by Lady Gaga is renowned worldwide for her catchy pop anthems and theatrical live performances.
However, her artistry runs deeper than just music – traces of literature can be found woven throughout her songwriting and creative vision. While she is primarily a musician, Gaga draws inspiration from plays, novels, poems and other literary works. These influences add layered nuances and complexity to her music, transforming simple pop songs into deeper artistic statements. Let’s explore some of the key literary themes, devices and references that shape Gaga’s artistry.
Theatrical Storytelling
One of Gaga’s signatures is her flair for dramatic narratives and theatrical stage productions. This penchant for dramatic storytelling stems in part from her appreciation for plays and theatrical works. The elaborate fantasias of her music videos and concerts channel the grandeur of plays like those by Oscar Wilde. Wilde was famous for his flamboyant costumes, exaggerated characters and subversive plotlines that critiqued Victorian society from the stage. Songs like “Alejandro” and its surreal masquerade theme directly reference this theatrical influence.
The dark and gothic tone of some of her songs also connects to writers like Edgar Allan Poe. Poe was known for tales of mystery, madness and the macabre that tapped into human fears and psychology. “Bad Romance” tells a twisted love story between a monster and a woman, drawing on Poe-esque themes of the strange, uncanny and terrifying aspects of intimacy. Her music videos for this song and others like “Paparazzi” bring these gothic narratives to life with lavish costumes, surreal dreamscapes and hints of danger or madness.
This flair for dramatic storytelling allows Gaga to transform simple pop songs into mini operas or plays. Singles become vehicles to explore complex ideas and emotions through over-the-top productions. By channeling literary theatricality, she elevates her music from three-minute pop ditties into multimedia artistic experiences.
Archetypes and Mythology
Gaga also draws inspiration from classic character archetypes and myths prevalent in literature. Her songs often feature femme fatale figures who use their sexuality and allure to manipulate or mystify men. “Poker Face” plays with the archetype of the mysterious seductress whose true desires are hidden. Literary precedents for this archetype include figures like Madame Bovary or Lolita who subverted expectations of feminine behavior.
She also embraces outsider archetypes, connecting to literary misfits, monsters and rebels who don’t conform to social norms. “Born This Way” uses the metaphor of being a “little monster” to represent individuality and embracing one’s uniqueness unapologetically. The outsider archetype can be found in works ranging from Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein to J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye that explore societal non-conformity.
Gaga taps into mythology as well through symbolic figures. Her album ARTPOP draws inspiration from classical Greek myths about the creative spirit through figures like Athena and Aphrodite. The album depicts an artistic utopia called “Artpop” that reflects mythical realms like Mount Olympus or Avalon. By incorporating these archetypes and myths into her work, Gaga accesses deep wells of human experience, emotion and symbolism established in literature.
Social Commentary
Like authors with social or political messages, Gaga utilizes her platform to address important issues through her music. Tracks like “Telephone” and its accompanying video critique consumerism and celebrity obsession in modern culture. The song portrays two vapid women absorbed in phones, shopping and fame who get caught up in a criminal plot.
This commentary connects to works like Upton Sinclair’s The Jungle that exposed economic injustice, or George Orwell’s 1984 that warned against totalitarian surveillance states. “Do What U Want” features a message of female empowerment and reclaiming one’s own sexuality from the male gaze or control. The song’s lyrics and video take aim at sexism and misogyny, similar to feminist works like The Handmaid’s Tale.
Even lighter songs contain social messages – “Born This Way” advocates for LGBTQ+ rights and acceptance of all people regardless of orientation, gender, race or disabilities. Through her art, Gaga spreads messages of inclusion, self-love, empowerment and activism just as literary authors use their pens for commentary on social issues. She utilizes the platform of pop music to engage audiences around important subjects and inspire positive change.
Symbolic Language
Symbolism is another literary device that Gaga employs effectively. Her lyrics contain rich metaphors, symbolic imagery and double meanings. “Paparazzi” portrays the toxic nature of fame through the metaphor of a dangerous, obsessive relationship. Religious imagery features prominently in “Judas” to represent the complexities of betrayal – she sings “I’m just a holy fool, oh baby it’s so cruel, but I’m still in love with Judas, baby.”
The layered symbolism in her songs allows for diverse interpretations. Like poetry, a single Gaga lyric can hold multiple resonating meanings. Her music videos also utilize symbolic visuals – the “Bad Romance” video depicts her character’s journey into an eccentric underworld through flamboyant costumes and sets heavy with religious iconography.
Paying homage to symbolist poets like Baudelaire as well as surrealist artists, Gaga infuses mystery and depth into her pop compositions through the creative use of metaphor, allegory and open-ended imagery. Listeners can find new details with each listen, keeping her art eternally fascinating through its embedded symbolic richness.
Specific Literary References
Beyond broader themes, keen-eyed fans have also detected possible direct references and allusions to individual literary works throughout Gaga’s oeuvre. Her album ARTPOP has been connected to Shakespeare’s play The Tempest due to similar ideas of art as a form of magic or power. The album’s futuristic concept also mirrors sci-fi classics like Brave New World with its visions of technological utopias.
The short film “G.U.Y.” starring Gaga and actress Anthropic seems a clear homage to Truman Capote’s novella Breakfast at Tiffany’s, from the setting to similar themes of love, identity and social conventions. Her music video for “911” contains visual nods to surrealist films like Un Chien Andalou by Luis Buñuel and Salvador Dalí in its dreamlike, disturbing sequences.
These Easter eggs show Gaga’s deep engagement with literature and her desire to pay tribute to works that inspire her own creative spirit. Avid readers can find pleasure in unpacking the specific references hidden in her art like clues in an artistic treasure hunt.
In Summary
While Lady Gaga is best known as a pop phenomenon, her artistry runs far deeper than top 40 hits. Literature provides the framework and fertile soil for her to cultivate richly layered songs and multimedia experiences. Through themes of theatre, archetypes, social commentary and symbolic language rooted in plays, novels and poems, she transforms pop music into high art. Gaga proves that mainstream pop need not be superficial – with literary influences, it can tackle complex ideas, themes and human truths to spark thought and discussion. Her body of work shows how the pen remains mightier than the microphone for some modern artists.
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