I often get messages or wall posts from people asking me to write about specific topics and it may come to surprise a few members but I am actually very fond of some of the little monsters on this site so as per a request, this threads serves as an explanation to Lady Gaga's applause video clip.
The era ARTPOP was all about brining Art culture into the pop scene and applause was no exception to this but what does it mean exactly? Andy Warhol is one of lady gaga's hero and has heavily influenced her work, his work is all about taking a popular imagery, or a popular concept, intervening/changing it into something else - if not the purpose, the execution, if not the execution, the meaning. The role of Pop Art was to challange the direction and approach taken by traditional artists and how they presented art to the world and that's what lady gaga does with the clip for "Applause"
The clip opens with gaga wearing wings walking down a giant catwalk and this is paying direct reference and homage to another of her hero's bowie.
Another image that caught my eye as I watched the clip was this one:
This is a particularly interesting image for me. Think Cruella DeVille in the green coat and the top hat she's sitting in could be referencing The Mad Hatter from Alice in Wonderland now think DISNEY Look at all the Walt Disney conglomerate. There have been very famous artistic works around disney and it's mascot Mickey by which I mean, there is a being (mickey) who just wants to get rich, expand his business, and establish media monopoly. In other words: “consumerism” and “brainwashing” They have built an impressive empire and they have influenced entire generations worldwide through media monopoly.
Is lady gaga referencing the consumerism” and “brainwashing” of Modern day pop?
Of course there is the Monroe reference. Remember this image?
How was Marilyn destroyed? - Ultimately by the applause.
Tim Burtons the corpse bride is also heavily referenced (towards the end)
Inez revealed “(We wanted to explore) this idea that she goes through this struggle to go back onstage, which is in that pink laser tower. And she's sort of dragging that leg as a trophy and making it back on stage as a fully-realised, complete new person."
This is by far my favourite lady gaga video to date. The only criticism I have is that I believe not enough people got the artistic references and saw it for it's artistic value.
This video is literally loaded with with references from the Swan Head to the painted faces. i don't have time to go through every last one of them however as my threads are always about a collaboration if any fan would like to point out some references, I can add them to the OP.
she talks about the clown look here @ 1:53, it's an "ode to the jester" who failed to entertain and to make people happy. She talks about not being able to perform after her hip surgery, but I personally think it also refers to all the backlash, hate and criticism she's had through the years when all she was trying to do was entertaining people to make them happy, but she probably didn't want to talk about negativity in that occasion
Swine adds:
Quote:
I honestly think that the Applause video is about breaking free. I agree with the other person in this thread about the fact that it's not Marilyn Monroe she's referencing, but her TFM era self. It also goes together with all of the times this era that she spoke about the 'pop music box', as a jail you're put in which you can't get out of.
That G.U.Y adds:
Quote:
Ok, it's a reference to both Marilyn Monroe and TFM. Just like Marilyn Monroe was forever tied to her youthful image, she was a prisoner to that part of her life. Growing old becomes an absolute nightmare when others constantly hold you to the standard of your younger self. Gaga will not be suffocated, and unlike Marilyn Monroe she decides to move forward and change herself instead of committing her entire life to 2008-2011
.
Arky adds:
Quote:
Theories?
Well she always said this era is about putting ART into POP...
And she actually tells some sources of the imagery.
She also said the swan was channeling Edie Sedgwick and Velvet Underground.
I absolutely love Applause, both the music and the video.
She discussed it around 2:12 and 2:37.Of course Warhol is there too...
Peroxide adds:
Quote:
I guess at it's core the video is really about her unshakeable need to entertain and her ability to transform, she's a such a chameleon and the ARTPOP era was jam packed with dozens and dozens of looks.
I&V did a shoot with Gaga for V magazine a few days before filming Applause and the concept there remains similar, the shoot revolved around her playing tribute to some of her biggest inspirations, David Bowie, Donatella Verscae and Michael Jackson. So I think you've really hit the nail on the head with the Bowie reference...
But I also think (much like with the VMA's) it's acts as a joinery through her entire career... the black and white scenes showcase pre-fame Gaga, the scenes with Gaga being trapped in a cage play homage to her Fame Monster era... I think she omitted Born this Way related imagery was purely because she didn't think what she did with that album was "artpop". She's openly said Artpop was the continuation to The Fame and The Fame Monster and BTW was a separate concept piece all together.
This is by far my favourite lady gaga video to date. The only criticism I have is that I believe not enough people got the artistic references and saw it for it's artistic value.
She talks about the clown look here @ 1:53, it's an "ode to the jester" who failed to entertain and to make people happy. She talks about not being able to perform after her hip surgery, but I personally think it also refers to all the backlash, hate and criticism she's had through the years when all she was trying to do was entertaining people to make them happy, but she probably didn't want to talk about negativity in that occasion
Reading your analysis I can conclude most of the actual references and meaning went over your head, but there were some interesting things in there. Not surprised you didn't really get it though, since you hate the woman's guts and most likely have no idea what she's about or interested in. The video's inspired by European movies such as Metropolis, Dr Caligari, The Seventh Seal.
Gaga in the magician's hat is her being both the magician, she's wearing the clothes, but she's also the one that transforms, so she makes a statement that she's in control of her own career/image.
Gaga in the cage is a throwback to her TFM and Bad Romance days, she's wearing a skeleton top that she wore during the AMAs in 2009 and she looks worn out, smudged, and tired, which is a commentary on the fact that people want to trap her in that era, have her remain the same like that forever, and perform the same trick over and over again, but she'd lose her passion if she did that, she wants to break free from that period, do what she wants to do
She talks about the clown look here @ 1:53, it's an "ode to the jester" who failed to entertain and to make people happy. She talks about not being able to perform after her hip surgery, but I personally think it also refers to all the backlash, hate and criticism she's had through the years when all she was trying to do was entertaining people to make them happy, but she probably didn't want to talk about negativity in that occasion
Reading your analysis I can conclude most of the actual references and meaning went over your head, but there were some interesting things in there. Not surprised you didn't really get it though, since you hate the woman's guts and most likely have no idea what she's about or interested in. The video's inspired by European movies such as Metropolis, Dr Caligari, The Seventh Seal.
Gaga in the magician's hat is her being both the magician, she's wearing the clothes, but she's also the one that transforms, so she makes a statement that she's in control of her own career/image.
Gaga in the cage is a throwback to her TFM and Bad Romance days, she's wearing a skeleton top that she wore during the AMAs in 2009 and she looks worn out, smudged, and tired, which is a commentary on the fact that people want to trap her in that era, have her remain the same like that forever, and perform the same trick over and over again, but she'd lose her passion if she did that, she wants to break free from that period, do what she wants to do
etc etc
I would have added your points to the OP if you weren't so unnecessarily condescending.
FYI: I still think I'm right. x
EDIT: I was always aware of the movie inspirations.
Reading your analysis I can conclude most of the actual references and meaning went over your head, but there were some interesting things in there. Not surprised you didn't really get it though, since you hate the woman's guts and most likely have no idea what she's about or interested in. The video's inspired by European movies such as Metropolis, Dr Caligari, The Seventh Seal.
Gaga in the magician's hat is her being both the magician, she's wearing the clothes, but she's also the one that transforms, so she makes a statement that she's in control of her own career/image.
Gaga in the cage is a throwback to her TFM and Bad Romance days, she's wearing a skeleton top that she wore during the AMAs in 2009 and she looks worn out, smudged, and tired, which is a commentary on the fact that people want to trap her in that era, have her remain the same like that forever, and perform the same trick over and over again, but she'd lose her passion if she did that, she wants to break free from that period, do what she wants to do
Too bad that it went unnoticed by GP 
