The fame monster

In current popular culture, there is a reoccurring theme of 'the fame monster' through popular artist Lady Gaga.

Her second studio album is titled this as she feels its demonstrated her catapult to fame in the space of a year with its downfalls.

The dark side of fame is very apparent in celebrity culture, including famous breakdowns from the likes of Britney Spears who was once a wholesome character representing brands such as Disney. It is suggested that although fame is something people may so desperately crave, it isn't worth it as the dark side overshadows the light. Things such as the paparazzi, amount of work being given and constant competition to maintain your looks to keep yourself in the game appear to be the main concerns which can lead to things such as alcohol abuse, drugs, eating disorders and full blown breakdowns which lead the star to wonder who they are anymore.

In my video I am demonstrating the dark side of fame, with the camera representing 'the fame monster' who is always around the star.

The beginning of the film starts with connotations of glamour, such as make up, shoes, clothes, jewelry and so forth. I have my main star apply these and wear things such as heels and a fur coat to make her look the part and show she is a true star in her own right. The star then takes a call (on a Blackberry, which is a sign of understanding modern culture) and although at first the call appears to be good, it isn't and she throws the phone and begins to have a tantrum. The context of the phone call is unaware to the viewer. I have chosen to do this because when most celebrities have breakdowns the cause of the matter is often unapparent to the public eye and many causes are formed through celebrity culture media. The star then turns to abusing herself through the form of alcoholism, as a celebrity things such as these are always easily available which may be a reason why so many are alcoholics. The star then begins to have dizzy spells looking around, questioning herself and her surroundings. I have some shots of the star pushing away the camera demonstrating that the camera is the fame monster that has captured her and ruined her. I have the next scenes of her being chased through the house and into the garden through a tracking shot behind to show the fame is chasing her despite her best attempts to escape from it. I have her run into the garden still being chased to show that it isn't only effecting her behind closed doors but in the open too and despite being in the open air she is still in trouble and is still trapped. The final shot is of her staring straight into the camera with an empty stare, this suggests that she has stopped running and she doesn't know who she is anymore and the fame monster has well and truly trapped her.

This links to the song by Blondie "Atomic" because I am demonstrating that she is an atomic bomb waiting to go off, with the fame and celebrity culture being the person setting the bomb off.