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The Semi-Colon
or of loving someone, surface in Gaga’s “Bad Romance” and “Paparazzi” videos. “Bad Romance” depicts a story of Gaga being dominated by the employees of a bathhouse for the overall benefit of mobsters. The video opens with the camera panning over coffin-like pods; this imagery gives off the impression of death or impending doom before the lyrics even begin. Gaga’s wellbeing is jeopardized as the attendants toss her around forcefully and physically abuse her in an attempt to make her put on a dance show. The love that Gaga exhibits towards the man that purchases her is an example of lethal love. Albeit her feelings for him are not genuine, because she has to pretend like she is interested; however it is because of the mobster’s quest for Gaga’s love that danger ensues. To illustrate the hazardous effects that can arise in the presence of love, Gaga lights the mobster’s bedroom on fire; his carpet, bed, and night stand all burn and the mobster himself perishes. By destroying the mobster as well as his bedroom, the primary location of lovemaking, Gaga is drawing the contemporary gothic genre’s attention to how love is capable of evoking very extreme emotions, and in some instances criminal or lethal behaviour. Likewise, in her other music video “Paparazzi,” Gaga revisits the notion of lethal love as she seeks revenge on her boyfriend while simultaneously regaining her title as a successful pop icon in the media. The importance of demonstrating how Gaga presents love is to illustrate how the unconventional aspects of love fascinate gothic artists, who often focus their work on how being preoccupied with love can be hazardous to one’s health. After her lover tries to kill her, Gaga emerges with a vengeance and returns to finish him off. The lyrics read, “Promise I’ll be kind, but I won’t stop until that boy is mine,” implying that Gaga will be ruthless with the implementation of her revenge. It is clear at the onset of the video that Gaga’s relationship was hazardous to her wellbeing (as her boyfriend attempts to kill her); however, the main focus of the subsequent scenes turn the situation in reverse as she succeeds in murdering him. Gaga fixes her boyfriend a drink mixed with lethal poison, and after stirring the concoction she licks the spoon and giggles. It would appear that her encounter with death has