POSTMODERNIST ANALYSIS OF ‘LADY GAGA – TELEPHONE (FEAT. BEYONCÉ)’

WHAT IS POSTMODERNISM?

Postmodernism is a modern day style and concept which focuses on the ability for individuals to ‘pick and mix’ between various different styles and not stick to one simple concept or theory.

In Lady Gaga’s music video for the song ‘Telephone feat. Beyoncé’ are various different themes that oppose or inherit the normal themes and traditional stereotypes represented in many music videos of today and the past. The producers and writers of the video do this through the use of intertextuality, Bricolage and of course originality.

INTERTEXTUALITY1. The “Pussy Wagon” is a vehicle which

features in the film “Kill Bill Vol.1”. Quentin Tarantino lent it to Lady Gaga for the purpose of the video. This is an example of the way in which Lady Gaga has chosen to include references to other media texts as a way of making the video more ‘Postmodern’.

2. Another reference to a Tarantino film that features in this music video is the way in which Beyoncé and Lady Gaga address each other as ‘Honey boo’ or ‘Honey Bee’ which shows a direct reference to the criminal couple at the beginning and ending of ‘Pulp Fiction’ who attempt to ‘stick up’ a restaurant/Diner which is also featured in the Telephone Video.

INTERTEXTUALITY3. The Disney Mickey Mouse sunglasses

worn by Beyoncé are not a coincidence either, it draws reference to Lady Gaga’s previous single “Paparazzi”. Arguably there are Pop Culture references, in terms of the sunglasses, as both Lady Gaga and Beyoncé wear them – Lady Gaga has definitely succeeded in branding herself so that intertextual links between her work can be noticed by audience members.

4. The Video also features pastiche towards the film ‘Death Proof’ in the sense that similar camera shots are used in effect in the same way (Demonstrated below).

COSTUMESThe video Features various different costumes that use and also challenge typical conventions of fashion and art.

Some costumes are similar to other concepts such as the way in which Beyoncé's outfit (Left) may be a reference to the superhero ‘Wonder Woman’ from the DC comics. This is a good example of the use of Bricolage in the video. Other costumes are rather abstract and artistic in the sense that they may have a deeper meaning such as the way in which women are dangerous and are capable of crime equally similar to men (Right) which opposes the patriarchal stereotype that women are typically gentle caregivers.

‘HYPER REALITY’ IN ‘TELEPHONE’… In the opening scene we are presented with a prison

environment. The population of the prison is strictly Female and majority of the women in the prison look fashionable and wear outgoing and alternative outfits and the majority of the women also have slim figures. This opposes the stereotype of the typical female prisoner which we see in television series such as ‘Orange is the New Black’.