goo goo for gaga

I think everyone, even if they have to dig deep (maybe even way deep) down, LOVES Lady Gaga. Sure, she's weird and her music isn't all that amazing, but there's something about her that is incredibly appealing. Something that I really like about LG is her dedication to music videos, which is obviously a dying art form. Everyone complains about her winning just about every VMA category that she's put in, but compared to her videos, no one else stands a chance! It's not that they're necessarily better, but it's just so obvious that she puts an incredible amount of work into them. It's almost as if she thinking of the music videos as she makes her songs.
"Born this Way" was no exception to the rule. Yes it's weird. Yes it's gross. Yes it has nothing to do with the song. But it DOES get people talking! It does make you want to watch! After the disturbing intro, the music video begins with LG dancing (she even admits to this) very poorly (and somewhat   provacatively) in a bra and underwear. Even though she's dancing around in her underwear though, she doesn't come off as sexy. Maybe this is because she is incredibly, almost childlike, thin, but the audience doesn't feel as if they are staring at her boobs or butt. She takes up the entire frame, so rather than her boobs or face being center, it's actually her flat stomach. Later, she's dressed in an androgynous tuxedo wearing a face of makeup that makes her and her male counterpart look like skeletons, and not all that dissimilar. Throughout the music video there are shots of her wearing what looks like wax paper with tape covering certain bits, but again, this doesn't come off as sexy. That doesn't seem to be what she's going for. Instead, "weird" seems to be her most common label, and I think weird works for her, it's definitely something she should stick with.
When in comparison to some of the other music videos that we've watched, this one seems very PG to me. She's not dancing on a stripper pole or grinding against some guy. The best example that comes to mind is basically any Britney Spears video. What is Britney selling? Sex of course. She soley created the low-rise jean phenomenon in the early 00's and how did she do this? Through her provacitive music videos of course! Like LG, dancing is seen in every single one, whether group grinding with her fellow dancers, dancing on stripper poles or dancing on the ground, on a chair, in the air... everywhere! LG isn't like this. She's not licking her lips or doused in body oils. She's just a little weirdo who wants to dance!
Lady Gaga is good for all the girls and all the gays.

sad 60's

I wouldn't ever want to have lived in the 60's. The music, the fashion, the movies... they just don't appeal to me. In class we watched the 1970 documentary Gimme Shelter about the Rolling Stones and it's reaffirms by belief. First, I don't like the Rolling Stones, what a shock!! Second, everyone looked like they were high on just about every drug possible. Third, Mick Jagger was wearing lime green velvet pants... that were skin tight.
Despite my dislike for that particular decade, I did enjoy the filming styles of the movie itself. In class we discussed most of the "found moments" we liked, but I'll reiterate mine here.

1. I liked seeing Mick Jagger's reactions to things. First, when he was on stage and asking people to calm down so they could play, he sounded whiny, but when a Hells Angel whispered something in his ear this brief moment of quiet terror passed over his face. It was almost imperceptibly quick, but there was something so beautiful about that moment. He was quickly realizing that he could very well be in danger, yet he chose to keep signing for the crowd. Second, when he was in the recording studio, watching the film for the first time. The look on his face was so sad, and when he asked for them to rewind again and asked questions, he almost had an incredulous but defeated look to him. Almost as if he couldn't believe that something like this could happen at his shows.

2. I enjoyed the odd moments. Like when a dog runs across the stage, a naked woman tries to climb onstage or when a man who is quite obviously on some serious drugs is doing some kind of strange dance. The crying girls pressed up against the stage seem to have so recognition for what they're crying about and the audience doesn't even really seem all that excited to be watching this world famous band play. It's almost as if even person is so drugged up that they're not thinking correctly.

3. Finally, I really enjoyed the ironic twist the filmmakers took on portraying the authority figures. Cops are seen shrugging and looking panicked. Hells angels are seen as glaring hoodlums and free spirited dancers. They make sure audiences know that they damage that they caused on the man who died was absolutely ridiculous, by kicking him and repeatedly stabbing him.

On a side note: I found it interesting that they didn't use George Lucas's tape in the final cut. Most of the filming didn't feel that professional or planned out and it seemed strange that they used so few angles and views of the stage. Getting more audience reaction shots that weren't pressed up against the stage seemed like a better idea from my perspective.