GIRL POWER REPRESENTATION THROUGH SEXUALITY

A. GIRL POWER REPRESENTATION THROUGH SEXUALITY

“ It is women who own their sexuality that are icons of girl power.” (Zaslow, 2009, p.66)

Girl Power is always associated with empowering themes of girls and young women, such as freedom, independence, and confidence. In Girl Power, the empowering themes are represented through several ways. One of them is female sexuality.

As what has been stated in Chapter II, in traditional feminism, female sexuality was seen as a disadvantage. It was so because when girls and young women showed their sexuality, they would be considered as victims of patrirachy since they let their sexuality consumable for male gaze. For traditional feminism, female sexuality was something private which required protection in any ways so naked eyes could not see it. In contrast, men could show their sexuality in whatever way they wanted. While women could not leave their sexuality seen by others. If they did so, it would gain shame from society. Thus, it was no wonder female sexuality was seen as a loss and disadvantage. However, in this Girl Power era, women are encouraged to use their sexuality as an advantage. Female As what has been stated in Chapter II, in traditional feminism, female sexuality was seen as a disadvantage. It was so because when girls and young women showed their sexuality, they would be considered as victims of patrirachy since they let their sexuality consumable for male gaze. For traditional feminism, female sexuality was something private which required protection in any ways so naked eyes could not see it. In contrast, men could show their sexuality in whatever way they wanted. While women could not leave their sexuality seen by others. If they did so, it would gain shame from society. Thus, it was no wonder female sexuality was seen as a loss and disadvantage. However, in this Girl Power era, women are encouraged to use their sexuality as an advantage. Female

This subchapter focuses on exploring how three music videos of Lady Gaga represent the Girl Power message about female sexuality. The analysis

based on female performer‟s body, fashion, body language, character roles, and cinematography elements.

In representing an ownership over her sexuality, Lady Gaga uses parts of her body that are considered as private areas. She displays and puts them in the focus of the camera as if to state that her body is totally her belonging that can be displayed whenever and in whatever ways she wants. This bravery to display her body can be one of the ways showing that she owns her sexuality. The display of her body can also be seen as a way suggesting that she is comfortable with her body, however it is. Thus, the way she displays her body shows the way she owns her sexuality through her body.

The use of her body to show her ownership of female sexuality is started with the way she displays her legs and crotch. Legs mark an important point in defining female body and its sexuality because they have an erotic feature that is a wonderland of the female crotch (Morris, 2004, p.235).

Figure 1Figure2Figure 3

Figure 1 and 2 which are from „Telephone‟ music video and 3 which is from „Paparazzi‟ are taken using eye-level angle and close up camera shot which place female legs and crotch above in the focus of the camera. By doing so, female legs and crotch become the center of attention of the viewers. These techniques then signify the confidence that belongs to the performer. This confidence possesed by the performer is so significant since leg which is the way to the crotch is so private that needs to be covered. This part of the body can trigger man to lush since the point where leg meets is a wonderland of woman. Woman who voluntarily displays it, is absolutely not afraid from being labelled as a bitch because she intentionally wants to show her sexuality and the treasure she has. The confidence owned by the performer can also be seen from the clothes she choose to wear. The thong she wear marks the confidence since it reveals almost everything from her legs and only covers her crotch in a sexy way.

Breasts are the next body part which are displayed to own sexuality in Gaga‟s music video. Although men are also having breast but man‟s and woman‟s

breast are different in terms of its shape, size, and use. Men can leave their breast breast are different in terms of its shape, size, and use. Men can leave their breast

nipples add the reason why it has to be covered. However, those differences between man‟s and woman‟s breasts do not make woman‟s breasts as woman‟s

weaknesses. In contrast, those differences make woman‟s breasts as woman‟s power because the differences mark woman‟s breast as erotics zones (Roberts,

2003, p.86).

Figure 4

Figure 4 is taken from „Telephone‟ employing breast appearance. It is taken in close up focusing on the performer‟s breast. The breasts are clearly seen from the left angle. It clearly shows the cleavage of the performer‟s breast suggesting her

big size breasts. The yellow off shoulder dress she is wearing adds the clear point of her breast. It is in contrast with her dark complexion tone. Details that add the sexualization of female breast can be seen in her gestures. She is sitting on

a chair in front of a table. She is not putting her hand to cover her breasts but folding them and putting it on the table and bringing her breast so close to the table that support her breast up giving a round, full, and big image of her breast.

female legs and breasts, female bottoms are also seen as erotic and sex symbol. It is a symbol of fertility and beauty (Morris, 2004, p.224- 225, 228-229).

Figure 5 Figure 6 Figure 7

The use of of female bottoms as a means to own sexuality can be seen firstly from the wardrobe wore by the performer. Figure 5 which is taken from „Paparazzi‟ music video shows the performer is wearing a yellow tight pants

which carves her bottom shapes from medium long shot. Figure 6 is from „Telephone‟ music video in which the performer is wearing thong to reveal her

buttocks. Although it is taken in medium long shot and blurred, it is clear enough to recognize the blurred area as female bottoms. The emphasis on female bottoms is strenghtened by the gesture employed by the performer. She is laying on the bed over her chest so her buttoms are visible. Similar with the previous figure, figure 7 which is taken from „Bad Romance‟ music video also employs the

performer wearing thong to display her bottoms. Although it is shot in long shot but the buttoms are still recognized.

The celebration of sexuality is not only shown from the way she displays her body but also from the way she shows her aggressiveness. In traditional belief,

Gaga‟s music video. In „Paparazzi‟ music video, the first two minutes depict sexual interaction between Gaga as the female performer and Skarsgard, her on-

script boyfriend, as the male performer. The aggressivity Gaga shows can be traced from this dialog.

Gaga : Alskar du mig?(Do you love me?) Skarsgard : Det ar klart jag alskar dig. (Of course I love you) Gaga : Puss, puss (Kiss,kiss) Skarsgard : Kom hit.(Come here)

From this dialog it is clear that the one who initiates the sexual interaction between them is Gaga, the female performer. In traditional value, it is unusual and disgraceful because women are expected to be passive and wait until man initiates first. Another challenge about aggresivity in sexual interaction can be seen from the performer‟s body languange and choreography in the music videos.

Figure 8 Figure 9

Both figure are taken from „Bad Romance‟ music video. Figure 8 depicts Gaga is doing lap dancing in front of males. From eye- level angle and between male‟s leg, it can be seen that the one who is active in intiating the sexual interaction is the female performer while the men are just waiting dan seeing. He is doing nothing

coming closer to a group of males, sitting on the tight of one of the man and trying to woo them in a seductive gesture. When she is doing this act, it is completed with the lyrics of „Bad Romance‟ music video that goes like „You know that I want you. And you know that I need you. I want you bad, bad romance‟. This lyrics strengthen the idea that Gaga is the one who aggresively initiates the sexual interaction. She clearly says that she wants him and a romance with him. These acts then suggest that Gaga owns her sexuality because she is the one who aggressively initiates the sexual interaction. By being an initiator in the sexual interaction, she puts herself as a person who is powerful and dominant. She is not waiting until man woo or seduce her, in contrast she does it first to them. It shows that she is confident in showing her desire of sexual interaction.

Her sexual desire not only can be seen from the way she places herself as an initiator, but also from the other acts she does to show and fulfil her desire.

Figure 10 Figure 11

In the figure 10 which is taken from „Telephone‟ music video, Gaga is only wearing police line to cover her body. She is sitting on the floor licking a pen which is presumably a male genital. This action is not only found in one music In the figure 10 which is taken from „Telephone‟ music video, Gaga is only wearing police line to cover her body. She is sitting on the floor licking a pen which is presumably a male genital. This action is not only found in one music

her own finger into her mouth and sucking it passionately. She is even closing her eyes as if she is enjoying sucking male genital so much. The fantasy of male genital also can be found in ‟Bad Romance‟ music video. Different from the former two music videos which use the visual to show the fantasy, „Bad Romance‟ uses the lyric that goes like „I want you psycho, your vertigo stick‟. Vertigo stick is the euphimism of male genital. „I‟ refers to the female performer who wants the male genital, or it can mean sexual activity as well. Those acts are absolutely challenge the belief which existed before. It is believed that man is having greater desire than woman. Man shows more interest in sex and fantasizes more often than wo man. However, Gaga‟s music video shows the contrast. From these music videos, it can be said that Gaga owns her sexuality. She does not hesitate to show her desire that is higher than any other woman, even man. She can be said as the owner of her sexuality because she is not shy to admit it and she does something to fulfil it.

Female sexuality is also closely related to close relationship because for woman, sex is an expression of love while man sees it as only physical pleasure. However, Lady Gaga seems to be none of this woman.

Figure 12 Figure 13

Figure 12 is taken from „Telephone‟ music video while figure 13 is taken from „Paparazzi‟. Both figures depict Gaga is kissing a boy who is not her boyfriend.

She is not rejecting to kiss the boy who has no close relationship with her. Instead, she really enjoys it. These two cuts show that Gaga is totally being in control of her sexuality. She does not emphasize a close relationship as an institution to do sex interaction. She does it whenever and with whomever she likes.

By all of those depiction of female sexuality through many ways in Lady Gaga‟s music videos, what things about female sexuality are actually

representated? It can be traced from the domination of lighting and color which are applied in those three music videos. The lighting which is mostly used in those cuts of music video is high key lighting. The color that is mostly used in those cuts of scenes includes yellow, white, and black. Thus, when the cuts of these music videos or the whole of music videos are seen by audiences, there is no dark, pessimistic, and weak feeling. In contrast, it arouses a good feeling just like what has been stated in Chapter 2. It so represents American girls and young women nowadays. Nowadays, American girls and young women live in Girl Power era in which they are encouraged to be brave in showing their sexuality. Thus, the bright

Girl Power spirit. The high key lighting arises upbeat feeling as if conveying Girl Power‟s

optimism, encouragement, and freedom spirit of displaying sexuality. As explained before in the previous chapter, American girls and young women are now living in Girl Power era and spirit. It teaches the girls to be more confident and optimistic in every field they do. Girl Power suggests that by having more confidence and optimism girls and young women can have the world in their hand. Therefore, it is now easily found that girls and young women are more vocal in every good they do because they are taught to believe that their personal expressions have to be celebrated and fought. One of the ways is by expressing their belief of freedom through sexualization and objectification of their sexuality.

In addition, parts of body which are sexualized are all perfect. They have a right size, shape, and other qualities which are wanted by not only American men but also women. This kind of sexualization and objectification require a great bravery from one self because indirectly she rejects and opposes traditional values which banned girls and young women to express their sexuality. Those representations of female sexuality seems to say that in Girl Power era, girls and young women have rights to use their body based on their own will whether they want to show it or not. Those also imply that female sexuality should be accepted and women should be free to express it. Thus, this sexualization and objectification of female sexuality signify female bravery of self expression. This In addition, parts of body which are sexualized are all perfect. They have a right size, shape, and other qualities which are wanted by not only American men but also women. This kind of sexualization and objectification require a great bravery from one self because indirectly she rejects and opposes traditional values which banned girls and young women to express their sexuality. Those representations of female sexuality seems to say that in Girl Power era, girls and young women have rights to use their body based on their own will whether they want to show it or not. Those also imply that female sexuality should be accepted and women should be free to express it. Thus, this sexualization and objectification of female sexuality signify female bravery of self expression. This