IDENTITY

Alejandro. This video has been stirring up controversy left and right. It’s been called anti-religious, overkill, said to have no story line, typical, not as good as Telephone, overly sexual, brilliant, terrible, and everything in between. So what’s the deal with Alejandro?! Well it’s a lot of things: It’s an homage to Madonna (I mean, the video is directed by Steven Klein for Christ-sake), It’s a statement about the current stance of the gay community, It’s about masculinity, homosexuality, all of the labels and confusion the world imposes on us, and how we make choices and discover what we want within it.

The video has dark thematic elements, heavily inspired by steampunk, and nazi regalia, it sets a tone of detachment, and when we finally see GaGa appear, she looks harsh, severe even. Her skin is stark, pale, eyebrows bleached, hair chopped roughly, and stare cold. It is set up to look as if GaGa is overseeing the militant gays, and that she is contemplative. As the video progresses, GaGa becomes closer to the men, and begins to realize that they have power over her, much more even than she has over them. They throw her around, simulate sex, and she wants more. She realizes, however, that they are homosexual, and while they love and adore her, they don’t want to be with her. She becomes lost, confused, and realizes that the world will do her no justice. She swallows a rosary, symbolic of her wanting to achieve clarity, wanting to “take in the holy.” At this point she is torn, yet puts on a new visage, with a Madonna-esque black outfit, and  a Joan Of Arc haircut, making a statement of independence and strength. This transitions into GaGa sporting a bra strapped with guns. She looks strong on the outside, empowering even, however this cuts to a flashback, a contemplation, GaGa realizes that inside she is still wanting, desiring what she cannot have, and feeling other pressures. Her hair is slicked back, sunglasses and leather jacket on, she is aware that everything in her world must have a label: gay, straight, lesbian, bisexual, man, woman, slut, whore, lover, hater, independent, weak, strong, and every other possible aspect of her life in the spotlight. She finally makes a decision, and the video ends with GaGa sporting a latex nun habit, this symbolizes her choice to detach herself, and go within for introspection. Finally, as Steven Klein says, her eyes and mouth then melt as a symbol of her “withdrawing her senses from the world of evil and going inward towards prayer and contemplation.”

I feel that GaGa is really making a statement with this video, a personal statement, and also giving a message to her fans. So even if you feel that it has become “typical Lady GaGa” to shock fans, you might want to look past the visual elements and discover that there is much more than nudity, sex, violence, and religious imagery going on here. So give it a chance, or don’t, either way, I know you’re paying attention.

Joe