Evolution of Lady Gaga

This is an analysis of Lady Gaga in four different magazines, this work will help me with constructing the cover star for my magazine, by looking at Lady Gaga and how she poses in each of the different genres of magazine, I now have and idea of how my cover star will pose for my type of magazine. 

  

Denotation- see	Connotation- meaning
Costume: Lady gaga is wearing a fuchsia floor length dress It looks like it has patches which are sown together. The dress is very tight around the knees and waist, and then at the bottom it flares out.	The kind of dress that she is wearing would maybe mean that she likes to be very creative in what she wears- and likes to be very dramatic yet also stylish. The clothing that she is wearing is covering her body which gives an impression that she is a respectful, instead of normally being represented as a sexual icon.
Colour: She is posing in a studio with a plain white background. The colour is mainly bright but not vibrant. Due to the lack of bright colours, it looks drained and pale.	The colour makes the image look brighter, and makes her stand out more due to her colourful dress. The background colour is very plain, giving that formal look, which then makes her stand out on the page.
Lighting: The lighting is very artificial. It is mainly focusing on her, to make her face and dress stand out. The lighting is high key.	The lighting is focused on her, to create a kind of spotlight, making her look more extravagant.
Facial expression: The facial expression of Lady gaga is very calm. Her lips and eyes are very relaxed.	Her facial expression looks slightly surprised yet she is posing so that it sort of matches the way she is posing with her body.
Body Language: She is posing sideways, with her arms behind her back. She is slightly pushing her chest out. The shot is a long shot, and taken at a low angle.	The way she is posing maybe symbolises a statue/mannequin as she looks quite stiff,  she looks quite plain except for the dress, which maybe a ‘mannequin’ is modelling.
Hair and make-up: The make-up is very simple, yet bold to emphasise her face e.g. her cheek bones, except her hair is quite bold, and big. Her light blonde hair is made so it stands up like a fan is blowing it.	The simple make-up and make her look elegant, yet the hair-do contrast with it making her look daring. The whole dress, hair and make-up make her look like piece of art. As her hair looks like fur which is a type of material used in art/textiles. This also then reflects her creativity as a music artist as she is very imaginative with her songs and music videos.

The anchorage text for lady gaga says ‘think you know lady gaga? Think again’- this then links to how she is being represented as she is fully clothed looking elegant, whereas in most of all the other magazines she’s posed for and for the outfits that she usually wears it is quite revealing and sexual; therefore giving viewers a part of Lady Gaga they haven’t seen. 

  

Denotation- see	Connotation- meaning
Colour: The colour is very subtle, as it is in black and white- this then also compliments her skin tone. The black and white effect contrasts with the text as they are quite neutral colours. The pale pink from the text also makes the whole image stand out.	The colour shows that maybe she is creating a plain effect. The colour is dark on the left side of her face, and light on the right side making her look like a painting. By having the image in black and white, it may link to the anchorage text ‘fabulous at any age’ as pictures used to be taken only in black and white suggesting being old, therefore at any age even if you’re old you can still be looking fabulous.
Lighting: The lighting is very soft and artificial. It is coming from the right side, to shadow the right side of her face.	The lighting makes the whole image more dramatic as it gives more tone to the image, giving her that raw look. The lighting makes her right side dark because of the shadow, this can therefore symbolise a good side and a bad side; light and dark. The lighting could also suggest that Lady Gaga is going to ‘shed light’ on her personal life.
Facial expression: The facial expression of Lady gaga is calm and natural. With her eyes and lips relaxed. She has eye contact with the viewers.	Her facial expression makes her look very down to earth, and natural; her mouth is slightly parted looking like she was about to whisper a secret.
Body Language: It is a close up shot. The shot only shows her shoulders which are angled forward.	Her body is turned towards the camera, which makes her look like she is drawing the viewers in.
Hair and make-up: Her hair is naturally parted in the middle, with no make-up.	Her make-up and hair are presented to be very clean and fresh, which makes her look very natural. Maybe make-up symbolises a mask, and now that she is not wearing it, she is not hiding anything from anyone.

The anchorage text for lady gaga says ‘Lady Gaga bares all’- this then links to how she is being represented as it is just a close up shot of her face, with no make-up therefore saying she is bare.

Denotation- see	Connotation- meaning
Costume: She is dressed in a dark black see through plastic dress, with zips running along her breasts.	The kind of costume she is wearing gives viewers the impression that she is very sexual and confident as the costume is very revealing.
Colour: The background colour is yellow. The colour is mainly bright but not vibrant. Her costume is a dark black colour.	The colour contrasts with everything e.g. with the blue text and yellow background; this therefore also contrasts with her. The colour makes the whole image look brighter therefore making her more eye catching towards viewers. Her costume suggests that she is someone who is bold and not afraid of anything.
Lighting: The high key lighting focuses on her which makes her stand out more.	The lighting is focused mainly on her face and body which makes her eye catching to viewers, as if she is a new species due to her unusual hair and make-up and costume.
Facial expression: Her facial expression is very calm, and subtle, with her eyes and mouth both relaxed. She also has direct mode of address.	Her facial expression has a lack of emotion therefore making her seem more mysterious, this then contrasts with her costume as you would expect her to have a seductive expression.
Body Language: The shot is a mid-shot. She is standing straight giving viewers eye contact. Her body is very rigid and robotic; with her left arm raised and hand on her breast, with the other hand out of the shot.	Her body language makes her look confident and sexual, as she is touching her breast which should be something private and hidden from the public eye, which therefore makes her seem more daring.
Hair and make-up: The hair is cut very short, with the colours of blue, white and pink. Her make-up is very bold with dark navy eyeliner as well as light pink lip gloss. Her cheek bones are sharp- in a triangle-like shape.	Her make-up makes her look bold this contrasts with her hair and also her sharp cheekbones; making her look almost like an alien due to the colours, and the unusual shape of cheekbones. The representation of her star image is quite rebellious due to her whole attire being very revealing and bold.

The anchorage text for lady gaga says ‘Lady Gaga unzipped’- which then links to her costume as she has quite a lot of zips, maybe symbolising she is unzipping all of her secrets. 

Rolling stones

Denotation- see	Connotation- meaning
Costume: She is only wearing a black lace and leather bra.	As she is in only one piece of lingerie it makes her look very exposed and confident to wear just a bra. Her costume is very similar to her facial expression and her make-up as it is wild and bold.
Colour: The colour of the background is light blue.	The colour of the whole image is very neutral giving a nice effect. The colour is bright therefore making her eye catching towards viewers.
Lighting: The lighting is high key, with a light tone on her, so it makes her skin look delicate and smooth.	The lighting is focused on her therefore making her stand out more, which then attracts viewers.
Facial expression: Her facial expression is very calm and natural. Her eyes and lips are very relaxed.	She looks like she was being caught looking at something; therefore making it look like a natural shot; this therefore contrasts with the stereotypical pose when models are in lingerie, as normally they would have a direct mode of address.  This suggests that her star image representation is very rebellious and daring.
Body Language: It is a median close up shot. Her body is turned forward with relaxed shoulders, but her head is turned slightly.	As the shot only focusing on her upper body it makes all of her features more clear and defined. Her posture is very relaxed; this then contrasts with her costume as it is very revealing so you expect her to pose sexually, this therefore supports her star image representation as posing in this sort of way makes her very brave.
Hair and make-up: Her hair is straightened, with dark ginger colour fading down. She tied a part of hair into a bow at the top of her head. She has simple make-up with black eyeliner and dark red lipstick.	The red lipstick shows a dark and seductive side to her. Her hair also makes her look like a fashionista as it looks very creative and stylish.

The anchorage text for lady gaga says ‘Monster goddess, a wild week with Lady Gaga’- which then relates to her costume as she is just wearing a bra therefore symbolising being wild as she is exposed.