Random Post, however, about a year ago I watched Lady Gaga's music video 911. I think watched it over 10x times because it had a lot of amazing art history references and I wanted to point them out. And I thought about posting it here but since the song is really about depression lyrics-wise so, I thought it would be too off the nose. However, I came back to the song and said to myself Why Not...in my LOONA voice, and to post my findings here. Also, I've been a back seat Gaga listener since her debut and how I found out about her was when I saw her face plastered on a wall every day at a specific bus stop while going to high school.
Anyways, as you know Gaga loves to use religious concepts in her music videos but this one got me thinking about putting on my art hat. There are a lot of references in the MV, it’s like spaghetti western opera but set in the ancient world and I am here for it. Lady Gaga masterfully executed the imagery and shouts to the director and crew to help bring this to life. I even did a little deep-dive research on the cinematography that inspired it in reference to Sergei Parajanov's works which is an easter egg in the MV. And I don't want to give too much away so I'm going to try to just feature imagery of Gaga and Cultural art images you may have seen here or there so go see the full MV on your own. And enjoy Lady Gaga gifs out of context sort of...
Gaga is blindfolded she reminds me of blind faith aka Lady Justice or Themis with the use of her hands as scales. The anklet on her foot means she’s engaged / a gift from the groom. (Throughout the MV Gaga moves side to side like a scale/ pendulum)
She was confirmed to be a goddess/martyr because of the shot of the golden disc and her walking into the frame (The Disc is the symbol of the sun and is a very popular iconography in artwork like in Christianity, Ancient Egyptians, Ancient Greek, etc.)
She also turns into Goddess Aphrodite/ Nut/ Flora with Spring of Life holding an innocent white rose. In Tarot, the Fool, the white rose symbolizes purity and is a reminder to cleanse the mind.
Fun Fact: the Goddess of Color and Rainbows is named Iris who is also associated with Hermes.
She as Flora /Persephone dies and comes back to reality reborn (plus flora print towards the end of the MV). Gaga in red and wearing a thin scarlet or crimson string (Hebrew: Khutt Hashemi) as a type of talisman is a Jewish folk custom as a way to ward off misfortune brought about by the "evil eye". The tradition is popularly thought to be associated with Kabbalah and religious forms of Judaism and even Hinduism. A Kautuka is a red-yellow colored ritual protection thread, sometimes with knots or amulets. An even earlier reference to ritual "red and black" colored thread with a dual function, one of driving away "feinds" and the other "binding of bonds" between the bride and the groom by one's relatives. Red-colored thread symbolizes Vishnu for men and Lakshmi for women. (Gaga eventually wears black twining with Hermes.)
The red string itself is usually made from thin scarlet wool thread. It is worn as a bracelet or band on the left wrist of the wearer (understood in some Kabbalistic theory as the receiving side of the spiritual body), knotted seven times. The person has to knot it 7 times while saying the kabbalah bracelet prayer.
She arrives at the church for judgment. Inside the church, it looks like a tomb. Even Hera is the personification of Isis's mythological Royalty with the yellow and the crown headdress. Also, I just notice this but towards the end of the MV Gaga has Six Circles on her Forehead which reminds me of Sailor Moon and the artist Lous and the Yakuza (Lousita Cash I just found out she is a model) for some random reason so "In geometry, the six circles theorem relates to a chain of six circles together with a triangle, such that each circle is tangent to two sides of the triangle and also to the preceding circle in the chain. The chain closes, in the sense that the sixth circle is always tangent to the first circle."
Death - The Dude on the black horse she follows and lingers around her. He holds a sun flag meaning he is holding life. “Don’t go into the light” as they say.
Desert is a symbol of time and vastness and even Ancient Egypt and Babylon are referenced in the video (It's been a while since I looked at the Ancient Babylonian culture and I was an Egyptfile as a kid.)
Leviticus 7:9
"And every oblation that is baken in the oven, and all that is prepared in the cauldron and in the pan, shall be the priest's who offereth it; to him, it shall belong."
1 Sam 2:14
"and he struck it into the pan, or kettle, or cauldron, or pot; the priest took of it all that the flesh-hook brought up. So they did in Shiloh to all the Israelites that came there."
Pomegranate - Symbol of Power, Blood, and Death
Red - blood, passion
Red Rose Petals symbolize love and romance. Roses are also used on four tarot cards. The Fool, the Magician, the Strength card, and the Death card. On the Magician card, it signifies unfolding wisdom. On the Strength card, the rose represents balance. And on the Death card, it’s a reminder of purity, clarity, and transparency of intent.
The bystanders in white and Blue are Judges /Three sisters fates (The daughter of Zeus and Themis) they are in almost all western religions.
The guy hitting his head repetitively is describing his closeness to death; Babies usually do this as a form to help him go to sleep. Also, since he is on a carpet it reminds me of to pray/bowing position in many cultures specifically in Korean and the Islamic faith.
Egyptian Priest / Pope (headdress inspired a lot of western religions) figures frame her like a picture she’s a work of “divine art.” Also preparing the dead for the afterlife. They were yellow-orange attire the color of encouragement and optimism. They have 'IXII' which is '11' on their headdress and in numerology, It represents illumination; a channel to the subconscious; insight without rational thought. It is a number with duality, which creates dynamism, inner conflict, and other catalysts with its mere presence. A number that, when not focused on a goal beyond itself, can be turned inward to create fear and phobias.
Royal Madonna (purple means royalty) holding her mummified son Jesus. (Isis and Osiris)
The Shell and Mirror (signal) - A Reflection of inner and outer self (body and soul)
The medicine (caduceus) symbol of the snakes wrapping around the staff is an ancient symbol linked to Hermès (Asclepius) the messenger god (the guy holding the umbrella). Notice that he is wearing black and If you look closely he has yarn-like ropes incorporated into his attire.
And Ambulance symbolizes the cross of the goddess Hygieia or Amaterasu or the Holy Ghost/Bride Madonna (elaborate pure white headdress) aka the spiritual healer. (The Attire is possibly inspired by Traditional Bulgarian and Russian wedding attire.)
The funeral/wedding procession depending on how you look at the MV begins with a passage over water and Anubis's judgment with shell (body) and mirror signaling the soul.
Peacock /Lakshmi - holds the eyes of the stars, vision, spiritual, guidance, and protection.
Cross “Dagger” aka obelisk is another highlighted symbol for the cross the passageway to life and death. The Cross figures or a Blue Cross in the Christian context, it represents bountifulness, hope, and the victory of life over death. It is one of the colors associated with Christmas, and the long season of the Trinity in summer. Signifies action, fire, charity, and spiritual awakening.
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