TASK 2: Lady Gaga "Bad Romance" - Music Video Analysis

Bad Romance's music video was directed by Francis Lawrence and shot in Los Angeles. The opening shot of this music video is an establishing shot. This displays everyone involved in the production. This makes it almost seem like a play, where all of the actors are displayed, and makes the viewer aware of the fictionality of it. This suggests that to Gaga this video is almost a form of art. Also in this shot is the great dane that also appears in the 'Paparazzi' music video. While the dog represents power, it also represents obedience, and could show that Lady Gaga is dominating everyone else in the room.

 She is wearing razor blade glasses that cover her eyes.  As this is a dangerous combination, it could be used to emphasize how strong she is. These glasses hide her eyes but her pupils are revealed and this almost shows that she is hiding a lot of her personality, and this is similar to the plot of the video as the other females force her to change with the use of alcohol/drugs. She wore sunglasses in "Paparazzi" and these also hide her eyes.

 The lighting changes drastically for the initial shots of the pods. The lights are gold and this links directly to Lady Gaga who wore gold in the establishing shot. The gold portrays royalty and wealth and gives Gaga control and power. This is emphasized with the light as it shows that her control is radiating across the room. This is a similar theme to that in 'Paparazzi' as this also portrays royalty through the gold coloured furniture and blood.

The pods themselves are similar to lots of sci-fi films in which the pods represent the people are in a hibernation-like state. There are seven pods and this could have religious connotations, as they could symbolize the seven deadly sins. This tells the audience that they should expect danger from those who leave the pods. Another religious connotation is that Gaga's pod contains in red the word 'monster' with a cross. This could represent the devil and could be foreshadowing the person she will become, as later on she goes from wearing white to wearing red.

This shot shows that Gaga is vulnerable as the lens used makes her eyes seem large. This creates an effect as it makes it easier for the viewer to pick up her emotions and makes her look lost. She also looks directly into the camera, breaking the fourth wall, which shows that she is almost asking the viewer for help. A similar shot is used in the 'Paparazzi' music video when Gaga is knocked off the balcony, and is used to portray the same emotions, as it shows that she is helpless.

We again see another reference to animals when a bald cat is displayed. As Gaga's dancing and manor is similar to that of a cat, the viewer will assume that it represents her. The cat is bald and it could show that her shield and protection is gone, but in contrast it could show that we are witnessing the real version of her. The cat has gold teeth, and gold is used for male characters and Gaga at the beginning. This could be the first indication that she is going to develop control and power of the male characters. Whilst animal symbolism wasn't as prominent in the 'Paparazzi' music video, there was still shots of a dog that appeared. Unlike a cat, dogs are known to be mans best friend and is therefore used to denote the relationship with Gaga and the men as being one of control. This same dog does appear in this music video, but only in the establishing shot.

For the shots of the laptops, we first see the back of it which displays the Beats logo, as well as headphones on one of them. This is clear product placement and is used to promote Beats. After further research, I noticed that Lady Gaga partnered with Beats to produce a special set of headphones, and this placement may be used to benefit both parties in terms of the sales of the product. A similar move was done in the 'Paparazzi' music video, as Gaga promoted Dior.

 The next shot of Gaga is powerful as she has orbiting discs on her costume. This emphasizes her desire to be center of attention and highlights her change in character from lying down at the beginning and seeming week, to standing up and being powerful. What helps this is the camera angle, which is a low angle. Also, she is wearing heels to increase her height, showing that she wants to have power over others.

 One thing that was noticeable from the dance routine itself was the similarity between Gaga's dancing and that of Michael Jackson. She is almost emulating his dancing from Thriller and this could tell the audience that she is inspired by his revolutionary music videos and success, and that she hopes her videos will be as popular. The rigid movements also help to convey that Gaga has been repossessed by the drugs that she has been forced to consume. Gaga has also changed from wearing white to wearing red, which is commonly associated with danger, and could be used to foreshadow what Gaga is going to do.

This shot is a low angle shot that shows Gaga wearing a dress made out of a bear. This could be used to give her power, as bears are strong. This again shows Gaga's transition after being forced to take the drink, and the viewer now foreshadows that she will gain power and control. Lady Gaga is wearing white which is the same colour as the background, which could indicate to the viewer that the male does not see her as a threat and almost looks straight passed her.

The last shot is very powerful, as it shows the outcome of Lady Gaga's actions. We see on the left is a skeleton and we can assume this is of the man she was seducing earlier on. The fact that only a skeleton remains could be Gaga's way of telling the viewer that he had no soul or heart, and is in some ways an attempt to justify her actions. The bed itself is burnt which is the aftermath of the fire that was seen earlier in the music video. We see sparks coming from Gaga still which could connote that she is still in a volatile state and has not concluded her acts of revenge.