Music Videos - Lady Gaga

Lady Gaga - Million Reasons 


Representations/ Stereotypes 

• She's wearing a pink suit/cowboy outfit. Pink represents her femininity but the suit represents her power and perhaps a little masculinity suggesting equality. Perhaps she wants more equal representations of women. 
• Women support her/ care for her when shes distressed and crying in the desert. It represents women as the typical stereotype of being caring toward others.
• Stereotypical women getting her makeup done. It's in black and white whereas the rest of the video is in colour giving it an old school Hollywood glamorous feel. 
• She's describing her leather wearing away. Subverting the stereotype of women being delicate as shes mentally and emotionally wearing away. Perhaps she's saying that she's a tough person but whoever she is talking about is wear away emotionally.  

Narrative

She's annoyed at someone for something they have done. She has a million reasons why they have done wrong and she could walk away/leave them. She gets a gift from her sister - perhaps this is who she is talking about? 

Lady Gaga's star image 
She is a construction - not a real person. Her real name is Stefani, not Gaga. 
When she first started she was seen as this strange mysterious character that wore weird clothes. Now she is much more stripped back and is wearing less odd clothing and is more natural. 


Background 

Real name - 'Stefani Joanna Angelina Germanotta' 
Musical inspiration varies from singers like Maddona and Micheal Jackson to glam rock artists like David Bowie and Freddie Mercury, as well as the theatrics of Andy Warhol and her own musical theater roots.
She is most known for her outrageous style and the album 'Joanne' is a complete contrast to her previous image. 


Her previous appearance/image:

• crazy
• strange 
• sexual 
• not mainstream

Her appearance/image now:

• much more reserved 
• country 
• more mature 

Million Reasons lyrics - stand out 

'To cut through all his worn-out leather'  -  suggests he's a strong person but has emotionally been worn down and is not easy to break. perhaps she wants to shake off how she was represented in the past. (in weird materials)

'I try to make the worst seem better' -  she's trying to make every situation better. She feels like there is always a positive to a situation. 

'Head stuck in a cycle, I look off and I stare' -  perhaps this suggests that she's in a constant battle with whatever is bothering her. She sometimes gets lost in thought and stares off. perhaps this could be seen in the video when shes off in the desert on her own in distress. 

'You're giving me a million reasons to quit the show' -  perhaps shes saying shes more flexible than the man she describes. 


Meaning 
The song is about Lady Gaga's ex-fiance Taylor Kinney and the breakdown of their relationship. 
In the documentary 'Five-foot-two' she explains that during every major milestone in her life her relationships have always failed. 



How is Lady Gaga represented as a female in the music video?

• wearing makeup - getting her makeup done, Hollywood glamorous feel. 
• pink suit - typical female colour but the suit is a more male stereotype.
• crying and being emotional - a stereotype of women. 

How has the mise-en-scene been used to achieve a specific representation? 

• natural, warm lighting - realistic feel. A big contrast from her older music videos which were more clinical or harsh lighting. 
• 'Lady Gaga' written on her t-shirt - perhaps its advertising for merchandise.