Lady Gaga's Judas
Semiotic analysis of a
music video by Lady Gaga
THE QUESTION
Lady Gaga, once again, managed to raise controversy with her music video
for the song “Judas”. Both the song and the video have some obvious biblical
references starting from the title itself. This has caused some people feel
offended. Moreover, some religious groups consider this video to be an attack
on the religion. I will try to find out whether this offense is justified or unreasonable
by analyzing symbols used in the video and their meaning. First of all, I will
provide you with a short description of the video, giving emphasis on the
symbols to be described and analysed. Secondly, I will analyse every symbol
paying attention to the possible blasphemy. And, finally, I will try to answer
the question posed in the essay title.
Since everything in the world can be seen as communication, this
video is trying to communicate something and deliver a message. Is it trying to
offend Catholics, is it trying to shock us or only show us artistically the
metaphor of the struggle between good and evil? Does this video show disrespect
to god or not, i.e. is the video blasphemous or not?
FAMILIARISING WITH THE
VIDEO
The video begins by
showing biker gang riding their motorcycles on the highway. Lady Gaga is with
them, riding with the driver ahead of the formation and continuously looking
back. Where is she looking? She constantly keeps looking back where one other
member of the gang is. They arrive at a party where she continues being with
the same man while the other one shows his promiscuous behaviour by being with
diverse women during the video. So, we have bikers, party, promiscuity; how do
we know who these characters are. Actually, it is easy. Bikers wear jackets
with names such as John, Thomas, Philip, John, Peter...which is a really
obvious reference to the Twelve Apostles. Now it is not hard to decipher who is
ahead of the gang and who is the man Gaga keeps looking at. The leader of the
disciples is Jesus and the crown of thorns makes it easy to discover the
reference. On the other hand, the man behind is Judas, man after whom the song
is named. In the chaotic and even post-apocalyptic atmosphere of the event
there is a fight, there is Gaga’s try to kill Judas, there are Judas’ kiss and
Gaga’s kneeling in front of Jesus all interwoven and intersected with dancing.
Since the video is not really harmonically put together there are two more
events or scenes which are not directly connected with, let’s say, the main
one: the one where Gaga is being splashed by large waves and the one where she
is together with Jesus and Judas washing Jesus’ feet. The video ends with close-up
of Gaga shedding a tear and her death by stoning.
CROWD OF CROSSES
The biblical
reference is easy to notice and it is pretty obvious. But why did it raise
controversy instead of appreciation for keeping the biblical theme always
actual and contemporary? Why is there a reason to find the video blasphemous? Well,
it is considered that combining a half-nude body with Christian symbols is not
common or even desirable, and thus it is not moral. Crosses sewn on a
brassiere, crosses as a pendant, a shirt with Sacred Heart of Jesus, all in all,
an abundance of symbols sacred to every Christian in liaison with dancing, bare
skin and popular culture. All of this is more likely to raise controversy and
mutiny of religious groups than to be analysed in a different way, as a form of
art. But art, no matter how we define it and what we consider to be one, has
always raised issues, brought about and provoked different opinions and
judgments. Many people may deny the artistic status of the video, but this is
undoubtedly work of art. The video is using the technique of pastiche which is
one of the main characteristics of postmodernist art.
And another question remains concerning the overflow of Catholic
emblems. Why did producers, directors, costume designers, make-up artists and
others who worked in making this video along with Lady Gaga herself (for the
sake of text-economy I will use “Lady
Gaga” later in the text as a metonym for everyone who worked on the video)
decided to use such steep amount of this iconography? In my opinion, it is most
probably that she used it to provoke people to talk about it and to make the
reference as obvious as possible. For her, it does not really matter how people
react, do they find it offensive or innovative, blasphemous or brilliant as
long as it is talked about since it is commonly known that any publicity is
better than no publicity at all. But, is there a justified reason to consider the use of iconography
blasphemous? If you ask Jesus he would probably find blasphemous any excessive,
overdone and inordinate thing or phenomenon; and not only the ones used in this
video, but even colossal, immense edifices and sheen vestments built and worn
by “his people”. Jesus is the only
one who could find profusion of imagery blasphemous while people of today are
hypocritical. They take amiss Gaga’s excess, her immoderateness and do the same
by themselves. Taking the abundance of imagery in consideration as a metaphor,
Gaga can easily be parodying the pomp and profusion of the “saints” of today
who live in gilded palaces and wear vestments made of silk and velvet.
GOOD BIKER/BAD BIKER
Lady Gaga presented apostles and Jesus as bikers. I consider that
there is no specific reason for that other than being the easiest way to
modernize the theme. Is there a better way to show thirteen men in their
thirties spending time together? But, since Gaga enjoys evoking provocation,
bikes could be in connection with the notorious motorcycle club named Hell’s
Angels. The oxymoron of the name illustrates the good and the evil existing
together. The battle between the two is being displayed throughout the video.
Two men who take lead roles in this gang are Jesus and Judas. They
are two opposite personalities presenting the dichotomies of good and evil, of
forgiveness and betrayal, of sanctity and damnation. Jesus is the one who
forgives, the one who turns the other cheek. Jesus’ look is mild; his face
expression is sad and even tormented and suffering. He heals, forgives and
redeems. Judas, on the other hand, is arrogant and vain. He is promiscuous,
aggressive and as the lyrics say: “He’s so cruel”. It should be impossible to
find the way these two characters are represented blasphemous. It is a typical
black-and-white representation. The difference between the good guy and the bad guy
is being enhanced; the opposition of the two kinds of personalities is being
emphasized. The difference between good and evil is evident and clear. Although
Gaga cannot win the fight with Judas there is not a sign of her taking the side
of evil, only the fight between the two opposites.
THE LIPSTICK-GUN
In the video, as well as in the lyrics, Lady Gaga is torn between
these two contrasting men. She stands by Jesus’ side throughout the video, but
keeps looking back on Judas. She even tries to put an end to evil. She
approaches Judas with a golden gun, seeking for approval from Jesus who, once
again, shows his human, altruistic and merciful personality and does not
consent to her intention. She points her gun to Judas, fires, but, there is no
bullet. What comes out of the gun is lipstick. Lipstick-gun? Seems absurd and
nonsensical, seems gaga. But the notion of this product could easily be
connected with subsequent Judas’ kiss. The kiss which betrays Jesus, i.e. which
betrays good now includes not only Judas’ lips, but also Gaga’s lipstick. Gaga
is not able to kill old habits, she is not able to eliminate the grain of evil
which follows her and probably many other people. Instead, she leaves her
lipstick on the lips of betrayal. This could easily symbolise that she is also
the one who betrays Jesus; she is letting him down because she cannot break
away from the dark side although she tries and makes effort. Because of this
inability to win the fight with evil she becomes a co-betrayer. Betraying good,
not being able to fight the evil is immoral, weak and not a good exemplar, but
it should not be called blasphemous. The representation of the weakening in the
fight with the defiant should not be blaspheming but a presentation of a veritable
duel.
THE PURIFICATORY WATER
The scene where Lady Gaga is being splashed by massive waves is
somehow isolated from the whole song i.e. there is no music accompanying the
scene but the sound of splashing waves. This isolation makes the scene more emphasized
and accentuated. The splashing water is an inescapable and self-evident symbol
of baptism. Baptism denotes the redemption from sins. Water represents cleaning
and purification. Lady Gaga is sinful, cannot break away from the evil and
baptism should help her redeem. According to Catholic beliefs a person who
admits his or her sins should be forgiven and given another chance; in Jesus’
words: “Forgive them for they know not what they do”. The symbol of baptism should not be considered offensive or sacrilegious since the
only thing it represents is good. It represents cleansing people of their sins
and bringing them to everlasting life.
The scene intertwined with the sacramental one is another scene
including water: Lady Gaga in between two opposites, Jesus and Judas washing
Jesus’ feet. This is again one undisguised reference to a biblical motif. It is
a reference to the Last Supper and Jesus’ washing disciples’ feet. “The common explanation for
this is that it teaches us to learn humility by doing good for others, by doing
acts of service or kindness for our brethren. This is certainly a good lesson
that we can take from Christ's example.” This quotation confirms what
my religious acquaintances said about the symbolism of feet washing. And if
washing somebody’s feet is a symbol of humility, modesty and humbleness than
what did Lady Gaga want to say by including this scene into her music video?
Since she is not capable of denying evil, of persisting her and Judas’
co-betrayal of Jesus she is trying to surrender to Jesus and trying to be
docile. During
the process of her attempt to redeem she uses another motif including water as
a symbol of purity.
TO FORGIVE OR NOT TO FORGIVE
Lady Gaga’s
repentance is best seen in the next scene where she is kneeling in front of
Jesus. She is kneeling, begging for forgiveness because of her inability to
resist the sin and the vice. She regrets, she is weak, she is begging; and
Jesus, who is, as it is already said, noble, generous and gentle forgives her.
The main postulate of Catholicism should be the ability, the capability to
forgive and that is what Jesus preaches. He is the only one who actually
practices what he preaches and no matter what Lady Gaga did, she is being
forgiven by Jesus. In the video she is being kissed by him on the forehead as a
symbol of forgiveness, comfort and consolation.
Very few people are
ready to forgive. Jesus is able to condone Gaga’s sin but vox populi is quite different. She is exposed to public lynch and
she is stoned at the end. Close-up of
her crying portrays her regret, sadness and weakness. Final scene, her death by
stoning represents the punishment. It sends the message of carrying
responsibility for your actions, paying dues for sins made before. This scene
of lapidation greatly suggests the lapidation of Mary Magdalene. Some articles
suggest that Lady Gaga is a modern-day Mary Magdalene. Actually the only thing
that can connect her with the biblical penitent-prostitute is the stoning. But
the great difference between the two is that Mary Magdalene is being
successfully saved by Jesus who used his famous words: “Let he who is without
sin, cast the first stone”. Although Jesus has
forgiven Gaga she is still being punished. Stoning may symbolise an explicit
punishment of the society or can be a metaphor of punishing herself by carrying
the burden of guilt throughout her life and not being able to live with this
cross on her back.
The idea of
forgiveness can again be connected with the previously mentioned motorcyclist
club. The motto of Hell’s Angels is “When we do right, nobody remembers. When
we do wrong, nobody forgets”. Although Gaga
tries to repent, tries to fight evil, she is not being forgiven; she is being
punished because people remember only what they want to.
THE ANSWER
All things considered, there are
some instances of the video which could be taken as blasphemous by some people.
Instances such as the mere notion of choosing Judas over Jesus or huddling
Catholic imagery combined with things by then uncommon to be seen alongside
with the crucifix. Nevertheless, there are significant signs in the video which
show that what Lady Gaga did is not to be followed. What she did is sinful and
impure, she repents and she is trying to redeem; but although Jesus forgives
her others are not that sublime. The “others” may symbolise everybody but
Jesus, including herself i.e. her conscience. The “others” cannot forgive her
and she is being punished.
What Lady Gaga said
to defend the video was: “I don't view the video as a religious statement. I
view it as social statement. I view it as a cultural statement. It's a metaphor. It's not meant to be a
biblical lesson.” This statement is
completely understandable and sensible. It really illustrates what the video
could be communicating. The video can communicate and illustrate the fight
between good and evil. It is a metaphor of the battle between virtue and vice
with an obvious morality at the end: if you choose vice over virtue you will be
punished. Presenting this group from the first century as bikers from today
gives this metaphor another dimension; it makes it universal, timeless and
evergreen. These kinds of metaphors easily make people to identify with the
protagonist and his struggle. This does not send any immoral message, but what
many people ask is that why Jesus and Judas, why not Road Runner and Coyote or
why not Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader?
Well, the only thing that comes to my mind to answer this question is
that choosing anything else would not cause such commotion. Lady Gaga made a
video which is viewed by more than 43 million people, which is talked about and
about which essays are being written, she did what she intended to do. And is
this blasphemous or not? According to Collins’ dictionary blasphemous is
something which shows disrespect to God. If the video is watched carefully and
given more attention, it is easy to see that what is against Jesus’ preaching
is being punished. Every religious symbol or motif, such as the baptism or
Judas’ kiss, is not being used to have the opposite meaning from the one from
Bible. The baptism is purifying and Judas’ kiss is betrayal.
All in all, the
video, especially its ending, signifies that the sin is being punished, and
that should not be considered as showing disrespect to God, thus, it should not
be considered blasphemous.
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