will make people think. Also, thanks for allowing me to comment!
Is it true that Lady Gaga is a hermaphrodite?
Nice blog.. its really awesome.. i like the content... u got so many replies..
One of the more arresting images in the video is Lady GaGa's dance number on crutches.
I'm watch the video which is also amazing like lady gaga other videos nice presentation.
I am very happy to read this article.. thanks for giving us this useful information. vending location company
You have a very useful site, wonderful work! Thanks.
Nice post you have shared here thanks a lot for sharing,
Nice and informative article. This article helps me. Keep doing this.
Thank you for sharing such a valuable post on Diploma. Advanced Diploma is must for high paying jobs and global exposure.
I'm someone who has lived a life seemingly in the background, I must say this final indignity I have suffered almost too much to endure. You see, I have been sickly and weak since the day I was born and doomed to go through my life weakling. I seemed to have always suffered from one illness or another and could never play with the other children as I so desperately wanted to. Mother always made such a big fuss over me, also, making the situation worse as the other boys teased me mercilessly after they saw it. I was browsing the internet searching on how I could be transformed into a powerful person when I came across the email of a man named Lord Mark. who was a VAMPIRE so I told him that I has always dreamed of becoming a VAMPIRES, All i did was just to follow the procedure that i was been told, and i bet you that procedure I took change my entire life to something i ever desire, freedom, sickness free, pains free, fame, influence, connections and even more that i can. Thanks to Lord Mark. Do you want a life full of interesting things? Do you want to have power and influence over others? To be charming and desirable? To have wealth, health, and longevity? contact the vampires creed today via email: Vampirelord7878@gmail.com
Post a Comment