Textual Analysis #1:
People who feel that they are different and go through emotional and physical pain are being represented in the text through the use of the singer Katy Perry describing the narrative in the lyrics (e.g. "You don't have to feel like a waste of space"). The representation is fair as it is not a biased representation, the audience see the injustice/sadness of the different characters. The change in facial expressions, body language and actions is an opportunity for self-representation for the characters (e.g the homosexual who feels a lone in the club seen has a depressed face expression, then after he has "ignite the light" he gains the confidence to approach another male and kiss him.)
The "firework" has many connotations in this text referring to each characters situation for example when the two children are listening to their father abuse their mother, the lyrics change to "like the 4th of July" referring to the American Independence, so in this case the fireworks connote freedom. This is when the young boy decides to intervene and stop his father from arguing and abusing the mother. The firework shown in the medium shot of the boy coming between his parents can connote anger and a spark of emotions.
The lighting in this shot is low-key, until the firework 'ignites' from the characters, it would seem as though the "firework", in this case it literally a light from inside, but symbolically the characters accepting and embracing their identity. Throughout the text the characters seem to be oppressed by their identity, appearance etc. it would seem according to Marx that the bourgeoisie, in this case the characters problems, are oppressing the proletariat, the character themselves. Marx would argue that in order to be free from the oppression of the bourgeoisie, the proletariat would need a revolution to gain equality, in this case the revolution would be the 'firework' and the characters ability to overcome their problems, this would be apparent through the long shot of the insecure overweight girl jumping into the pool.
Another point to note is the colour scheme of the text as whole, everything starts off dreary, dull and depressing (e.g the hospital, the pool party) but when the fireworks come to each character the whole text appears to have more colour.
Research into "Firework" :
http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/katy-perry-dedicates-new-firework-video-to-youth-lgbt-project-20101028
In the article from Rolling Stone.com Katy Perry says that the music video of "Firework" is dedicated specifically to the "It Gets Better Project, which fights discrimination against LGBT Youth." The fact that Katy Perry had tweeted that "@PerezHilton I am officially dedicating my new video to #itgetsbetter," clearly shows the texts and artist's pro-homosexuality ideologies.
The issues surrounding this text in particular are the representations and stereotypes that are conveyed through the characters in Katy Perry's music video. For example, the young gay man who is sitting alone in the club scene, is shown to be insecure and uncomfortable through the medium shot of him overlooking a heterosexual couple. Although the music video is described as a teen empowerment anthem and Katy Perry claimed that it is in support of the 'It gets better' campaign it still raises another issue of the censorship of the gay kiss. If it was meant to empower LGBT youth surely the gay kiss would be shown to generate more support of youth that struggle with their identity and sexuality. It is key to note that this music video was created in response to the alarming increase of suicides by LGBT youth as there is arguably not enough awareness and the fact that these teenagers endured bullying in almost every aspect of their lives, which is what Katy Perry conveys through the music video.
Textual Analysis #2:
At the beginning of the video Gaga is portrayed as the "Mother Monster" literally giving birth to "the new race, a race within the race of humanity, a race which bears no prejudice, no judgment."
The use of symmetry in the long shot of the Mother Monster symbolically giving birth to a "new race" would connote the equality that begun in the equilibrium of the music video. However there is a change in the narrative, the disequilibrium, as the world of symmetry is changed as the "birth of evil" takes place. It would seem that according to Lady Gaga's ideologies that she is putting across through this music video that the evils of the world are "prejudice" and "judgement", which she tackles throughout the course of the video.
Throughout the video there are medium shots of the Monster Mother, with the third eye on her chin, the repetitive symbolism of the eye in would connote Gaga's positive values of equality as the eye would be a representation of the new outlook that we should have on people who are different, thus the "new race" is born. Again it would seem that Marx's theory of oppression that were posed in his 'Das Kapital' book would be apparent, as Gaga repeats in the chorus "God makes no mistakes", here it would seem that Gaga is empowering her fans (or as she calls Little Monsters).
In the video Gaga tries to create "boundless freedom", through the use of her costume and her lyrics, it would seem that although she is dancing in her underwear, she is representing the fact that people are "born this way", which would also re-inforce her values of the fact that people should not be ashamed or afraid of the way they look. Gaga's powerful messages in this video specifically target LGBT youth through her lyrics, "No matter gay, straight, or bi, Lesbian, transgendered life,"; which would show her positive values of equality and acceptance.
The music video itself was released on the 27th February 2011 on YouTube and many broadcast music channels. It is key to note that only months after the video was released on the 25th June 2011 the state of New York had passed their Gay Marriage Bill, which is where Lady Gaga is from. Lady Gaga is arguably one of the most influential artists at this point in time as her music videos create awareness of LGBT groups being equal as opposed to being the minority group. It could be argued that this music video has politically changed the views of people internationally but particularly the state of New York as they have become the 6th state to legalise gay marriage. Socially, Lady Gaga has empowered and encouraged LGBT groups to embrace their identity and become proud of who they are.
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