music videos - Million Reasons

Million Reasons - Lady Gaga

media representations

= the way events, issues, individuals are represented through processes of selection & combination, includes:

• the way the media, through representation, construct versions of reality
• the process which lead media producers to make choices about how to represent events, issues, individuals and social groups
• the effect of social and cultural context on representations
• how and why stereotypes can be used positively and negatively
• how and why particular social groups, in a national and global context, may be under-represented or misrepresented
• how media representations convey values, attitudes and beliefs about the world and how these may be systematically reinforced across a wide range of media representations
• how audiences respond to and interpret media representations

Lady Gaga - background

• real name: Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta - Laga Gaga is a construct
• music inspiration: Madonna / Michael Jackson / David Bowie (glam rock) / Freddie Mercury (glam rock) / Andy Warhol (theatrics) / personal roots in musical theatre
• most known for outrageous style / album 'Joanne' - stripped back & natural - complete contrast to previous image - 'Born This Way' (& meat dress) - feel conflicted listening to it (dance-y pop song but made to feel uncomfortable in music video) - stands out for being different - shock factor - increase people talking about her / meat dress / 'Marry the Night' - psychiatric ward at beginning / white latex ballet dress / conventional music video
• comparison to early Gaga ('Born this Way' and 'Marry the Night') - changed her image - becomes more 'normal' and relatable after getting her name out their through outrageous and shocking content

representations (stereotype)

• she has the dark roots of her hair showing from in the scene of her in the dessert being picked up by her friends - links to her Italian roots of those originating having dark thick hair
• down to earth - contrasts the stereotypes that all celebrities are unreachable / only care about the wealth they have

Lady Gaga - star image

• her image seems very down to earth in the simplicity of the video and how she acts on the screen
• the way that she has chosen to be represented is a country & chilled vibe - contrasts her seemingly very fast paced life & competitive world
• the song also talks about her love life and religious beliefs - not often shown by celebrities - prefer to keep their own lives private from the public eye - she is showing that not everything is perfect and she is the same person that she used to be

narrative

• as she starts getting ready, the singer notices a small box with a bow atop it on her desk
• video then intercuts to a number of flashbacks - Gaga singing in a white studio while playing the guitar / getting rescued by her friends from the desert / breaking down in tears
• finally Gaga opens the box - reveals rosary & note saying "Love you, sis"

• inspiration - grew organically from the conversations that Lindsey & Gaga were having one day - title phrase lifted from the singer's musings about the men in her life
• song - pop song w/ country influences
• lyrics - about "heartbreak and hope" during a relationship & Gaga's religious faith during the chorus - ultimately making it a song w/ a positive message
• video - Gaga singing in a white studio / desert / breaking down / rescued by her friends

lyrics

• "I bow down to pray, lord show me the way" - religious / turned religious as last attempt
• "give me a million reasons" - repeated - uncertainty / insecurity / frustrations in relationship
• "dry" - no alcohol (e.g. dry state - alcohol is banned)
• suit made pink - masculine vs pink - trying to be strong but not always managing

meaning

• about Gaga's ex-fiance Taylor Kinney - breakdown of their relationship
• documentary 'Five-feet-two' (netflix) - explains during every major milestone in her life, her relationships have always failed - says "in relationships you have to move together as much as you can"

representation - femininity


Goodwin's music video theory (1992)
↳ Andrew Goodwin's theory of music videos states that music videos contain some / all of the following 6 elements:

• link between visuals & lyrics
• compliment / contradict / amplify
• genre characteristics
• e.g. heavy metal in industrial settings / rap music in urban street contexts
• intertextual references
• references to popular culture (pop culture)
• notions of looking (watching people watch things)
• e.g. screens within screens
• objectification of females
• male gaze
• includes demands of the record label
• e.g. close ups of lead singer / singles or motifs associated with artist
• video is performance / narrative / concept based

how ↑ is applied in 'Million Reasons' video:

• link between visuals & lyrics
• "lord, show me the way" - friend hugging - friend is almost sent from heaven - savior - empowers women and female friendships during time of breakup - don't need men - subverts gender stereotype
• during most powerful moment of song, strong hand gestures (e.g. reaching up during "need it") - powerful emotions
• "one good one" - hand gestures (holds up no.1 finger) - reinforces message
• religious references in lyrics (e.g. "lord, show me the way" / "I bow down to pray") & gets necklace with Christian cross / praying hands
• genre characteristics
• country vibes - desert / guitar / costume - cowgirl hat (pink), blazer, wide ankle trousers
• intertextual references
• styling of suit - country western music videos
• references to documentary - behind the scenes (five foot two)
• notions of looking (watching people watch things)
• beginning: Gaga's eyes closed, looks up to sky - dreaming / deep in thoughts / wishing things could be different
• looking down when in front of mirror - to avoid looking at herself - insecurities - due to relationship going wrong
• objectification of females
• dressing room, cleavage shown through dressing gown (centre of frame)
• eyes covered with mask then by sunglasses
• makeup done - dominant ideology of full face of makeup - to please men as Gaga is looking sad (effort to please her ex fiance - begging for him back)
• includes demands of the record label
• close ups of Gaga
• video is performance / narrative / concept based
• narrative - clear story
• performance elements - playing guitar

how ↑ is applied in 'Formation' video: (Beyonce)

• link between visuals & lyrics
• "f*ck" & sticks up middle finger - different context - subverts usual meaning - relates to how she changes the way people have perceptions of her (e.g. not in the illuminati)
• "I twirl on my haters" & twirls umbrella
• "okay ladies now lets get in formation" & ladies get in formation as they dance synchronized together in line(s)
• "best revenge is your paper" & rubs fingers together 
• genre characteristics
• pop - group of girls dancing - yet strange bc they all act too perfect - follow Beyonce's movements exactly - she is the leader - star image
• pop - deviance 
• country yet doesn't sound contry - relates to her roots and ethnic background ("my daddy Alabama, my mumma Louisiana" / "I just might be a black Bill Gates in the making") / New Orleans - black culture - black women in music video - relates to lots of her other music videos - inspiration for BAME community and black women / black gospal church / young black boy dancing in front of line of white policemen - relates to racism and racial problems in USA (specifically with the police)
• intertextual references
• illuminati "ya'll haters corny with that illuminati mess" yet includes subliminal and subtle illuminati references (e.g. controlling dancers = population control / black hat with eyes covered = the men in black [yet female]) - direct address (fans and haters) - focusing on wrong thing and what Beyonce is representing
• "I just might be a black Bill Gates in the making" - business woman - unusual as not associated with music / pop culture - shows how Beyonce is different to rest of industry and high profile like a top businessman 
• notions of looking (watching people watch things)
• Beyonce's eyes covered with black hat - like a witch - spooky / mysterious (is she in the illuminati?)
• objectification of females
• all follow Beyonce / act the same - like of individuality and recognition of personality links to objectification as all women are viewed as the same
• all about wealth - reclaiming after hurricane - performance in traditional upper class household - sexualised dancing / outfits (male gaze) - racial stereotypes subverted BUT also about women's empowerment
• women in car - male gaze - 
• includes demands of the record label
• sports brand outfit
• video is performance / narrative / concept based
• concept based - formation
• context
• New Orleans, hurricane Katrina, power subversed as Beyonce is on top of car - distorted (beginning frame)  - poor area
• establishing shots of run down areas - class / black lives matter - star image subversed - bridging gap between powerful people & rest of society