Portrayals of a 'Lady'

I first heard Lady Gaga and Beyonce's 'Telephone' quite a while ago and was disappointed to find out that there wasn't a music video. I quite liked the catchy song and was thrilled to hear that the video would be out soon. It was finally released a few hours ago and I wish they never made it for a number of reasons. I would put the video up but it is not something I want to promote. So I apologise if you have to look it up yourself.

So what happens in the vid?
The video starts with Lady Gaga's entrance to a prison with butch-looking, plastic-boobed female guards. The prison is full of scantily dressed women who look like hookers. As Gaga walks by, the 'hookers' seem to be seducing her from their cells. After she enters her cell, the guards strip her leaving her with only stickers to cover her nipples and fishnet tights. The crotch area is blurred out (thank God) implying that she isn't wearing any underwear. However, instead of covering herself with her bed sheet like a real 'Lady' would, she climbs onto the cell door for all to see.

Afterwards, Lady Gaga sits outside with the rest of the prisoners and is approached by a (male or female?) prisoner. He/she kisses her and she happily makes out with him/her. She goes an extra step and touches him/her 'down there'. When the song finally starts, Gaga dances with other inmates wearing leather thong bikinis.

Gaga is bailed out by Beyonce and meets her at the car. After she climbs in, Beyonce tells her "You've been a very bad girl" and feeds her from her hand almost like her mistress. They then plot to murder a man for some reason, who at the restaurant, smacks a random girls bottom.

So from this video we can see that women are portrayed anything but positively. I understand that this might not be the goal but it is obvious that such negative portrayals can be dangerous.

"Come on, it's just a music video!"
As harmless as it might seem, just like anything we see in the media this video can have negative implications on the value of women in society. The image of women has already be degraded enough and it needs to stop. The more we are subjected to similar things in the media, the more we become immune to them. We just get used to them and they are perceived as normal.

It's a typical sexist ad
Another thing that really stood out from the music video is the amount of product placement of brands, which was so obvious. The brands I have come across whilst watching the video are...
Plentyoffish.com
Virgin Mobile
Diet Coke
Polaroid
Wonder bread
Miracle Whip
HP
Beats by Dr. Dre

There are also some that I couldn't work out such as the logo on the papercup in the car and the snack Beyonce throws out of the car (promoting littering, hmm?)

The music video ends with 'to be continued...'
No thanks!

xxxx