Lady Gaga & Beyonce - Telephone

RHYS NELSON

Intertexuality

1. The “Pussy Wagon” is a vehicle which derives from the film “Kill Bill Vol.1”, Tarantino lent it to Lady Gaga.

Intertexuality

2. Lady Gaga addresses Beyonce as “Honey B” which is similar to a name given to Pulp Fiction character: “Honey Bunny” – one of

the two robbers in the diner scene.

Intertexuality

3. The Diner scene also resembles opening scene of Pulp Fiction.There are resemblances with Elle Driver who is the driver in Kill Bill Vol 1.,

Lady Gaga takes on a similar role. But whereas Elle Driver is dressed as a nurse in order to kill a bride, Lady Gaga is dressed as a chef so she can poison the customers – out of postmodernism Lady Gaga styles a

telephone for an eye-patch.

Intertexuality

The Disney Mickey Mouse sunglasses are

not a coincidence, it draws reference toLady Gaga’s previous single

“Telephone”.Arguably there are Pop Culturereferences, in terms of the sunglasses,

asboth Lady Gaga and Beyonce wear

them –Lady Gaga has definitely succeeded inbranding herself so that intertexual

linksbetween her work can be noticed byaudience members.

Pastiche

The ‘Telephone’ video pays homage to the film Death Proof, the framing and setting fairly identical. In both films risqué

conversation between females take place.

BricolageBeyonce’s outfit is quite similarto Wonder Woman’s.

Lady Gaga is challenging the1950s stereotype of a ‘perfect’housewife – which was

portrayedheavily in that era.

Relationship between visuals & lyrics

The lyrics sing “I'm not takin' no calls‘cuz I'll be dancin'”, meanwhileBeyonce is actually dancing whilstsinging along, helping to illustrate

thelyrics.

The choreography and pace of themusic are carefully and notably insync.

CinematographyMedium shot of Lady Gaga entering a

femaleprison, accompanied by two butch-lookingwomen, as she appears to be ready to serveher time for the supposed ‘crime(s)’committed in previous video Paparazzi.

MLS: The stripping Lady Gaga is to reflect the

strip her of her persona, making her feelvulnerable—naked. Her helplessness behindbars is a statement about the trappings offame; this a theme continued from“Paparazzi”. As the guards are exiting, one

ofthem address the rumours of her gender,saying “I told you she didn't have a dick.”

CinematographyXCU & MS: Gaga is then led into the prisonyard, covered in chains and glasses made ofsmoking cigarettes. Her HeartBeatheadphones, from Beats by Dre, whilstsomeone is deliberately playing her song“Paper Gangsta” (A song about girl power

“Asuperwoman chick” – a rant about men whodon’t “follow through.”MCU: Later on Gaga explores her sexuality,only to later prompt her decision to hop onthe Pussy Wagon (Tarantino suggested sheuse the iconic truck from Kill Bill). The smoking glasses are there to cloud hervision of reality, allowing her to base herfeelings on senses alone.

CinematographyCU: Once chained down by her sexuality asdefined by society, we see Gaga come intoher own. A girl on girl fight captivated her

asshe looks ahead; possibly insinuating shelives in a world where men make women

endup in correctional facilities, where they turnon one another instead of joining togetherand embracing girl power – which later onhappens.MLS: This dance break is to illustrate acelebration of a new America - an Americathat doesn’t discriminate against genders

andsexual orientation.

Cinematography

MLS: Lady Gaga dressed as a cheetah, with the Pussy Wagon behind her. Perhaps this is supposed to represent that this world

is actually run by cats, women and she is evidently in the driver's seat – as it is clear to that she is wearing a chauffeur's

hat!