Lady Gaga is known for her outrageous and theatrical music videos. While some of her videos take things to the extreme, she has always made an effort to have meaning behind her choices. However, this time she took a different route, straying away from the hidden symbols and erotic dance moves, but instead creating scenarios of a harsh reality.
On Sept. 17, Lady Gaga released her latest music video to a song titled, "Til It Happens to You." Gaga collaborated with songwriter Diane Warren to write a song about sexual assault for the documentary, "The Hunting Ground," about campus rape.
The video depicts three different scenarios of sexual assault within a college campus. The director of the video, Catherine Hardwicke, who is known best for directing "Twilight," does not hold back, as you watch graphic footage of these victims being assaulted.
While for most, It is hard to watch, the video goes on to depict the grief the victims face and then the sense of peace they gain from having support of others. At the end of the video, the statistic that one in five college students will face sexual assault is displayed, reminding the audience that it is an ongoing issue within college campus's today.
With this video, Gaga uses her music as a PSA for sexual assault and with her song, she is donating a portion of the proceeds to organizations helping survivors. While the video is disturbing, it is important for college students to realize that our culture must change, and Lady Gaga has provided a great outlet for victims to remain hopeful and for college students to become educated on the issue.
