Million Reasons- Lady Gaga

Stereotypes about women;                         How is lady gaga influential:

1) make up                                                    1) iconic star - evolved over time

2) pink                                                           2) unique artist

3) caring for children                                    3) support for gay community

4) weak mentally and physically                  4) Activist 

5) bad drivers                                                5) treats music like art

6) need to conform to society

7) emotional 

8) slim

9) young

10) innocence

Stereotypes about men; 

'Masculinity' is a concept that is made up of more rigid stereotypes than femininity. Representations of men across all media tend to focus on the following:

1) Strength - physical and intellectual

2) Power

3) Sexual attractiveness (which may be based on the above)

4) Physique

5) Independence (of thought, action, finances)

 

Million Reasons is a contrasting example of a contemporary music video from a world famous, white, female artist. This particular video (from the album Joanne) marks a change in direction for the artist as media producers make use of media language to construct representations that might attract a broader, more mainstream market whilst not alienating the artist’s core fan base.

It lyrically delves on "heartbreak and hope" during a relationship, as well as Gaga's religious faith during the chorus, ultimately making it a song with a positive message. 

Analysing lyrics

"your giving me a million reasons to let you go" a failed relationship and she cant take it anymore.

"i would run for the hills" if she found a way out of the relationship easily she would just leave.

"If you could find a dry way, I'd forever be still," but she seems to be saying that if he could figure his life out, she wouldn't complain anymore.

"cut through all this worn out leather," which seems to be a reference to toughened emotional walls that keep her or him from being honest.

"Head stuck in a cycle. I look off, and I stare." highlighting her own emotional emptiness and hopelessness. 

 "I've stopped breathing," but she's "completely aware" as she watches her life descend into chaos seemingly beyond her control.

"And if you say something that you might even mean / It's hard to even fathom which parts I should believe." He's lied so many times that she simply can't trust anything that he says.

"Baby, I'm bleedin' / Can't you give me what I'm needin'?"Despite his many lies she loves him and is still giving him the chance to fix things

"Every heartbreak makes it hard to keep the faith," to show how his actions have made it hard for her to believe that he can fix things, but she claims that she needs only "one good [reason]" to stay with him.

Video analysis:

• Body language - worn out and tired
• Sad/worn out - trying to hide her true emotions - stereotype of being emotional
• Black and white - without the colour shows how her emotions her the only thing that matters not the colour of the clothes and shoes.
• Her friends help her get back up representing sisterhood 
• "Million Reasons" would be a continuation of that for "Perfect Illusion".
• forced to tour through her hip pain (described by the dancing in "Perfect Illusion"), and finally in the "Million Reasons" clip, her team helps her in healing and crafting Joanne.
•  imagery of everyday backstage tour preparation to a song of loneliness and isolation, life on the road forever breaking its practitioners
• Intercut with studio shots of the makeup room before a show and Gaga passionately strumming her acoustic guitar, we return to the desert as her friends finally arrive to comfort her.
• First shot extreme wide shot in high angle of her rolling away in the desert - 'if i had a highway i would run for the hills' - rolling away form her problems - lost her mind - stereotype of women being emotional. Emotion is a running theme throughout the whole video - in the desert - sad - in the makeup chair - sad - on stage - confident, proud, bold posture.
• Desert sounds are meant to be relaxing, goes from the relaxed setting to a loud and stressful sound. goes form happy to sad. colour to black and white. 
• Black and white - simple - raw - easy to understand
• Colour is complex and has many layers to it. 
• non chronological - the running thoughts going through her mind make no sense
• warm glow (sepia) reminiscing to childhood and normality- to black and waitpeople will always be 
• dark car - high angle camera shot - like cctv - seeing the behind the scenes her - she is very private, introverted even when on stage. 
• she is ferried around like important cargo that is fragile - like a leader of people- several cars with blacked out windows all for one person - fragile - women stereotype 
• collection of hats and clothes and dresses, stereotype of women being obsessed by appearance.
• Telling a story of loss and how things have to get worse before they get better, and people will always be there to pick you up and shield you from other negativities.
• Ends on a close up shot of her looking at a tattoo of hope
• Indirect mode of address.
• when introduced to this colourful, pink, bold leader she looks confident and strong - direct mode of address.Desert is peaceful and leads into a dramatic horror sound
• car - sad  - stage confident
• approach is that she states clearly how she feels - she is being honest and truthful. 
• loud and clear - instruments are little distraction form her voice. 
• as the second verse begins, it flashes back to the desert to the details that got her there. It is an independent experience for whomever watches and listens to it. 

0:15- laying on her back in the desert, weakness, vulnerability

1:08- Looking sad, looking down, slumped body language, black and white for depressive mood, emotional which links to stereotype 

1:14- heavy makeup which links to the stereotype that women need to wear makeup to make them look good

1:17- hiding her face behind the guitar, trying to hide who she is 

2:07- friends running to rescue her in desert, weakness, friends will always be there and you don't need a man

2:32- head in hands, shows emotion and sadness

2:55- back to makeup chair, looks distressed and emotional 

3:32- wearing a cross, and a priest touching her shoulder to represent God showing her the right path 

3:52- hat and sunglasses on to hide identity and emotion in desert

3:58- pink suit shows she is going against normality.

Liesbet van Zoonen: Feminist theory

Suggests gender is constructed through discourse, and that its meaning varies according to cultural and historical context.
Advocates that the very presentation of women’s bodies as objects to be looked at is a core element of western patriarchal culture
Also presents that in mainstream culture, the visual and narrative codes that are used to construct the male body are different from those used to objectify the female body Codes- a system of words, letters, Feminist theory.
> Women's body's are being objectified
> believes our idea of gender comes from historical context
> we live in a patriarchal world. 

Bell hooks: Feminist theory

Propose that feminism is a struggle to end sexist/patriarchal oppression and the whole ideology of

domination. Suggest the idea that feminism is a political commitment rather than a lifestyle choice

Advocates that other factors, such as race and class, as well as sex, determine the extent to which 

individuals are exploited, discriminated against or oppressed

Earp and Katz (1999)

Earp and Katz (1999) studies male representations in the media and found “a widespread and
disturbing equation of masculinity and pathological control and violence.” They claim that the media
is responsible for a steady stream of images that define ‘manhood’ as connected with violence,
dominance and control - and create it as a normal and accepted part of masculinity.