This article attempts a de-construction of 'Telephone'
It discusses influences such as Edward Hopper, Dave LaChapelle and intertextuality, Kill Bill and Thelma and Louise.
Shona felt that Chicago was being referenced in the prison scene. The cell block tango in particular.
the narrative also has links to Russ Meyer and American B movie sexploitation flicks of the 50's and 60's like 'Faster Pussycat, Kill, Kill' which in turn are referenced by the king of intertextual references Tarantino. They directly reference Pulp Fiction with the honey bun and the Pussy Wagon is apparently the same one used in Kill Bill 1, lent to Lady GA GA by Tarantino.
All this postmodern irony is pawed over by bloggers and media types who love to de-code the new videos which is exactly what Jonas Akerlund and Lady Ga Ga want. The video becomes a viral hit and the launch of a new one is an event much talked about in the media. Masters of self-promotion, these texts offer an insight into how the media industries operate and how an artist can both use and critique the society that they exploit so successfully. The product placement is blatant and almost a challenge to audiences who want to promote the form as art. It is self referencing and aware of the crass consumerism of the medium whilst exploiting the controversy this creates. This is a relatively new form form of marketing appealing to a cynical and media savvy generation.
Research the critical reviews and the many sites that discuss the videos and the conundrum that is Lady Ga Ga.
The Guardian seems to ahve a fixation on The Wire and LAdy Ga Ga which is great for research purposes. This article provides an insight into 'Telephone'
THis article compares Pixie Lott with Lady Ga Ga who were competing for the Christmas number one. Pixie is literally being consumed by men whilst writhing on a dinner table; Ga Ga plays with gender representation and uses her image as a highly sexualised and aggressive pop star to consume, through fire, the very men who run the record companies who bid for her.
At least I think that is the preferred reading. What do you think ?
