Experts Work Overtime 'Decoding' Gaga Video

Sometimes a hot music video is just a hot music video. Or it could be about the stultifying constrictions of celebrity and changing identity. Symbologists are already treating Lady Gaga's ultra-riveting music video (watch here) for Telephone like the second coming of the New Wave, and the blogosphere is nearly vibrating with the latest theories decoding the image-packed 9-minute epic video. Doctoral student Meghan Vicks claims the prison-based video is a metaphor for "imprisoned identity" and links the message to theories by French philosopher Michael Foucault.

In a key scene, Gaga appears to be standing next to her younger, calmer self (played by her little sister), whom she "must abandon" to break those identity chains, Vicks tells ABC News. Gaga herself is so enthralled with Vicks' theories that she's tweeted her ideas to fans. But what about the lesbian kiss in the prison exercise yard? "It wasn't in our treatment," admitted director Jonas Akerlund. "It was something we came up with while we were shooting. It was sexy and fun to play with." For more analysis (why does Wonder Bread make an appearance?) click here.
(More Beyonce Lady Gaga stories.)