Task 2:Research into existing products: Music videos (Lady Gaga- Paparazzi)

Lady Gaga- Paparazzi

Deconstruction of video

Part 1 (0:00- 1:30)

• The audience are positioned as though they are looking through a camera lens at the beginning. This makes them feel involved in the music video because it suggests that they are the paparazzi; they are the ones who follow Lady Gaga (LG) and the narrative she is showing in the video.

• The transitions in the video are very similar to those used in films. They have used steady and composed shots to make it more cinematic and have more of a narrative like a film would.
• The ambient sounds of seagulls and waves are used to set the location for the audience. It makes the start seem peaceful for the audience and suggests that this is a quiet area,possibly chosen because of how isolated it is and privacy would be a huge issue for pop stars such as LG. Therefore these sounds are important because LG is raising the issue about privacy of celebrities lives and the fact that the song is called 'Paparazzi' implies that in reality they don't get any privacy no matter what.
• The house appears to be of an Italian design and so it can be suggested that the video is set in Italy or at least in the Mediterranean area which is a popular place for celebrities to go on holiday.

• The text on the screen is styled in a Noir film way and is easily recognizable. It shows the audience who created the music video as well as who is starring in it. 

• Common themes of wealth and status are expressed throughout the video by the use of money and luxury items in the house itself. A wide shot of the bedroom is a good example as money ,with LG's face on them, are scattered on the floor and a luxurious bed is placed in the middle of the frame.

• A newspaper is shown with the words "Lady Gaga reaches the top yet again" is shown and shows two things. Firstly it shows how famous LG is which helps brand her to the audience and secondly, as it is a newspaper the photos used would have been from the paparazzi and links to the title of the song. 

• LG is shown on the bed with her "boyfriend" (BF) and they start speaking in Swedish instead of English which could be connoted to suggest that sometimes famous people want certain things to be more secret and so by using another language it helps keep it private. Another reason could be the actor who plays the BF is Swedish himself so she is bringing in his culture and making it more diverse as well as increasing her audience.

Part 2 (1.30-3.00)

• LG and the BF go out onto the balcony and several more items of wealth are shown such as the statue and the champagne. 
• Shots made to look as though a camera is focusing on LG are shown along with the sounds of clicking as though someone is taking pictures. This links to the idea of the paparazzi who are secretly taking pictures of her without her knowledge and the lack of privacy she really has. 

• Ironically the BF asks LG "Do you trust me?" but later on he is seen looking directly at the hidden camera whilst kissing LG. This shows that this character is very devious and had really set up her possibly to gain fame himself. This makes the audience start to dislike the BF and care more about LG.
• Moments of violence are shown between LG and the BF after she notices that the paparazzi are below the balcony. Although she hits the Bf, he is the one who pushes her off the balcony. This raises conflicts within the audience as some people would defend LG by saying she is a victim of male violence whilst others would say that because she hit him first then he did it as self-defense. Throughout the video, LG has leaned towards the idea that she is the victim and raises the issues of domestic violence.
• LG is shown looking right into the camera whilst a black and white swirl is shown in the background (like a hypnotizing swirl). This could symbolize mental illness caused by the paparazzi or that the audience are hypnotized into believing what the paparazzi say about famous people.
• On her hand she has big diamond rings that spell the words "DIOR" which is used to associate LG and fashion as she is well known for her unique costumes and outfits. It is also used as product placement as people will start associating LG to Dior.

• As the swirl turns, the sound of camera clicks are heard and with each click her body twists into odd shapes as though to symbolize that she is falling. However the paparazzi are still taking pictures ,even though she could potentially died from the fall, which suggests that they are selfish and only care about the pictures they get.

• Images of other newspaper headlines are shown but this time suggest that "Lady Gaga hits rock bottom" and implies that because of her fall, her career is over and she can no longer be as famous as before.

• She comes out of a limousine ( a symbol of wealth) and is placed into a wheelchair. This is to show the audience that the paparazzi has hindered her or she has been crippled by fame as she is now "disabled". This representation of disability has been used in this video as LG wants to push the boundaries of what is acceptable to show in a music video and acts as a shock factor for the audience.It also makes the audience feel more sympathetic for LG and makes them think of the true impact the paparazzi have on celebrities lives.

• She is first shown in clothes that have a hint of leather and a red neck brace. The leather implies protection ( of her fame) and power which shows that she has the strength to come back from her accident. The neck brace is again used to show her injuries from the fall but it has been decorated in red jewels which could symbolize glistening blood (as the jewels would sparkle when light from the camera flash shines through them).

• Another costume she wears  when on the gold sofa is made of latex and is used to embrace her sexuality and expose more of her body possibly to catch the male audiences eye. The sofa looks similar to ones used in photo shoots and links another use of a camera.

• At the start of the music video, her hair is completely blonde but by this point in the video a black streak has appeared. This could imply that damage has been done and now her innocent appearance has been ruined by the paparazzi and her BF so she wants revenge (shown by the black streak that symbolizes death).

Part 3 (3.00-4:30)

• LG is later shown to be wearing a metallic outfit which helps establish to the audience the type of performer she is (a unique outrageous singer) and also helps brand her. 
• She is seen in crutches now instead of the wheelchair and implies that she is getting better and is coming back to fame.It also raises the issue of disability and so once again she is pushing the boundaries of what is acceptable.

• Shots of dead women around the house are shown between longer shots of LG singing. This is used to show a darker more deathly side of the video as although LG is a victim she may not be the only one.
• The shot of the dead maid suggests suicide and can also be used as a way of implying that no one is safe around famous people,especially when the paparazzi are around. It could also be connoted that if LG is no longer famous then her workers have no purpose in life implying that may be a reason why the maid might have killed herself.

• Some of the shots of dead women do not, however, suggest suicide as the woman in the garden looks as though she was killed by someone. The way her body is positioned is similar to the way LG was when she fell off the balcony and therefore it can be connoted that she could have been pushed.This can then be linked to the idea of male violence as LG at the beginning was hurt and almost killed by her BF and so this mirrors that but this time the woman has actually died from the incident.

• Several close ups of lips and eyes are shown and express LG sexual nature. This is again shown by the way she acts on the gold sofa ( by kissing other people and playfully moving around on it whilst singing).

Part 4 (4:30-6:00)

• LG starts dancing in another unique outfit and this helps brand her as she is known as a dancer. This also makes her an idol for girls but although it appeals to them, the music video contains some disturbing shots and would be inappropriate for young children. Therefore an appropriate age rating for this video would be at least 13+.

• During the bridge of the song, lots of dark lighting and quick flashes (to symbolize the flashes that cameras make) are used as well as fast editing. Her back is against the wall and this can connote that she is trapped whilst the paparazzi take pictures of her. She has no way of escaping so she just continues and accepts her fate. 
• She wears black and white to symbolize the good and bad sides of fame. As although she needs to the paparazzi to keep her famous, it also means that she gets no privacy from them. 
• Another reason why she is wearing black and white could be that she is trying to represent the character Cruella Deville and this can be suggested because an image of a dalmatian is shown within some very quick shots of LG.

• Nearer the end of the video, LG is sitting next to her BF on the sofa and the maid comes and places drinks on the table. The maid was shown to be dead earlier on in the video and so the deaths of those women may have happened, possibly,  due to the consequences of LG's actions during this scene.

• LG is dressed in black yellow in this scene almost looking as though she is wasp which is going to "sting" her boyfriend as an act of revenge.She also looks like Mickey Mouse another famous cartoon character and so appears to be more innocent then she really is.

• She pours the BF a drink but then adds some white powder to it. A symbol is shown in the bottom right corner to show the audience that it is poison. This shows that LG's character is getting her revenge on her BF who set her up and it shows that she'll go to extreme measures to do so. It also raises the issue of the use of drugs and would make the audience feel conflicted because although it doesn't say what drug she has used, she still uses it to kill the BF.

• The boyfriend drinks the poisoned drink and when he dies the music stops as though to show that she was able to get her revenge and no longer has anything to say about the paparazzi or her BF.

Part 5 (6:00-7:10)

• A voice over is heard of the phone ringing and then a police operator talking,with LG replying that she had just killed her boyfriend. A shot of LG breaking the fourth wall (by looking straight into the camera) is used whilst the voice over plays to show that she knows exactly what she's done and wants the audience to see that she has no regret over it.

• The crime investigation team come over to house but LG isn't there in the same room as the BF's dead body. When the camera flashes,due to them taking pictures of the dead BF, green skulls are seen in the mans glasses. These are used to obviously symbolize death, but due to the fact they are green, it can be connoted that this is like a balance for LG. She was hurt and now she has hurt him so they are equal.

• LG dressed in another exotic outfit is shown coming out of the house's gates escorted by police. The paparazzi are all over her taking pictures whilst she smiles back at them. Newspaper headlines are shown once again but this time stating that "She's back!!!" and therefore suggests that LG has got her fame back from doing something crazy.

• At the end, LG is now doing mugshots for her crimes. This is another way the use of a camera has been used, as although this isn't the paparazzi, the lens are still focused on LG and so she is back in the spotlight although it's not for her music but for her crime.