1. Postmodern analysis
Lady Gaga ft Beyonce - Telephone

2. • ‘Postmodern’ can be deemed as the abolition of limitations within art forms and
the intertwining nature of different pieces of art/work coming together to create
another piece of art (although never considered for better or worse).
• Lady Gaga is perhaps the epitome of postmodern in this day and age, on countless
occasions she has broken barriers within her music videos as well as the attire she
chooses to wear on talk shows and award shows.
Exhibit A
I will analyse Lady Gaga’s
Telephone video in an
attempt to prove it is a
postmodern text.

3. Similarly to opening of Lady Gaga’s Paparazzi, the font
gives the impression that the audience is watching a
movie. This can be considered as a pastiche for the
golden age of Hollywood films such as ‘Singin In The
Rain’ were created during this time period.
Media synergy, a ‘Virgin
Mobile’ phone can be
clearly seen in the video
The all female prison is rarely
documented/shown within
media (movies/music videos).
This may be a blurring of
boundaries as some may see
this as females potentially
behaving like men which is a
spin on normality.
A possible reference, the infamous
yellow police strip is usually used
around the perimeter of a crime
scene or even within it, perhaps it’s
on her as there may have been
speculation as to whether she is a
suitable role model, this may be an
ironic response saying no she isn’t
when really she could be seen as
one.
More media synergy perhaps
used to blur fiction and reality
Reference to the car from ‘Kill Bill
Vol 1’ which is also the car Beyonce
picks Lady Gaga up in

4. The narrative is similar and a
possible inter-textual reference
to ‘Thelma & Louise’
Blurring of boundaries
here as Lady Gaga
herself is wearing the
telephone as a hat but
using it. (As if she is a
robot/cyborg)
Again blurring of fiction and
reality, by breaking the
fourth wall in the middle of
her own music video to give
fake ingredients for poison
to the audience in the style
of a tv cooking network
A possible reference to Disney as the
glasses look like Minnie Mouse’s
ears, a possible reference to Lady
Gaga’s paparazzi video as those are
similar glasses as to what she wore in
them (which in itself was a reference
to Disney). A possible continuation
from paparazzi as the font is similar
from both videos perhaps
symbolising Gaga at the peak of her
career
Blurring of reality
and fiction again but
in a more modern
fashion contrasting
the newspaper
article in paparazzi