Lady Gaga and Semiotics

Semiotics is defined as “the study of signs and symbols, what they mean and how they are used” (Cambridge Dictionaries, 2013). It seems one cannot walk more the 100 metres without being bombarded by signs and symbols in our modern culture.

One of the leading artists of our time according to Rolling Stone Magazine, Lady Gaga, harnesses the power of symbols within her work. Within this essay her 2010 music video for her song ‘Telephone’ (Telephone, 2010) featuring Beyonce will be (Hiatt, 2009) discussed in relation to the study of semiotics.

One of the most easily discernable signs in Telephone is Gaga’s use of Bricolage (Corona, 2011) and her creation of a ‘neon noir’ (Weiner, 2009)  of Strangeness and Other.

Works Cited

Cambridge Dictionaries, 2013. Semiotics. [Online] Available at: http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/semiotics?q=semiotic [Accessed 13 January 2013].

Corona, V.P., 2011. Memory, Mosters and Lady Gaga. The Journal of Popular Culture, 11 March. p.725.

Hiatt, B., 2009. Lady Gaga, New York Doll. Rolling Stone, 11 June. p.Unknown.

Telephone. 2010. [Music Video] Directed by Jonas Akerlund. Los Angeles, US: Darkchild.

Weiner, J., 2009. How Smart is Lady Gaga? Pop's most pretentious starlet. [Online] Available at: http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/music_box/2009/06/how_smart_is_lady_gaga.html [Accessed 19 January 2013].

Semiotics

Today we began to study the subject of Semiotics with Vanessa and then had a lecture. The source we studied from Critical Theory Today: A User-Friendly Guide (Tyson, 2006). By studying Lady Gaga’s music video “Telephone” (Telephone, 2010) I began to dissect the signs and symbols within it. Here is s short synopsis of what was discussed about the music video:

A prison setting indicated that Gaga was being held in prison

She answers the telephone, a sign of communication – the telephone gives a degree of distance from person to person…

Also Gaga has said that the ‘telephone’ ringing does not only mean a physical telephone. To her it represents her Super Ego, demanding her to work harder and harder: "That's my fear — that the phone's ringing and my head's ringing. Whether it's a telephone or it's just the thoughts in your head, that's another fear." (MTV, 2009)

The music is almost overwhelming in its beat, Gaga herself said that the main inspiration was “Fear of suffocation—something that I have or fear is never being able to enjoy myself,” (MTV, 2009) presumably because of the inundation of noise and technology the modern world uses.

Gaga wears her hair in rollers made of Coca-Cola cans. Coca-Cola could be seen as a symbol of America.

                                                                                                                                  

I believe the study of semiotics could be very useful in a practical acting way as well as an academic way. In my own studies I’ve often found myself using similar techniques without realizing there was a name for them.

Works Cited

Telephone. 2010. [Music Video] Directed by Jonas Åkerlund. Los Angeles, USA: Darkchild.

Tyson, L., 2006. Semiotics. In Unknown, ed. Critical Theory Today: A User Friendly Guide. 2nd ed. Unknown: Routledge. pp.326-29.

WIP - synopsis of today

Today we began to study the subject of Semiotics with Vanessa and then had a lecture. The source we studied from Critical Theory Today: A User-Friendly Guide (Tyson, 2006). By studying Lady Gaga’s music video “Telephone” (Telephone, 2010) I began to dissect the signs and symbols within it. Here is s short synopsis of what was discussed about the music video:

·       A prison setting indicated that Gaga was being held in prison

·       She answers the telephone, a sign of communication – the telephone gives a degree of distance from person to person…

·       Also Gaga has said that the ‘telephone’ ringing does not only mean a physical telephone. To her it represents her Super Ego, demanding her to work harder and harder: "That's my fear — that the phone's ringing and my head's ringing. Whether it's a telephone or it's just the thoughts in your head, that's another fear." (MTV, 2009)

·       The music is almost overwhelming in its beat, Gaga herself said that the main inspiration was “Fear of suffocation—something that I have or fear is never being able to enjoy myself,” (MTV, 2009) presumably because of the inundation of noise and technology the modern world uses.

·       Gaga wears her hair in rollers made of Coca-Cola cans. Coca-Cola could be seen

                                                                 

 Useful websites: 

1. http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1627050/lady-gaga-explains-inspiration-behind-beyonce-collabo-telephone.jhtml
2. http://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2010/03/deconstructing-lady-gagas-telephone-video/37458/

Works Cited

Telephone. 2010. [Music Video] Directed by Jonas Åkerlund. Los Angeles, USA: Darkchild.

Tyson, L., 2006. Semiotics. In Unknown, ed. Critical Theory Today: A User Friendly Guide. 2nd ed. Unknown: Routledge. pp.326-29.

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